September 11, 2002

Dear Friends of Boniface and Hamisi:

So much has been happening in the past months since I wrote you last. Thanks to the voyage of the Northern Magic appearing in Reader’s Digest magazine, many new donors have arrived on the scene, and we’re soon going to be increasing the number of children we have under sponsorship. Thank you, all you new friends of Boniface and Hamisi!

This letter will provide a quick update on the projects we’re now managing. More detailed information on these is kept up to date on our website, www.northernmagic.com, so feel free to check it from time to time. Herbert’s also done some great work renovating the site, and I think if you take the time to pop in, you’ll enjoy it.

Hamisi

Dairy Cow Project, and Jewellery Project

Hamisi’s cow, Magic, is doing well, as is Magic’s calf. Magic is producing 8 litres of milk per day. We also made an order of shark-tooth necklaces from Hamisi, and with Andrew’s help, received this week our first shipment of 50 beautiful beaded necklaces made with fossilized shark teeth. We plan to sell them at the Northern Magic book launch and expect to sell out. The income provided to Hamisi’s family from these 50 necklaces will be equivalent to a man working full time in a sisal field, for six months. We’d like to thank Brent Harden at La Maison d’Or in Place d’Orleans for donating the jewellery boxes that we will present these necklaces in. We’ve asked Hamisi to continue producing jewellery as quickly as he can, because we’re sure many people reading about him in the book will want to purchase them.

Boniface

School Project

Boniface is doing well in grade 11 and was happy to receive a copy of the recent Reader’s Digest article, sent to his family by the magazine. A copy of his most recent letter follows:

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sent by e-mail August 27, 202

Hi mom,  

It's quite a long time since I got in touch with you. Its really have been too sad but I hope everything is okay.

Back home everything is sweet going on well with my studies aiming to go to college and later come to Canada and do my University. As well Hamisi is also doing great with his cows.

Mom its just yesterday Andrew came home with some magazines "Readers Digest" from his work and I saw the stories of the Voyage of the Nothern Magic and the family sea oedesey its somehow interesting and somehow sorrowful. I did shed some tears when you had been attacked by the pirates and also I came to know that you lost your Grandmama (Nana) I am very sorry for that you never saw her at the time of her death.

Before I prolong further may I take this opportunity to pass my sincere gratitudes to you all who have given me a great support and what you are intending to do for me in future and my family at large I have been thinking at you always dear and may the warm winds of heaven blow softly on your home and the great spirit bless all who enter there. May you moccasins make happy tracks in many snows and may the rain bow always touch your shoulder.

I gave my results to Andrew and I hope he will send them as soon as possible. The August holiday is almost over and we are opening the school on 2nd of September 2002.

I love you all

Boniface

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Kitsao

Surgery

Mark e-mailed to us the results of the biopsy of Kitsao’s tumour (Kitsao’s surgery was paid for by friends of Northern Magic) and, thank goodness, the tumour was benign. Although Kitsao’s doctor says Kitsao’s health is frail, he is doing well.

Mark Thuva

Hair Salon Project

Thanks to Karen Sharp of Charly’s Hair design, who continues to send her profits from the first Tuesday in each month towards Mark’s fund, we were able to advance Mark a loan of $6500 to establish his new hair salon, to be named Mark’s Magic Hair and Beauty Center, in the village of Mtwapa, Kenya (just north of Mombasa). The salon is almost finished construction, and Mark has promised to send photos soon that we’ll post on the website. Mark has the loan interest-free for one year, then will begin repaying it over five years, with increasing payments each year.

Attached is a lovely letter we recently received from Mark, which although addressed to us, was meant for all of you:

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e-mail sent July 17, 2001

Dear mama / papa,

I have identified a witness of which you have not met before, but I hope this would be fine to you and me. This is the owner of the hospital and at the same time the doctor who made surgery to my father. In addition, he is the landlord to be, in Mtwapa where my saloon will be soon established.

Hurrar !!!! God knows why I met you; ‘the Stuemer’s’.

When we first met, it didn’t occur to me that you would change my life especially over a new leave. I still hold fond memories of our talks and strolls in Kilifi. May God bless you all.

This is a time when I wish we were together to share my joy of life changing for the better, because of ‘caring friends’ who at one time were simple strangers. Again I appreciate you kindness for your great support. With you in support I see my dreams come true.

As for the loan agreement, I have signed and had it verified by Njiri. As for the promisory note, for it to be legally binding internationally, it must have the consent of my bankers to certify my financial capability. I therefore hold the loan agreement as enough evidence of my accepting the loan at its conditions thereto. Believe me you, God willing and through had work, I shall never let you down.

As usual further advice from you side will be always be appreciated. Otherwise I hope to hear from you when you are ready.

I remain your son,

Love always,

Mark

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Majaoni School Project

We receive communications from several of the 12 students we have sponsored at Majaoni Secondary School, some of which are very impressive. One in particular, George Ouma, is hoping to become a doctor. If you visit the website and click on his name, you'll see letters he's written us. Andrew visited the school and met the students, and reported he was very impressed with all of the students, and George in particular. We’re hoping to collect enough money to send George and others to university, and a number of people have already sent donations in for this purpose. The cost of university tuition in Kenya is comparable to Canada, so George will not be able to achieve this great dream without our help.

We have several new donors who have provided us with monthly post-dated cheques in support of students in Kenya. In one case, a donor from Newfoundland is supporting two very poor elementary school children we met while we were there, whose father is dead and who weren’t even attending elementary school. Mark, Andrew's brother, is helping us with that project.

Some of our donors have been or will be communicating directly with the students they are sponsoring, through the school principal. This seems to us to be a wonderful way of making a real human connection, and the perfect message of human compassion and solidarity in this post-September 11 world.

Andrew Thuva

Andrew has agreed to act as our part-time agent in Kenya. As he will be forced to take six months of unpaid leave next spring from his regular job in a hotel, we hope to hire him to do a survey of local schools in Kilifi, to make connections with school principals and identify worthy students we can help as the project grows in future.

Northern Magic Book Launch

My book on The Voyage of the Northern Magic will be ready (although not yet in bookstores) on October 4. Herbert and I would like to invite you to our private book launch, on October 5 (invitation attached.) We’ll be selling books at the event, as well as Hamisi’s jewellery. A portion of the price of every book sold at the event, or directly by us on-line or by phone or fax, will go to the Boniface and Hamisi fund. It would be lovely to see you there!

I’ll be on a book tour this fall and will be spreading the word of how ordinary people, like all of us, can change the world. Together we are making a difference!

With warmest wishes,

Diane

P. S. If you do want to order a book through us and thereby make a contribution to the project that way, at the bottom of this e-mail are two links: one to print out a form that you can fax or mail in, and the other a link to order the book online.