at nqutu
Dear Family and friends,
This may be a quickie. I’m waiting to leave from a place. I’ve spent
quite a bit of time this morning teaching email? so now I’ve a couple
of minutes.
Each day has been so different.
On Monday we spent about 9 hours in church? an awesome worship
followed by a meal and a meeting that brought together the circuit
council and the partnership committee? the question of the day is
what role does the circuit want to play in agricultural things? it’s
a conversaion one piece at a time?
Monday we got to see a place where the chief offered to the church
some land that is well fenced and would work well for the raising of
chickens. The feeling I had was that our presence was “political
capital”? offering to people the opportunity for their own
negotiations?
Then on Tuesday we went over some mountains to a valley where the
government had put in a large water pump to pump water from the river.
But communication breakdowns and misunderstandings had prevented
anything from happening. So the pump and the irrigation system sat
unused. So we were in the position of mediatiors. We find that there
are resources available but that there is not always the connecting of
the dots? or there is a piece missing to use the technology. So, we
have been doing bits of teaching and encouragement along the way.
Sometimes it is as simple as stating that one could do a double or a
triple row of onions instead of a single row. Sometimes it is helping
them to know what to do with a particular bug? sometimes it is
helping them to realize that there are incountry resources.
Yesterday we saw Longlands, a very large farm that has been returned
to the Zulu? however, there is no water. But the land is very
beautiful and has been fully farmed in the past. Much larger than can
be farmed with even a small tractor, but no funds to begin the
farming. So how? That is the question. Mark and John, we really
needed you yesterday, although Dan did a great job. Lots of space for
corn? which is what they want to plant. More when we are in person.
These past few days I’ve begun to long to go home for brief moments?
but then we get so involved for the day that there really aren’t
moments to think about it. And people have been so very very generous
and kind that one feels totally undeserving. Yesterday I was
“installed” as a Zulu woman? wow.
God is good. The miracles and the provisions for the day keep
happening. I can’t wait to tell you all about it in person.
Oh yes, people get a big kick of the fact that I can’t quit asking
questions? nothing has changed!!! I keep saying, “one more
question”? and then there is one more, and so forth.
God bless you. I’ll see you soon!
Becky