Greetings from Zimbabwe,

I must apologize for an incomplete sentence in Journal 7. I was in a situation where I was putting final touches to the journal and I had to email it immediately or not get it off at all. In the paragraph where I spoke of the old truck’s condition it should have read; at the moment they are carrying a few chickens at a time to market using public transportation. This is not a good solution and is economically unsound. We are desperate for funds for a more recent model of a truck that is in good running condition. The roads out here are absolutely terrible. As I mentioned we had to replace the leaf springs in our truck.

Tadisa Nyarugwe is pictured at the left. He is the 10 month old son of Godfrey Nyarugwe, our accountant. He is definitely a happy healthy baby. His mother, Naumi, is certain that it is because of the Moringa she uses in her cooking. She was so terribly sick during her pregnancy last year and Godfrey was concerned because she was losing weight. I suggested that he make tea of the moringa leaves and see if she could keep that down. I explained that it would give her the nutrition that she needed. I also explained to him about using it in their cooking. Godfrey did that and the baby weighed 7 lbs. 7 oz. at birth. That is almost unheard of to have a baby of that weight in this country. Babies are usually very small. Research I have read all points to higher birth weights when the mother has moringa in her diet during pregnancy and nursing period.

Excitement last night! Jeff and I were sitting on the veranda after dark because it was too hot to be in the house. We had no electricity and so we couldn’t read or do computer work. All of a sudden I caught movement out of the corner of my eye. I asked Jeff for the flash light but the object was gone. It definitely was not a dog and was much larger than the dogs around here. Jeff had seen it at about the same time I glimpsed it. I am certain that it was a hyena and had probably smelled some scrapes that I had thrown out for the chickens. Jeff agreed but we have no picture to prove it.

More excitement! Mr. Bondeponde came by this morning for a short visit. We were discussing the possibility that we might have seen a hyena. He agreed that it was possible because he says he hears them sometimes. He went on to explain that before we arrived a large cobra was seen crawling into our dry sump. So a group got together and mixed up cement to pour into the hole. End of the snake story. Now Jeff doesn’t want to hang up the laundry. Ha! Ha!

Trevor, the pump installer, was here yesterday to check out our new well and to make final plans for pump installation. We are to meet with him on Tuesday in Harare and finalize what we are going to be able to do. Our major concern is getting the jobs done in a timely fashion. We have had to extend our trip until December 6. Actually we were originally scheduled to arrive in Denver today, October 22.

Thursday, Jeff and I drove to Harare and brought back a new batch of chickens that Godfrey, our accountant had purchased. It was so hot that we came straight out with them and did not tarry. By the next morning we had only lost three which is not bad for the conditions. No. one batch of chickens have all been sold except for 80. The plan is to dress these chickens and put them in the new freezer. This poultry run can then be cleaned in preparation for moving the new batch of chicks into that run when they are three weeks old. Chicks we bought a month ago will be ready for sale in about two or three more weeks. The object is to have 700 chickens ready for market once per month. After all expenses are paid, they are saving the profit so that they can build a larger facility that will house about 5,000 chickens. This is the beginning of helping them to become somewhat independent and not have to rely on ZMP for all of their operating money.

October 25, 2011

We are in Harare and had another meeting with Trevor in regards to the equipment for the wells and accessories. Jeff will be reviewing everything to make certain it is in line with the grant that Ralph wrote. Thankfully, we had planned to stay with Derek Forbes to night. Tomorrow morning we will meet again and give Trevor the go ahead to begin work. This has taken much longer than we would have liked; but, we have to remember we are in Africa.

Derek Forbes is living in Gaisfords house here in Harare. So going there is very familiar. Denise and Fred are in town and so we will have an opportunity to visit with them. It will be so good to see them and have a chance to visit a bit.

Due to the delay in getting all of the wells outfitted our trip home has been delayed. Our new return date is now December 6. Changing our return ended up being a very costly expense. This has become a much longer trip than I had planned for. I am really ready to come home. October weather has finally arrived with a vengeance. The last couple of days have been so hot and it doesn’t cool off much at night. I had difficulty sleeping last night.

I must get this on its way. In closing I ask for your prayers that the final work will go smoothly and that we will be able to cope with the heat.

In His Service,

Roberta