Thursday: Chicken Shelves and Debating

 

Our adventures today were divided up in completely different areas.  This morning Mpeli and Neema had to rush to the hospital because Stephen, DBLCH worker, was worse from malaria and in very serious condition.   They spent most of the morning with Stephen and his family.  

After they returned from the hospital, Mpeli, Sadiki, and I went to the farm to put in laying shelves in the chicken barn.   In Tanzania, they put sawdust on the floor of the chicken barn and the chicken lay eggs on the floor.   I shared with them a “new idea” of putting in shelves for the chicken to sit on.   This was an adaptation of the chicken coops of my Marion County, South Carolina, childhood.   My grandparents’ and our chickens always had high-rise setting areas.   We used available materials and purchased some timber to make a stone and timber high-rise chicken sitting shelves.   Mpeli also brought some sugar cane for planting because the DBLCH children love sugar cane.   Kairo and Guiness (farm helpers) picked pumpkin greens for the children.   Right now the farm is in transition.  A new variety of corn allows for early harvest—probably next month.   Already a crop of beans has been harvested.  Peanuts followed them in the same field.   A lot of tomatoes are planted.   I messed up in taking a few pictures—pictures of us eating bush burgers will have to wait until I return home.   One of the women, Mary Fidelis, is an excellent example of the women of the Kidetete village.  Mary opened up a “restaurant” to serve tea, snacks, and items that she has cooked.   She also is gathering firewood which she sold to DBLCH.   She also served as local nurse today.   Two children got in a fight and one of them was hit with a small rock.   The top of his head was bleeding.   Mpeli got him to Mama Fidelis and she doctored on him.  He was smiling and sitting with other children at Mama Fidelis’ snack and tea bar. 

 

At the bar was Wal-mart on wheels.   One man there had his bicycle loaded down with everything from clothes to pans.   He rides to the villages selling things off his bicycle.  He was a customer of Mama Fidelis’ tree-shaded tea and snack bar.

 

After we visited the farm and had an afternoon snack of peanuts and coffee,  I listened to a debate in English by some of the DBLCH children.   They debated which was more important - money or education.  The top argument in the debate was, “I read, read, read in the evening.  I go to school and the first thing the teacher asks for is money.   So, money must be more important than education. “   NO ONE helped them with the debate.   Considering the youngest debater was six years old, the children did an excellent job.    Neema has started the debate system to improve their English.  This way they are learning to think in English, not just learn words.  

 

After the debate, we had our worship service.   The children sang and sang tonight.   Each of their choirs sang.   Four of the young people gave their testimonies, Teresa, Aleena, Agnes, and Doreen (formerly Halima).  Doreen shared how she thanked God because when she came to DBLCH she could not read or write.   That was seven years ago.   She gave her testimony partly in English.   What is amazing is that she skipped a grade on her seven-year journey to be a top student. 

Mpeli and Neema have asked that we find someone in the USA to come and teach English to the children beginning September 1.    In order for the children to move on in their education (especially those graduating from Secondary School) they have to improve their English.   Please pray for the person or persons God is calling.   Teaching will involve writing, reading, and conversational English.  

I had to share with you a picture of Winnie (2 yrs), DrJFloydie (2 yrs), and Tunda (6 yrs).