It’s been a while since I’ve had time to update my blog, but here I am at last!
I’ve just finished a trip for Tearfund to the north-east of Brazil, which I found very interesting and very different.   I’m not exactly new at being thrown into horrifying and inhuman situations and, when the visit was first suggested, I automatically thought it would be ‘more of the same’.   After the first day, I was confused by the fact that I’d had such an ‘enjoyable’ time - this had not always been true of other projects.   I hadn’t prepared myself for the fact that Tearfund, partnered by Diaconia, a Brazilian charity, had already moved into the areas of need, and I was experiencing the results of their efforts - smiling and healthy-looking children who, although still living in incredibly poor areas, had taken that vital step on to the first rung of the ladder out of their poverty.  

My visit was filmed - not only for Tearfund but also by a BBC crew for a ‘Songs of Praise’ special programme to be broadcast later in the year.   It’ll be worth watching, if only to see me play football with 10-year-old kids.   My team won and I scored three goals.   You might say it was a fix… and you’d be right!
I also visited a centre run by local churches for people living with AIDS.   I can’t imagine what it would be like to be told I had an incurable disease that had the potential to kill me.   The people I met had somehow come to terms with their mortality, but they refused to despair and were now taking their message to schools, using drama with humour, but never hiding their direct and very frank warning.   The centre exists to break down the stigma attached to AIDS.   I was told that many church members turn their backs on the centre, which is such a shame;  after all, we are told to love, not to judge.   So my prayers are with those sufferers and the church - may they come together under the banner of Christ.

We drove inland to a semi-arid farming district, and met up with a couple of families who work the land.   The first farm had been contacted almost ten years ago and, with hard work and a helping hand from Tearfund and Diaconia, the land had responded wonderfully.   I do like the way Tearfund works:  of course there was money involved as there had to be agricultural education, but the family had to do everything themselves.   We saw the wells they had dug, the ‘underground’ dam they had built, the fruit trees and vegetables they had planted.   From starvation, they had slowly moved up their ladder and, even though their home is not what you might call a ‘Des Res’, their happiness and contentment was palpable.   What an example to all of us who have so much and still don’t find satisfaction!

Our last days of filming were at the other end of the scale, when we visited another farm, quite close to the first, but only just contacted by Tearfund.   This one wasn’t as big, but had no irrigation and the only well was more than half a mile’s walk away.   Whereas on the first farm they could grow all they needed to live, plus more to sell (which of course is why their standard of living had risen), the second farm could barely grow enough to eat, as they had to carry water from the well and water the crops by hand.   The frightening aspect of this is that this area is predicted to suffer the effects of climate change.   We were told that soon there might be rain for only three years in ten - meaning that these folk will not only have to start irrigating more efficiently, but also collect and save water for the drought years.   In spite of all their problems they seemed so upbeat, and I had the impression that, given the chance, they’d make that farm work.
Thank you, Tearfund, for continuing to care and giving me these opportunities to learn and to grow.

Talking of charities, Olivia called me - Olivia Newton-John, that is! - to ask me if I’d walk the Great Wall of China with her (part of it anyway - it’s nearly 4,000 miles long!).   It’s to raise funds for a cancer research hospital in Melbourne which would also care for patients.   Of course I said ‘yes’ but told her I couldn’t do the full walk, as I had other commitments.   Had I been able to, I’d have done it all but she explained that they had broken the walk into six stages, and I found I could do the last two.   This meant I’d be walking for five days - 25-29 April.   Then came the bad news… the last two stages are a 40° climb!
Alongside Olivia and me will be several sports people - who I’ll be happy to help over the tough bits! - plus other celebrities and a number of cancer survivors.
It’s a great cause and I know that some of you have already been generous enough to sponsor me via the website (www.greatwalktobeijing.com).   I’m hoping to get lots more sponsors and will soon be sending out a letter to my family, friends and fan clubs.  

Two weeks after her first call, Olivia called to ask if I would sing something with her for a recording linked to the Great Walk To Beijing project.   A Canadian writer, Amy Sky, wrote Find A Little Faith, Barry Gibb loaned his studio in Miami and, with Amy producing, I think we made a terrific track.   I hope you like it as much as we do!   At the moment I’m not sure whether it’s to be released as a single or just available for downloads, but we’ll let you know when we can.
So that’s it for the moment.   Thanks again for all your support.   I will of course update you on the Great Walk to Beijing - assuming I don’t fall off!!