March 20, 2008

Where do I start? The magic has continued. A group of seven Americans just left. They jumped in and got to work. They organized the office, painted and redecorated the beauty salon. We now have a hair dressing room, a facial room, and a color cosmetics room. The sewing training center is open. We had a little misunderstanding about it. The women kept hesitating to move in and I just could not understand. It turns out they were using it to meet their boyfriends at night. So… I’m glad they have a new chance for love BUT the sewing training room is open and locked at night.

The volunteers also got all the storage areas cleaned and organized and Suzie had lots of opportunity to train about what actually causes Fistula. The women were so relieved to realize that it is only a physical problem and really not a curse from God.

The funniest story of the trip: We were on our way to Bonga in a small mini van. It’s a five hour trip into the southern jungle from the nearest airport. Really, we had to go. We’re from Colorado — we can do it outside. So we stopped and we were almost in ready position. Suddenly we heard a rustle, then another, then another. In seconds we had a man WITH A SPEAR and another with a MACHETE(!!!!) watching us. Needless to say we hopped back in and waited for our driver to find us a better stop. I still can’t stop laughing.

The trip to educate the people in the countryside was wonderful! We figured that we got a chance to speak to at least 50,000!!!!! They really got it and their response was so encouraging. I’ve been working all day on a proposal for more funding.

But, this is the best news of all….. After nine months of fighting for a Chicken farm we are open!!!!!!

This is the only problem: I’m not sure we can really slaughter any of them. They all have names already and our rooster I named after my husband, Kevin. How about if we reexamine the business plan and just sell eggs?

Tonight we have several more American volunteers coming from Kenya and then tomorrow I am working with someone from IFISH to start an HIV testing project. Wouldn’t it be awful if we teach the women how to live financially and they are actually sick?

Yesterday I had lunch with Cristina and someone from UNFPA. All kinds of good ideas are brewing. But until then, I miss you, margaritas, and Starbucks!