Elder’s Meeting
Mbwenu had an elders meeting this morning. I think they are making a plan for us to attend the life groups in the different areas. They sat out front and chatted for a while. I am glad it has cleared after the heavy rain and hail storm of last night.
We ate our breakfast and got ready to go to Manymula. For some reason, Lawrence and I both have an upset stomach this morning. We can see no cause and thankfully doesn’t last long.
Market Day
Today is Saturday, Market Day! People are everywhere! It reminds me of a flea market at home. People come from all around to sell their stuff!. This is the busiest day of the week for the regular little shops, and they are doing great business.
Visiting Matthew and Neema
We are checking on the bicycles. They are still working on them. So we head out of town to Matthew and Neema Phiri’s home. It seems a long way down series of narrow bumpy roads. We finally arrive.
All the neighbors were there to greet us. Matthew and Neema were obviously excited to see us. Introductions are made and then we take a tour of their farm. They have only been back on the land for two seasons. Matthew is very proud of his progress and has great plans for his farm and the community.
Chickens
First, the stop at the chicken house which has three rooms. One for local chickens, one for exotics, and one for new breeds. He explains that it is very hard to get protein. Next, he shows us a small home he had built for the farmhand who works for him. It is very nice.
Healing Hands International Agricultural Workshop
This community received an Agricultural Workshop by Healing Hands International at some point and is excited to show off the garden they planted using their new skills. It is completely fenced and has a drip irrigation system in place. The garden is growing great. We see several fields surrounding this garden. Maize is growing and groundnuts, which we call peanuts at home.
Sharing Dreams
Matthew is the village headman over 16 villages. As we talk under the trees he tells Lawrence that he is giving him land to build a house. Lawrence laughs and tells him he has only known him for one week. We are called in for lunch. Two local ministers are there as we gather around a table and share lunch. Our meal was the traditional chicken in gravy, rice, sima, and greens. Wanangwa brought soda from her shop for us to drink.
After lunch, Matthew takes us to the land he wants to give us and shares his dreams with us. He wants his community to know God and shows us where he would like to give us land for a church building and a house. Bruce is the local minister here who holds services under some trees. We chat with him for a while. He tells us about his work.
As Headman, Matthew serves as a judge for offenders and is hoping to build a courtroom, a community center as well as a medical clinic. The land he is showing us is in a central location for the surrounding villages. He spreads his arms over the land and says these are my dreams. Oh, the good he would love to do for his people.
While Matthew is sharing his dreams Esther and Wanangwa go with Neema to the cassava field and are soon back with cassava.
We go back to the house and exchange our contact information. We had a nice lunch and outing with Matthew and Neema. Neema also asked for a WBS lesson to take. We wave bye to all the children and new friends of the day.
Back to Manyamula
On our trip home we stop back at Manyamula. They were still working on the bicycles. We sat in the shade and watched them. We were very excited as I said yesterday that these were former WBS students and are doing well.
As we sat on the bench a very drunk school teacher named Job came to talk with us. He was very impressed with Lawrence’s mustache. He has a mustache too. Job teaches primary school. Job stayed with us for a long while. I finally had to excuse myself. Mbwenu was soon back and rescued Lawrence from the mustache admirer.
The bicycles were finished and some young people from our village were happy to be the first riders of four brand new bikes. They road them all the way home for us!
Back at home, Wanangwa cooks dinner. We eat dinner. I do some writing and we get ready for bed.