Hello All,

I am now back from a most productive trip to Bali and nearly over the inevitable jet-lag. (I don't know why it is, but I have virtually no difficulty adjusting on my way there … and returning home it takes me over a week to get my sleep schedule back to anything resembling normal.)

Quite a bit of my time was spent with Nengah Swikrama, the Foundation Director, working to develop a Three-Year Strategic Plan for the Foundation. It was certainly gratifying to have an all-day working session with his six key Foundation staff members and to experience their energetic participation and input in the process of refining that Plan. Next, on May 27th, Nengah and those staff members will have an all-day meeting with the seven orphanage directors to gain their participation and input before the Plan is finalized and adopted.

Once that process is completed, all of the key leaders of the Foundation, the seven orphanages, and the related CDC projects should be working in alignment towards common goals, with specific action plans and commitments for the upcoming fiscal year.

I am happy to share the particulars of this work with those of you who might be interested in more detail.

Speaking of the upcoming fiscal year, I will soon be sending out reminders and asking for renewals of your $400 sponsorships for the girls in the orphanages. If you want to send the renewals to me in advance of that, please feel free to do so.

I also visited five of the seven orphanages again this trip. For those of you who sent cards and gifts along with me I delivered every single one … and sent you photos of “your girls” receiving your gifts whenever possible. In several cases the girls were away on school related job training or visiting their families during a brief school break so I could not see them personally.

For me, it was gratifying to see improvements at each location I visited. Nice progress is being made at Bangli, clearly the worst of the seven locations, thanks to the fresh energy and attention Made Christine (formerly the assistant at #4) has brought to those children. The facility at Bangli remains poor and ultimately must be replaced. Nevertheless, the children are happier, hygiene is greatly improved, and everyone seems much more engaged now.

At #4, Untal-Untal, the previous director has been replaced by Tina … a wonderful new addition to the staff. Already, her presence is being felt and reflected in a renewed energy at this location.

On the subject of girls, Pat and I continue to strongly believe that the most effective way to break the cycle of poverty is to educate girls. Accordingly, Nengah and his staff have agreed to a strategic goal of achieving a population of at least 50% girls in each of the six co-ed orphanages. This is in addition to Number 4, which as you know is 100% girls.

I also visited the new Tree Plantation project in the Tabanan area of Bali. This is simply amazing. Three of the seven Plantation hectare (2.5 acre) sections have now been cleared and planted with the special hybrid Albasia trees. Those trees that we saw as knee-high seedlings last November are now 15 to 18 feet tall! The rate of growth is nothing short of amazing. And, most importantly, the cost projections are running according to plan. Initial thinning is scheduled for two to three year old trees, with final harvest at five years. A current projection based on market prices for these trees is a 10:1 payout for the project. So, an investment of about US$10,000 per hectare to clear the land, purchase seeds, grow the seedlings, plant the trees, fertilize them, and maintain the area until harvest will result in a yield of about US$100,000. I think that is a pretty wonderful return on investment and a giant step towards the Foundation goal of sustainability for annual operating expenses.

I will be updating our website shortly with more stories, photos, and several videos I took during this trip.

In addition to the 90 girls we have sponsored currently, there are still more than 100 girls without sponsors. Plus, there are numerous projects focusing on children's hygiene, personal hygiene, starting businesses at the orphanages, working towards sustainability, and increasing self-sufficiency that need funding as well.

The bottom line is this: We're making great progress in serving these wonderful children … and there is still much work to be done.

We need more sponsors. And, we need more contributors. So, if any of you have any friends, acquaintances, or family members whom you think would be attracted to our collective work here, please refer them to me.

As always, I assure you that 100% of the money contributed through our Bill & Pat Bali Fund with Give2Asia will be sent to the orphanages in direct service to the girls there. Nothing will be deducted for any administrative or fund-raising costs. We cover that.