July 2004

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" height=80 style=" border-bottom: 1px solid #999980;" BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="05c8dfe1esnpes.jpg"> <div> <B>Emoyeni Retreat Centre</B></div> <div> <A HREF="newsletters.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Newsletters"><B>Back</B></A></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="2f484070.png" border=0 width="900" height="7" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=400 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="05c8dfc3.jpg"> <div> <I><B>July 2004</B></I></div> <div> <B>Newsletter</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="21414c50.jpg" border=0 width="276" height="197" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="15" VSPACE="0">A lot has been happening at Emoyeni since the last newsletter in January.  The building work of transforming the rough, old garden shed into two en-suite bedrooms, and the dilapidated milk shed into a workshop and storeroom,  was completed early in March.  This has provided a welcome increase in the accommodation available at Emoyeni, and has freed up the large space used by the old, rustic workshop.</div> <bR> <div> The Emoyeni Trust held its Annual General Meeting in Johannesburg in early June. At the meeting  it was recognised that the slowing growth of the Building Fund indicated that it would be many years before the envisioned new Retreat Centre, higher up the mountain, would be operational.  We identified three main projects which would substantially enhance the facilities at Emoyeni, viz. a new Meditation Hall, converting the old workshop into an Activity Hall (for Yoga, Tai Chi, Art, etc.), and adding accommodation for three more retreatants with ablutions for campers.  Discussion took place on whether Emoyeni could fund these projects from the existing Building Fund.  It was unanimously agreed that this would be a sensible and effective use of the Fund.  It was agreed that a letter be written to all donors who had contributed to the Building Fund, asking them whether they would approve of their contributions being utilised to improve the facilities as discussed at the meeting, instead of being reserved for the envisioned new Retreat Centre higher up the mountain.  The donors would be at liberty to refuse this redirection of their donation.</div> <bR> <div> This letter was sent out to the donors, setting out the planned improvements to Emoyeni together with an estimate of the costs involved.  At I write this newsletter, nearly all the donors (representing R108 000 of the R120 000 donated) have responded with unanimous agreement to re-direct their contribution to upgrade the existing facilities.  As a result of this generous support,  we have begun digging the foundations for the new Meditation Hall. It will be octagonal in shape, have a thatch roof and, as it will be the first Meditation Hall at Emoyeni, it will be named after Godwin Samarararatne, the meditation teacher from Sri Lanka who visited South Africa a number of times in the 80's and 90's and was an inspiration to many.</div> <bR> <div> A number of retreatants visiting Emoyeni in recent months have expressed their support for the building of a separate Meditation Hall and Activity Centre, and have encouraged us to send out an Appeal asking for donations to help fund their construction.  Any donations would not only assist in funding these new buildings, but would also lessen the depletion of the Building Fund.  This Building Appeal will be sent out to all Friends of Emoyeni shortly.</div> <bR> <div> Now for our other news.  The late summer rains played all kinds of tricks on the Magaliesberg environment.  The dams filled up and streams began to run again, but the sandy roads couldn't handle that volume of rain, which cut all sorts of interesting ravines into the farm roads.  Out came the tractor and a friendly grader, and after a lot of work the roads are mostly in good shape again, but now with gentle humps built into them at regular intervals to channel water off the roads.  The grasses have stayed green well into the winter, with the result that we have still not been able to burn our firebreaks.  Every year the pattern is different, and every year we have to let go of our “best laid plans” and follow the way of nature.  </div> <bR> <div> There's a lovely poem by E.E. Cummings which begins “With up so many floating bells down”.  This line beautifully describes the “cloud” of little blue waxbills which floats down to the bird-feeder in the morning and whirls up again into the protective cover of the surrounding trees at the slightest hint of danger.  Eating breakfast silently in their company is such a joy, and a living reminder of how we share this beautiful bushveld space with so many other living creatures.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I><B>Mervyn</B></I></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>