For most of us, December is a busy month filled with family, gifts, lights and worship. But for those of us on the Susila Dharma Board, December brings an extra special gift. This is the month we receive yearly reports from the projects that your donations support. Besides the usual financial reports documenting how the funds were spent, the reports also include photos and stories of how their project made a difference in the lives of those who have been helped by this funding. Our holiday gift to you is to share a few of these stories.

Human Force Camp at Atalanta 2022

An update from Hillary Clayton: In the garden, the participants helped finish all the planting for the season and took an edible tour of the plants! They planted carrots, beets, and squash with garden members and learned about the growth cycles of the garden. They also replaced the old gate to the garden so that garden members can enter and exit more easily, as well as transport wheelbarrows in and out with more ease… Finally, participants created a beautiful mural on one side of the work shed to give the interior of the garden a facelift and add their legacy to the space. During our mornings and lunches throughout the week, we engaged in conversation together on a variety of topics including the challenges of living and running a garden in the valley, Subud and interconnectedness, education, diversity and the history of the valley, and our past Human Force projects.

Beautiful Portland

An update from Jennifer Skyler: We know that the people we serve are in dire need. One night, several nights ago, a fella we serve twice a week, stopped me in the street. “You’re keeping us alive down here.” (downtown Portland) I smiled and kind of gently brushed it off, because we were in the middle of unloading food. In the midst of the hubbub, he held up his hand, stopped me, looked me in the eyes, and said it again, slowly. “You’re keeping us alive down here.” We both teared up a little as I nodded back. I assured him that it is a joy for us to do what we do. Thank you so much for helping us help the people who need us so much.

Greeting Cards for the holidays and beyond

Beautiful greeting cards, featuring photos by Benedict Herrman, are available for purchase. All profits go to Susila Dharma USA.
$5 each or $40 for a box of 10 cards.
Click here to order.

We wish you a very happy holiday season!

Love from all of us at Susila Dharma USA:
Fauziyah, Myriam, Michael, Jane, Kailani, Rifka

Support Susila Dharma projects

There’s still time left to support SD USA’s Fall Fundraiser! Your gift helps Susila Dharma projects serve those in need.

Thank you!

There’s a lot happening at the Sequoia Community Center. Amelia Williams, one of the directors of this project shares photos and updates on their many activities.

Art Barn: After a slow start, the art barn construction project that your donations supported is now underway. The center is working with a contractor from the local community who is excited about the project, which when completed will create a space for kids and adults to work with clay, draw, and learn from other artists!

Community Activities: Yoga, bookmobile & food distribution continue. Recently a visiting artist presented a Paint your Pet Portrait class. A new group, Community Crafters, has formed, with someone sharing how to make a craft item each month.

The Safety team has made a major impact on the community attracting resources and creating a partnership with Fresno County.

Harvest Your Health Fair: This event was held October 8.Tai chi and exercise bingo were presented by a local hospital outreach. There were health product vendors, health practitioners, and a member of the Native American community shared how to process acorns for food.

Bingo: “We finally received our permit to run bingo once a month. It’s been so successful that we had to buy more tables.”

“And finally – we are starting to make plans for a once or twice monthly movie night. We have the screen and technology. Now we need to see if people can agree on a movie – a great problem to have!!!”

Love, Amelia

Borneo Football expansion and more!!

It’s been a great year for Borneo Football. We just received their 2022 annual report (see link below).  Donations from Subud USA members supported health and fitness programs sponsored by Borneo Football.

 Open the link below to see the many ways Borneo Football is helping their community.

BFIA 2022 Highlights

SD USA received $5,950 in donations for the Portland Match. This plus Portland’s $5,000 match gives us a total of $10,950 toward our 2023 grants. Thank you for your support!

Great News from Anisha

Wonderful article from the Better India magazine about Anisha, one of our oldest SD projects. The headline reads:

“Couple Transforms Drought-Hit District by Helping 400 Farmers Go Organic.”

Click HERE to read the full article.

Farewell to our former SD USA chair

Thank You Dear Evan:

It is with sadness and respect for a life well lived that we bid farewell to our beloved friend, brother and SDIA Chair, Evan Padilla (December 3, 1947 to August 13th, 2022).

Evan was chairperson of SD USA for five years. He filled this job with positive energy, strength and love. His successor, Aminah Herrman shared,

“He saw something in me that I didn’t understand about my capabilities. SD work was the best Subud job I ever had and I’ve had them all?”

Evan’s work in SD continues on now through our current chairperson, Fauziyah Ishak. She learned through Aminah who learned through Evan.

Evan we miss you but you left your light, and your heartfelt belief that we can accomplish more than we think we can. God bless you on your new path.

Click HERE to see a video of Evan at the SDIA gathering at Amanecer, Colombia on July 2022.

The Portland match is on!  Double the power of your gift.  Through August 15, your donations will be matched up to $5,000.

What Does It Take to Make a Subud Portland Matching Fund for SD USA?
By Marilyn Schirk

It takes a team of dedicated Susila Dharma volunteers who are willing to sustain a prolonged effort to build an annual fund-raising tradition at their Subud Center for Susila Dharma USA. It takes a big-hearted generous cohort of far-sighted Subud members at the Center who understand the importance of the work done by Susila Dharma. It takes the work of many of our members to support events such as this year’s Book Sale for SD USA, last year’s Quarantine Cuisine cookbook, silent auctions, post-latihan refreshments, potluck dinners, etc., to build the seed money for the Match.

Most of all it takes the membership of all of Subud USA to answer the call to make donations for the Matching Fund every year. It is a constant source of joy and fulfillment for all of us who participate in any phase of the Match to keep Bapak’s vision alive for Susila Dharma.

Please consider joining into Subud’s own unique humanitarian effort by continuing your ongoing support for our Match or by becoming a new donor to the Portland Matching Fund this year.

Deepest thanks from all of us here in Portland, OR.

News from Sequoia Community Center

In 2021 Sulfiati Harris has received the “Tulare County Woman of the Year” award for her work creating the Sequoia Community Center. The work of this center continues to improve the lives of those living in this area of California by offering:

• Classes in the studio (that your SD donations helped to build)
• Safety Team meeting with the Fire Chief
• Tea time afternoon gatherings to chat and catch up
• Monthly Bookmobile visits

And more ……….

The SD USA annual report is now available

Please take a few minutes to review the humanitarian work that your donations support. You can read the report here.