North Korea Trip Update From Mrs Simpson

Mrs Simpson with SFS patient medicine boxes at Dongdaewon, North Korea

Before going to North Korea, it was hard not to have expectations. Despite it being the most closed country on the planet, I had read enough articles, watched enough Ted Talks, and heard enough stories to have a certain picture of what this place was going to be. I expected a barren landscape, a tragic hollow-eyed populace, and an air of oppression and desperation to hang like a thick fog everywhere we went. 

As is true with most situations of expectations vs. reality, some of my experiences upheld the image I had created in my mind and some of what I saw changed my perspective of North Korea.

I found the landscape to be quite beautiful. The rolling hills were carpeted with trees and bushes, fish swam in the rivers and lakes, and, as I was there in April, flower buds were appearing all over the countryside.  

Cars, while not abundant, were present on the streets of Pyongyang. Our “minders” were our constant company but typically quite pleasant in their interactions with us. I expected to be afraid while I was up there but truthfully, I felt safe.

In the same way, the population both confirmed my expectations and surprised me. The hollow eyes that I saw belonged to people who were waiting. They had been sick for a long time, years for most of them. They had taken several rounds of tuberculosis medication only to be told each time what their continually worsening health had already told them. The regular medicine wasn’t working. 

And so these people made the difficult decision to leave their families behind and make their way to one of the Eugene Bell multiple drug resistant tuberculosis clinics to find out if they had MDR-TB and to see if they could be treated there. And so there they sat. Waiting to find out if they had a future.

I also saw eyes full of hope. The eyes of the patients who had successfully completed the 18-month treatment and were finally cured of MDR-TB looked into my eyes as I placed colorful crane necklaces on their necks. 

Tuberculosis had nearly taken everything from them but they were given a new chance at life. They were headed home to see sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, and loved ones that they hadn’t seen in months as they stayed at the clinic in an attempt to keep from spreading the disease. And for the first time in literally years, they were actually healthy. Hope shone from their eyes as the reality set in that they had been given a future.

This is why we do what we do.  Every effort, big and small, helps to change a life. It helps to change eyes from hollow to hopeful. It gives people a chance at a future. Thanks for everything that you do to make this difference. Thanks for doing something that matters. 

Silent Auction

Get yourself down to the SFS coffeeshop and check out the silent auction … we have some awesome things up for grabs this year … art, food, quilts … something for everyone.  Bids can be placed in the book under the flat screen TV.

Art:
We have some stunning art pieces, including a fabulous pencil work by Melissa Enderle.  You even have the opportunity for a commissioned portrait - your child ... your pets ... your family - you choose!

Accommodation:

Need a little R and R?!?  Looking for somewhere beautiful to stay in Bali?  Bid on Villa Padi and enjoy an amazing luxury retreat in Bali.  You can check out their website here.

Food
Something for everyone - from a pancake breakfast , to a couple of Swanson brunches (these went lightning fast last year - Patti is a trained chef and her brunches are not to be missed), stunning cakes from the Roddicks … if you are a food lover, we have just the things for you!



Jewellery
We have some fabulous handmade jewellery pieces - come in, check them out and make a bid!

Coffee
Are you addicted to your morning coffee?  Have you seen those nifty little Nespresso machines?  We have one up for auction … but wait!  There's more!  Not only will you get a fabulous Nespresso machine, but also an extra 50 pods to feed it with and a lovely travel mug to enjoy it in!  Get in fast … this one won't last!

Quilts
Quilts have become part of our Dongdaewon tradition - each year for the past few years, we have been incredibly blessed to have donated handmade quilts to auction.  This year, we have several beautiful quilts from two different quilters.  They are stunning - check them out and put in a bid!

So there you have it … lots on offer - all proceeds buy medicine for our TB patients and you get something wonderful in return.  Please come by and support the auction.  We wish to thank our very generous parents, faculty and students for their donations.

In 2013 the Dongdaewon Silent Auction raised 4, 688, 000 won.  Last year we raised a whopping, 7, 399, 000 won.  Please help us beat that record!  Get to the coffee shop and place your bids!

THE AUCTION CLOSES at 3pm MARCH 17TH

Many thanks to all our generous donors.  Without you, this auction would not be possible.

Get Your Shamograms NOW!

2,000 won each

Delivered March 17th - St Patrick's Day!

On sale: Now – March 10

(Chocolate generously donated by:  Nestle' Korea)



Click the play button above for a special message direct from our Leprechaun!

What is a Sham O’ Gram?  An Irish message of luck and love! The Sham O’ Gram includes a delicious chocolate treat and a personalized message from YOU!

Why should I send one?  To spread ‘Luck O’ the Irish’ and raise money to buy medicine to save the lives of patients in the SFS sponsored TB Care Center in Dongdaewon, North Korea.  

To whom should I send one?  Anyone at SFS! Family, brothers, sisters, friends, teachers, staff …….

How do I order?  Please use the green coupons (brought home by BS, ES, MS, NIK and DCC students; available from homeroom teachers in the HS).  Fill in the blanks for "to", "from", "class", and circle which division (MS use advisory and HS use homeroom class).  Parents, please help younger children write clearly so that we can read it!

Please cut each out each coupon - the leprechauns are too busy to do this!

Place completed Sham o' grams (with 2000 won for each coupon) into an envelope (feel free to reuse/recycle old envelopes) and send to school with your child by March 10th.  Please address envelopes to:

BS:  Mrs Gray      ES: Mrs Neff     MS:  Ms Root     HS:  Ms. Drummond     

NIK:  Mrs Myong      DCC (Day Care Centre) - Mrs Han

NB:  You can get extra coupons from your child's class teacher or the divisional secretaries, so please do not make your own.

Thank you!

Go on … save a life!

Dongdaewon 2015 Has Begun!

Welcome to Dongdaewon 2015!  This week is the official launch of our fundraising period, which lasts until Spring break.  We are already off to an amazing start with the return of the faculty pantomime which played two sell-out shows and raised just over 6.5 million won!

Today at Hearts to Serve we showed the students our Dongdaewon video.

Dongdaewon 2015 from Sarah Carpenter on Vimeo.

Our theme this year is HOPE.  Ms Bigwood, along with Grade 5 helpers and Mrs Simpson talked with the students about how the many different things they do to fundraise turns into medicine, which saves lives.  Their service and the resulting medicine provide a huge gift of hope to our patients in the North.  Never underestimate the power of hope ... it can change the world.

There will be a lot happening over the next few weeks.  We have tshirts on sale in all divisions, ES and BS are planning their fairs, a swimathon is in process, an amazing silent auction is coming.  We will also have patient updates, a North Korea trip report from Mrs Simpson (she was our staff representative on the Eugene Bell delegation to North Korea last April).  Check back here each week to see what is happening.  For now ... on with the dance!