The Eleventh Day

It was hot here today. It reached 100 degrees around 1:00 PM. I’m sure it got hotter from there but I quit checking. We went to the shamba (farm) today. Jason and Dan were surprised at how green everything is. The dormitories are almost complete. One of the tanks that will be used to raise tilapia and catfish has been built. Jason has a pump that is powered by the river current that will be used to  pump water from the river about to the farm. The line for the pump has already been run and the water storage container has been installed on top of one of a storage building. The farm will grow citrus fruit (oranges, tangerines, lemons and limes), mangoes, corn, beans, skuma wiki (collard greens) and other basic foods. The farm will also have a greenhouse for growing tomatoes, black-eyed peas and a nursery.

We also went to see the school building we worked on back in June. A lot of progress has been made on the building. The building is not complete, building can only progress as funds are available, but it is being used for church services and teaching literacy. Agape also has seven donated sewing machines and will start holding dress making classes in January. The man who owns the adjacent property built apartments on his portion of the lot. The apartments are built as close as possible to the property line. The land owner does not appreciate having a Christian neighbor and has done everything possible to make the situation as difficult as he can.

Most of the work here is difficult. There is opposition from certain groups in the local population. The weather is hot and dry. What little vegetation does grow here naturally is covered in thorns, even the grass, and can cause an allergic reaction similar to poison ivy. As difficult as the work is, the need is even greater. The people here desperately need many things but most of all they need to know the love of Christ.