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August 17, 2006
Delivering the Birds & Bicycles
Violet holding her hens.
17 August 2006
For the past two days, we've been delivering the chickens and bicycles to the families participating in the TASO Mbale Smallholder Poultry Project for Vulnerable Youth. It has been VERY stressful...
Time. In the US, time is everything. If you're late to work, you lose your job. If you're late for a party, you offend your host. If you're late, you're in trouble (most of the time). Time isn't so important here. Like yesterday, I asked a man at TASO for the time. He looked at his watch, which read 11:30am, and said, "It's half past eleven." "It can't be," I said. I checked the time on my cell phone. It was 1:05pm. I wonder how long his watch has been off by over an hour. Regardless, the deliveries were set to begin at 8:30am. We didn't get on the road until after 1pm. Today and yesterday.
Patience. That's what they say I need. I've spent so many restless hours waiting for someone or something since I've been here. I find myself becoming less patient and more frustrated. No, angry. One of my roommates at the CURE guesthouse, Ihlo, told me I'd notice a difference back home. We'll see. I'll probably just be late for everything.
We reached 6 families yesterday, 7 today. Two hens died along the way, but not because of poor care; we suspect sickness. We purchased the cocks from NARO, and the hens were collected from local farmers that are participating in a smallholder poultry project administered by TEDDO. The farmer vaccinated the hens one week ago, so who knows.
Children help load over 80 hens onto the truck.
Several of the families have been working hard this week to construct houses for the birds using local materials; others already had chicken coops. TASO counselors will monitor the project by visiting the homes monthly. In addition, TASO community chairpersons and nurses will aid the TASO counselors with monitoring and evaluation of the project.
James embraces his new chicken.
Eight families remain. I hope we get a vehicle tomorrow. I hope we set out before noon. But, I need to remember that it's not good to have expectations. I wanted to see each family receive their birds and bike, but if I don't witness each delivery, that's ok.
And although it has been VERY stressful, the smiles on the childrens' and guardians' faces when we hand over the hens and bikes melt the worries and anxieties away.
Robert explains the intended uses of Peter's new bike.
Posted by kmf23 at August 17, 2006 06:22 PM
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Comments
Kel-Dr.Pav is right!!! Life does go by too fast...RELAX,sit back and be proud of what you have accomplished!!I'm excited everything is working out...I hope everything turns out ok for Wickliff...he and his grandma are in my prayers! love you!!!-Maria ps effie says hello
Posted by: Maria at August 17, 2006 11:40 PM
Kelly, learn to enjoy "life without clocks"-how wonderful that would be! Life goes by too fast in this country. Too fast and too stressful! Take it slow and cherish the looks on those kids' faces when they hold a chicken or ride a bike! God bless you! Dr Pav
Posted by: Dr Pav at August 17, 2006 10:08 PM
Kelly.... maybe I missed this in a previous post, but how is it ensured that the chickens aren't eaten...? They're just for laying eggs to sell, right?
Time frustrations aside -- how wonderful that things are moving along!
Tracy
Posted by: Tracy at August 17, 2006 09:43 PM