Friday 18 September 2009

The Lord's work ( Not Religion)

Hiding away in the Ugandan capital of Kampala is the scion of one of the best known Banking Families in Germany. Cornelius von Berenberg Gossler gave up the lifestyle of the German Aristocracy at an early age and entered a commune. He started his own commune and lived the style of sharing for twenty years until he finally saw a new direction.
He left Germany and his wife behind and headed for Africa, sure that his life was meant to be there. Years later, there he is in Uganda with a new wife and a new child. Adding to the family is no problem for Cornelius who has taken in 13 children from the steets of Kampala. The disaffected, the abandoned and the orphans of the street find a safe haven in his home.
Cornelius decided that the best way to help these children was to provide education for them. Knowing the inability of the state schools to provide this , as the teachers either don't turn up or take the children to tend crops, he pays for them to attend private schools with good reputations . His resources gone, Cornelius who is a follower of Jesus, knew that help would come, his faith told him so.
Facebook provided the answer. Sitting one day he noticed a conversation between nobles of the UK and Portugal. Enjoying the banter he finally made a remark to taht effect and became a friend of both. One of these two men was to become his friend and confidente. Lord David Prosser of Bouldnor found out about the cash crisis and immediately reacted. Sending money over for food etc., David also set up a 'cause' on Facebook called education in Uganda and invited Cornelius to visit the UK to see if funds could be raised.
During the visit, after spending many hours on the computer, David managed to secure the promise of four classrooms and an admin block to be built at a place close to the village of his adopted tribe. Another fabulous donor was secured who has promised to raise funds to build dormitary blocks and a clinic. Cornelius's dream secured he returned to Uganda whilst David co-ordinated the fund raising from the UK.
It seems that today's Aristocracy have not forgotten their duty of Charity . For details of how to help this cause, please see Facebook.

1 comment:

  1. Cornelius still needs urgent help to support the children. vonberenberg@gmail.com

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