Dear Friends
Earlier this season the Chifuti Safaris and Safari Classics family lost one of our own, Professional Hunter Owain Lewis. Owain gave his life protecting members of the hunting party under his care in a desperate struggle with a wounded buffalo. Besides the loss of this fine man and friend, there remained the pain, unspeakable feeling of loss, and financial hardships that faced the love of his life, his wife Robbie. The hunting community, and members of the Accurate Reloading family in particular responded in splendid fashion to the memorial fund Safari Classics put in place in an effort to ease the financial burdens facing Robbie. Your prayers, letters , and emails have meant the world to this good woman, as well as Owains two grown children. But typical of hunters, you put your money , and in this case your heart where your mouth is, and came through in unprecedented fashion. To date you have honored the memory of Owain with donations amounting $42,988
I am honored to know people of your caliber and commitment! Owains son Rowan will be coming on line to express his thoughts and to say Thank You for your generosity. He is truly the son of Owain. This has been a labor of love born from tragedy, but it has shown the true nature of some very good people. GOD bless every one of you who has helped. Rowan will be forwarding his and Robbie's email for those of you who want to send a personal message or just to keep in touch. In the event that anyone would like to make a future donation, you may do so by making a check directly to Robbie.
Robin Lewis
Owain Lewis Memorial Fund
PO BOX 151
Kimberton,PA
19442
Rowan will be managing this for his mom.
Once again, GOD bless all who reached out.
Our deepest thanks to you all!
Dave

Dave, thanks for the follow-up and the kind words!

Wonderful friends, such generous and wonderful friends, your selflessness and overwhelming generosity toward our family and in particular toward my mother, has left us all - my mother Robbie, my sister Sherry and me humbled and in even greater awe of the deep and genuine love that engendered the man who inspired your incredible actions of kindness - our beloved Dad, Owain Templeton Lewis. Owain has always been a man deeply respected, sought out for his wisdom, dependable and honest to his word. However, like I said at his burial, he did not give his life up for others just on that fateful day with the buffalo, but as a way of life, always giving of himself for the sake of others - the elderly, the orphaned, the downtrodden, the wayward, the homeless, broken hearted, and lost. He was a shepherd, a nurturer, a defender of righteousness, a good man, a great friend, and a man who lived his life from his very deep and encompassing heart. He has touched so many lives in a positive way during his 67 years. Although we still mourn him, and miss him sorely, his life lives on in us and in all those who shared the privilege of being loved by him, even if just a little. As a father he taught me the love of God, not by words but by how he loved me unconditionally. He taught me how to be truly free.

Our thanks to Dave Fulson, the Safari Classics team and the the Chifuti Safaris family for all you have done to help us make this sad transition following Owain's death more bearable. And to all of you who have called, written, prayed and contributed toward the Owain Lewis Memorial Fund I extend our most sincere thanks.

I am making my way back to Africa this weekend where I will spend two weeks with my Mom. it will be a hard time ... and a good time, as we reminisce and reflect, cry, laugh and heal. Please feel free to write us or call us and catch up. We are a close family, and will treasure your stories, reflections and memories of the experiences you might have shared with our precious Owain. His trackers Kainos and Kamba also keep in close contact with us, visiting with Robbie periodically by phone or in person.

Robbie can be emailed at <damvuri@iwayafrica.com> and I can be reached at <lewis_rowan@yahoo.com>. If you wish to chat I will share my phone numbers by email. All correspondence will be forwarded to my sister Sherry and her family also. Sadly we all live on different continents, but love makes the distances shorter.

We bless you for blessing us, may your harvests be plentiful from the seed you have sown. Amen.
Rowan Lewis

Dave your help for this family is extremely gracious and you cannot be thanked enough for your efforts.

Dave, thank you for the update. Rowan, I am sorry indeed that I never had a chance to meet your father. He obviously leaves a legacy of an unusual richness, and one that any decent fellow would be proud to aspire to.

he was an inspiration to all and anyone who came into contact with him ....and for that matter many who did not

Rowan,
My wife and I hunted out of Mwanja in July. We had seen your father many times on TV, and looked forward to meeting him in person. Sadly, it was not to be. One measure of a man's life is the impact he has on others after his passing, and, from all accounts, your family was truly blessed having him as husband and father. To quote from a memorial to another man taken too early, "Life is not about the duration, but about the donation." May the love of your family, friends, and Our Lord guide you through this difficult time.
Tim Ferrall

Thank you Fairgame, Bill, Ivan and Tim.

As much as it is still a shock to come to terms with Owain no longer being physically present with us, being able to chat about him, share in the stories and encouragement from others who knew him or knew of him, or wished they had been blessed to have known him all helps with the healing of our hearts.

I am presently visiting with my mother, Robbie, in Zambia at a mission base where I teach a Wilderness First Responder course for young career missionaries. I trust she will be blessed by the diverse support of the many young people out here who will find her own experience of a life lived with Owain in the African wilderness invaluable as they develop their foundations for a life of investing love into others on this continent and beyond. This has been an element of our shared lives and ministry, particularly in the areas where Owain and I used to hunt.

Robbie has also just returned from a week in the Chewore experiencing the camps and Zambezi Valley bush and diverse wildlife where her husband loved to be, but always believed he would come home to her from. She was his priority. It was a hard trip for her but a blessed time also. Thank you all for your kind words and prayers.
Rowan

Robbie is in the USA with my wife and me for Christmas. Owain was with us last year - so it is a sad occasion in some ways, but we are glad to have time together with family. The three of us plan to be at the DSC Convention in Dallas TX this January, so we hope to see many of Owain's friends and folks who supported us so generously, and thank you personally. We plan to hub through the Chifuti Safaris & Safari Classics booths. We look forward to seeing you all there.

Merry Christmas to Robbie and the family. I will see you at DSC to wish you a better 2013.

Merry CHRISTMAS to the Lewis family.
I hope & pray for the healing of your hearts.

Dave, Thank you for the Update & contact Info.