A Letter From Uncle Billy While Working at Mother Teresa's Missionary of Charities in Brazil - April 2007

TOBAIN (HELLO TO ALL). WHAT A MESS. SOME OF THE INTERNET CAFES HERE IN SALVADOR ARE NOT ABLE TO GET HOTMAIL, SO I AM GOING CRAZY TRYING TO FIND ONE TO LET YOU ALL KNOW I AM IN TIP-TOP SHAPE WORKING LIKE A CRAZY VOLUNTEER. WHAT A WELCOMED SURPRISE. I HAVE BEEN PLACED AT THE MOTHER TERESA MISSIONARY OF CHARITIES IN THE MALVINA'S DAY CARE CENTER AND IT HAS BROUGHT BACK SOME HAPPY MEMORIES WHEN I WORKED WITH THE MOTHER TRESA MISSION IN MADRAS INDIA IN 1990,1995 AND 2000 WHILE I WAS A "SENIOR" STUDENT ON THE "SS UNIVERSE" (THE WORLD'S ONLY FLOATING CAMPUS) RUN BY THE UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH. SHIPBOARD EDUCATION, AND ON MANY OF THE 100 DAYS AT SEA, AND WHILE AT THE VARIOUS STOPS, I DID VOLUNTEER CHARITY WORK FOR 5 TO 6 DAYS WHILE IN PORT.

THE SISTERS AT THIS SALVADOR DAY CARE CENTER WERE THRILLED TO MEET ME AND GAVE ME THE RED CARPET TREATMENT. MOTHER TERESA HAS STARTED THE FOUNDATION IN CALCUTTA IN 1950 IN INDIA AND HAS BEEN IN BRAZIL SINCE 979 IN THE ALAGADOS AREA. WE ARE ON DUTY FROM MONDAY TO FRIDAY FROM 8:30 AM TO 4:30. THERE ARE 50 PLUS CHILDREN FROM AGES 5 TO 12 AND IT COVERS ALL TYPES OF DUTIES, SUCH AS FEEDING, CLEAN UP, ARTS AND CRAFTS, EXERCISES IN CONVERSATIONAL ENGLISA, AND OF COURSE I TEACH CHA CHA CHA. THEY ALL LOVE TO DANCE.

PRESENTLY THERE 20 VOLUNTEERS SOME ARE HERE FROM 2 TO 6 WEEKS, FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD INCLUDING LONDON, INDIA, AUSTRALIA, SCOTLAND, JAPAN AND THE USA. I AM THE OLDEST AND THE ONLY NEW YORKER. MOST OF THE VOLUNTEERS ARE SPONSORED STUDENTS FROM VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS. WE also HAVE ONE MARRIED COUPLE AND THE AGES ARE FROM 18 TO 40 PRESENTLY, THEY ALL CALL ME UNCLE BILLY AND THE LITTLE "TOTS" ALL WANT TO BE HUGGED AND KISSED BY THEIR UNCLE. I FORBID THE WORD "POPS" - I AM NOT OLD ENOUGH TO BE A GRANDPA. I HAVE MANY PHOTOS OF AFFECTION TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL.

THIS AREA WAS PRIMARILY SETTLED FROM FORMER SLAVES OF VARIOUS PARTS OF AFRICA WHEN IT WAS RULED BY PORTUGAL IN THE 1800'S - MANY LONG YEARS AGO.

I ATTENDED A ROTARY DINNER AT THE BEAUTIFUL MONTE PASCOAL BAHIA HOTEL BY THE SEA. I WAS GIVEN 15 MINUTES, AND SPOKE OF WHAT OUR CLUB IS DOING. THE REST OF THE TIME WAS FOR QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. THE PRESIDENT OF THE CLUB'S FATHER CAME FROM BEIRUT AND HIS MOTHER IS FROM SYRIA, SO THEY WERE ALL INTERESTED IN HEARING OF THE PRESENT SITUATION IN THE MID-EAST. SINCE THEY READ MY ROTARY BLOG, THEY WERE PREPARED FOR MY VISIT (THANKS TO MY PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER AND STAFF: SIR THOMAS MCCONNON AND HIS SON JAMES). MY ADVISOR, ANDREY, GOT MY MONEY EXCHANGED AT THE HSBC BANK - 2 REALS EQUALS ONE DOLLAR.

THE VOLUNTEERS ARE GREAT AT NIGHTS WHEN WE ARE FREE SO I WENT TO A ROCK CONCERT . AND IN THE OLD CITY TO A BRAZILIAN CLUB OF SONGS AND RUMBA, TONIGHT I WILL BE GOING TO A LECTURE BY A COLLEGE GROUP OF BRAZILIAN INTELLECTUALS.

BYE- BYE FOR NOW. TOMORROW I WILL BE DIAPERING THE BABIES AS EVERY TIME I PICK THEM UP THEY MAKE A PEE PEE ON ME.

STAY WELL.

UNCLE BILLY, THE VAGABOND.


Uncle Billy Visits Lebanon and visits many humanitarian projects financed the Rotary Club of Aley and the Rotary Club of New York!


In January 2007 Uncle Billy visited Beirut and spoke at the local Rotary Club. During the week he also visited the "Happy Child" Home for mentally challenged children that the Rotary Club of New York has provided financial assistance. He also visited the chemotherapy center of the Children's Cancer Center and distributed gifts donated from the Rotary Club of New York. Unfortunately, Uncle Billy had to shorten his trip because of the political instability in Beirut. During the week all roads to the Airport were closed. Tanks, armed soldiers were everywhere in preparation of the Civil War and there were fires all over the city.
"It was a night never to be forgotten."

But Uncle Billy did get to visit:

• Two Rotary Clubs
• Rotaracters in Jounieh
• Distribute food to 300 families
• Help distribute medicine at 2 clinics
• An Orphanage in Aley
• The National Rehabilitation and Development Center
• Rehabilitation Center for Cluster Bomb Victims
• Chat with General Consul William Gill Jr. American Embassy
• Partying and Belly Dancing until 3AM with the legendary Lebanese Singer "Sabah"