Overwhelmed in Africa

I spent my first week in Arusha with Simeon and Janelle and their little guy Malachi who is 8 months old. They are a wonderful couple who made me feel so at home the minute I walked in (at 11pm). The ECHO conference was a great way to meet so many people in the same field, but I feel I did not truly benefit because I was too tired and overwhelmed by the newness of everything. Oh well, that’s the way she goes :)

For the first three days here in Dodoma I have been spending the day out at Chididomo (which is about a 45 minute drive and someday I will post pictures of the ‘road’). Grant (South Africa) and Graham (Arusha) are here to teach the local people about Farming Gods Way. I am very grateful that Grant and Graham were here to give this training season to the people as I have learned a lot too.

Sitting at the back of the class Graham and Grant asked the group if any of them have stood in line for food aid at some point in their lives. Tears filled my eyes when I saw that every hand in the room of 40 some people went up, except for those of us who were white. I am still not sure exactly how I feel about that fact, but it hurts. It is like all those TV ads but this made it so real for me. 

I know have some idea of where to start. We are setting up demonstration gardens at the Chididomo school so I have a place to gather people and teach them. I am looking forward to learning from the people more details of how they farm and how we can build on that so they are more fruitful. We will have 9 demo gardens to start with and may increase it to 12. 

On Wednesday we planted our Well Watered Garden with the group that has been learning about Farming Gods Way this week from Grant and Graham. It was my first test to see how well I can handle the heat and I think I passed (although I think I have a little bit of heat exhaustion and slightly burnt). I have no idea how hot it was, most likely mid 30’s, and by the end of the day I was wiped. 8pm and I am ready for bed!

There is so much more I could write and I know I could give many more details, but this will have to do for this week.And hopefully there will a few pictures soon :)