African Community Project

I have written many times about my love: hate relationship with goats. They destroy many seedlings that are planted out every year in our project. Villagers spend lots of time trying to protect their new trees, building thorn and pole fences around their trees.
At the tree nursery at Minga Basic School we lost 10,000 seedlings overnight to a herd of village goats. We are now building wire fences around some of our plantations and nurseries for protection it is working well. Just that they are expensive to construct but can be moved to other location once the trees are well established. When you talk to villagers about the goats they have very strong arguments why their goats should be aloud to roam freely.
OK. That is my hate side now for the love side! When the young man comes to the back door with goat parts on the back of his bike just after dawn you make your selection. Usually a full shank, skinned but still lots of hair stuck to it and still warm. The brazier used for boiling water is usually still warm from making coffee so you cut your shank into eatable chunks put it in a large pot and parboil it for at least an hour. Let it cool and keep the flies off it until supper time. Than onto the barbie! Yummy! That is how I love my goats!

Norbet Nguluwe the son of Felix finally got his medicine today for Rabbi’s. It has been a long wait since I sent the money in January for the Rabbi’s shots. But I am relieved. Since he was the youngest of Felix’s kids he would always ride in the cab of the truck with Felix and I, when we would go out visiting the villages taking school supplies or seeds. I know Felix and Charity are relieved that their son is going to be OK (we hope); I sure am. Now let’s get back to work!

I feel so hopeless sitting here in Canada waiting for news on the fate of Felix’s son, Norbet. The money I sent in January has still not arrived in Petauke sent by Western Union. Western Union is moving very slowly on this problem or should I now say not moving at all! Even sending more would not help. Felix is travelling every day to Petauke over 30 kilometres. The rains are preventing him to use his bike so he walks. He could catch a bus but his money has run out.

On the 28th night I got a message from Felix telling me one of his boys had been bitten by a mad dog and that he desperately needed money for a series of Rabbi shots. This message came in the middle of the night here in Canada so first thing the next morning I went to Western Union and sent the money needed. We use Western Union to send money because the facilitators can just go to the Post Office and pick it up. Yes it is costly but banks at this time are not an option. Western Union money is sent within 2 hours. Here is where the problem is. The Post Office has no money. Felix has been travelling the 40 kilometres on his bike to pick it up every day but no money. It is now a week! The boy is still waiting for his medicine. Today is Friday and there is still no money in the Post Office. I am now waiting for Felix’s call to see if it has finally arrived.

January is gone! The crops will be well on their way and weeding will start to slow done. I have been told the crops will be good. That is if the weather cooperates. They still need rains; not too much, but we will never know with all this climate change until the crops are safely in the storerooms. I am almost finished my ‘how to book’ and will be booking my flight to Zambia for the first part of March. I will spend much time in Lusaka doing business with the government and a week long workshop with all the facilitators and staff of ACP from all over Zambia.