July President's Letter

Wednesday, July 01, 2015

We are pleased to welcome back Becky Douglas, Founder of Rising Star Outreach. She and her husband John have been serving the people of the Dominican Republic for the past three years. Becky is anxious to reconnect with former and new friends and supporters of Rising Star Outreach. Welcome home!

“Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” – St. Francis of Assisi

While visiting India in the year 2000, Becky was shocked and disturbed by the plight of those affected by leprosy. She and a few friends decided to “start by doing what [was] necessary” to assist the individuals and families suffering from the physical impact and social stigma of leprosy.

These women saw a need and in small ways they did what they believed was “possible.” They began by raising money and involving friends and educating them about the wide-spread existence of leprosy around the world. Then, they administered basic humanitarian assistance to the leprosy colonies in southern India by providing medicines, bandages, food, and clothing. As the desire to help increased, their reach exceeded their grasp and “suddenly [they were] doing [what some thought to be] impossible.”

A few stanzas from a poem by Joseph Norris describes their vision:

“Drop a pebble in the water

And its ripples reach out far.

Do a deed of simple kindness;

Though its end you may not see,

It may reach, like widening ripples,

Down a long eternity.”

Becky Douglas, Sharon Thompson, Padma Venkataraman and many others saw that one kind action lead to another. By doing something necessary, they saw the reality of what was possible. The ripples of their actions continue today as those involved in Rising Star Outreach achieve the impossible.

There is still much to do, but who could have imagined that from those humble beginnings Rising Star would see such growth. Thousands of individuals and families have received medical care and been given a helping hand to business ownership. Hundreds of their children and grandchildren are now ‘rising stars’ because of the superior education they are receiving.

Thank you for helping Rising Star Outreach make a remarkable difference in making the impossible ----possible!