I apologize for my neglecting the updating on this blog! Wifi has been spotty and is always out (of course) when the power is out which is at least part of a day, 5 days a week! we have had a good last two weeks , We have traveled back and forth to the village, completed teaching the first two-hour training course focused on the book "lets restore our land" which is an all-inclusive sustainable agriculture guide. We also had a garden day, using the John Deere tractor to do a light tilling on the very weedy garden. I'm looking forward to spending more time in the village, most wednesdays, fridays and saturdays so that we can complete the number of activities and lessons that are planned.. we still have to lay out the combination white plastic mulch with the drip-tape irrigation system on part of it. we still have to get cow manure and compost together and incorporate this into the soil. Then there are the beds with traditional mulch. we need to step up the classes to two times a week with Mwansa and Austin the two gardeners, and Stanley, our great interpreter. There is a need here to understand the value of mulch, so we will be spending a good bit of time on this concept. Karen also has to focus on doing some teaching with the children, doing the Bible story and tutoring with regular schoolwork on Saturdays.
We also have the interesting situation where we need to leave the country as our first month here is up. Instead of going through the hassle of the whole employment thing, if we go on safari in Botswana and then come back in with a new visa, we can then stay for one more month. We didn't know about or plan for the safari to Chiobe national park in Botswana, but now that it is what we need to do for our visas, we are excited! A Swedish couple who were here, booked the same two day-one night safari through Kalahari tours and said it was excellent and they saw many animals! Who knows when we will be able to be back here, if ever, so its a great opportunity to go on a real safari.
Since we may be gone this next thursday and friday, we will probably head out to the village tomorrow and spend the night and wednesday out there. Until next update, Chris
