Dear Friends,

Devotion to God cannot be separated from service to other human beings. Most all of us yearn for a way to make a constructive difference in the lives of others, and finding a way to do that is part of any serious spiritual path.

Every single day, 20,000 people on this planet die of hunger -- and 17,000 of them are children. That means that every five seconds, a child dies of starvation.

As staggering and tragic as that is, it should not be a reason for any of to be come cynical, angry or complacent. Rather, it is a reason for us to become active.

There are two things I'd like to bring to your attention, both of which provide direct and positive ways that you can make a difference.

I have for years been a fan of Sam Daley-Harris, founder of one of America's most effective anti-hunger and anti-poverty lobbies: RESULTS (www.results.org). With my Sister Giant seminar held at the end of February, I took on a deeper commitment to help bring their work to my audience.

1) There is a monthly RESULTS conference call with extraordinary information regarding humanitarian and legislative initiatives to help the hungry. The next conference call is scheduled for March 13, 2010, at 12:30 pm ET. Call (888) 409-6709 a few minutes before 12:30 pm.

2) I will be joining the RESULTS delegation to the Regional Microcredit Summit next month, from April 6 to April 10. I hope you will seriously consider coming along. As outrageous as it might sound to you to drop whatever you're doing that week and head over to Nairobi, I hope you'll consider the possibility that it might be the coolest thing you'll ever do.

We will join Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Muhammad Yunus, Queen Sofia of Spain, HRH Princess Máxima of The Netherlands, Sir Fazle Abed, Chair of BRAC and some 2,000 delegates from more than 50 countries at the Africa-Middle East Regional Microcredit Summit to be held April 6-10, 2010 in Nairobi, Kenya. It will be the largest microfinance gathering ever held in Africa.

There is a choice of field visits to the following microcredit institutions: Jamii Bora, Equity Bank, Faulu, KADET, ECLOF, K-Rep, and KWFT April 6, 10 and 11 for a fee of $25 per day for transportation and lunch, so we encourage you to arrive the evening of April 5th.

Meetings will be arranged for the RESULTS/Sister Giant group with visionary leaders in the fight to end poverty, people like Dr. Muhammad Yunus, Nobel Peace Laureate and founder of the Grameen Bank; Sir Fazle Abed, founder of BRAC, who was recently knighted by Queen Elizabeth; and Ingrid Munro, founder of Jamii Bora.

The agenda is inspiring and exchanges with microcredit dignitaries and the clients themselves will make an unforgettable impression.

The Summit website www.regionalmicrocreditsummit2010.org has helpful info (e.g. places to stay, Kenyan visa link though visa on arrival is suggested, travel, Nairobi, currency converter, and good general and preparatory info) Estimated costs:

Air fare from US: $1,500 - $2,000. Registration fee: $250 group rate (5 or more) or $350 individual (includes lunch for 3 days and closing dinner) Hotel for 6 nights (including taxes and breakfast): $360 - $1,500 Other: $25 to get your visa when you arrive at the Nairobi airport, $25 per field visit, dinner for 6 nights, miscellaneous, e.g. taxi to/from airport

Contact Vicki Gottlieb to join the RESULTS/Sister Giant group:vicki.gottlieb@gmail.com or 505-379-2846

That's it for now. I'm delighted we're beginning this conversation.

All my best,

Marianne

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
 
----from A Return to Love, by Marianne Williamson.
If you like the paragraph, you’ll love the book...! (AMAZON.COM)