Dear St. John's Community,
The world seems so full of bad news, both close to home and far away, so let me brighten up your Sunday with some really good news. As many of you know, Johnathan Miller, a long time member of St John's, has been deeply involved in seeking to relieve suffering in Southern Africa, starting with the HIV/AIDS pandemic in the early 1980s. Since leaving the Peace Corps in January, Johnathan has been seeking new ways, through the voluntary sector, to help relieve the suffering now being caused in Southern Africa by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Using his previous experience of delivering medical care by air to remote rural areas, Johnathan recently reached an agreement with the government of Botswana for his group to deliver Covid vaccines to rural areas (including camps, where vaccinating the staff allows the tourist industry to restart, thus supporting local employment and families). This week, Johnathan's team will make their 6th and 7th trips, having already brought vaccines to 22 different sites. When Johnathan returns to Africa on November 6, he hopes also to advance similar discussions with Malawi and Namibia.
There is so much need in the world -- close by in DC, and far away in Africa -- that it's easy to sit paralyzed, uncertain if we can ever make a difference. What Johnathan shows us is that we can, if we try. All of us bring different gifts: dedication, or enthusiasm, or networks, or contacts, or available time, etc. But each of us brings something. So, if we try, we all can make a difference. And what a difference that would make.
Blessings,
Will
