One of the wonderful and difficult things about loving anyone or anything is when things change.  Change gives you so many highs and lows and managing all of that is difficult at best.  As we continue to close out different parts of our work and life here we have been saying bye to many things.  People, places, and events are all part of that.  With only three weeks left here, there are many things to wrap up and getting all of that done is a little mind boggling.  We have been blessed with so many friends become family here and trying to make sure to see them all is a little crazy but also lovely.

 

The farm is going very well with Agustine managing the raised beds and green house for the smaller vegetables that the school uses.  We have been able to work out what vegetables the school uses the most and keep those on a growing rotation.  These include: okra, green peppers, eggplant, different greens, tomatoes, onions, carrots, lemongrass (for morning tea), and ngogwe (think small green eggplant).  The banana, papaya, moringa, lemon, and orange trees are all doing very well and are being used by the school as the fruit ripen.  The corn has been planted and has gotten two good rains so far.  Thankfully God filled the gap several years ago with extra corn that was very useful since last years crop was destroyed by drought.  We are praying that the rains come in well and that this year sees a healthy crop.  The broilers are also doing very well and keeping the school supplied with chicken.  A cow was also butchered to give beef to the school.  Right now there is a steer and a young bull that are either going to be food for the school or sold to give extra funds toward buying things that we just cannot supply.  Things like cooking oil, rice, salt, and pilau seasoning (a rice dish) just aren’t inside the realm of possibilities but with the things that are being sold (ie chicken and possibly beef) we hope that the cash will be able to cover or help cover those costs.

Phillip has been able to help get the farm budgeted and see what works and what isn’t working.  He has trained Ishmael on how to do weekly and monthly budgets.  Agustine went to an accounting training weekend recently to help him have a better understanding of what needs to be happening with the farm budget and we are grateful for his willingness to get this extra learning.  Creating and implementing a budget was not what we thought we would be spending so much time on but we are glad that it has happened and pray that it will continue to be used and useful in keeping the farm moving forward as it helps the school be more self sufficient.

*Sorry for the picture overload but it’s so pretty with all of the rain we have gotten! 🙂

Kisongo church is doing well as they work to learn how to fulfill their God given rolls.   The women teach a small children’s class and a larger children’s class every Sunday.  Right now I am teaching through the book of James in the women’s Sunday class until I leave but they are more than ready to take that back over. Phillip, Rodrick and Shadrack are teaching the teens…..

And now six years later…How did I never post this???? Well, I know how, covid hit, the world shut down, we had to leave because of residence permits and time moves so quickly! Now we are in another new season of life. Please follow along as we start on this new journey. If you would like to be removed from this email list PLEASE let me know! We will only be updating about once a month and I can’t promise that the pictures will be as beautiful as they were during our time in Tanzania.