Anticipating Great Things

This is one of the hardest updates I've ever had to do not because progress isn't being made, but because I've got so much to cover. The last two weeks or so have been filled with many disappointments and encouragements. Last Saturday we went to watch the U.S. vs Ghana World Cup game at a local house that had a generator and a TV. After about an hour, my wallet got uncomfortable, so I took it out of my back pocket and set it between my legs. As you know the US lost. Frustrated with the outcome of the game, I left quickly to avoid the taunting that had already begun, leaving my wallet behind.

The next morning I realized I left it behind and went straight back to the house. After having to explain what a wallet was, the boys said they hadn't seen one, so we continued to make our way around the village, asking everyone who was in attendance the night before if they had seen it. As we made our way around, even stopping by the local "African Doctor"(aka witchdoctor) to ask their advice (not my idea), we began to hear rumors that the boys were headed off to Kande, a local town where you can exchange foreign currency. Immediately, I knew they had my wallet. We made our way to Kande and found the boys in the market. They admitted they had found the wallet, but had thrown it into the bushes because they were afraid that the villagers would beat them because they found it without any money in it. I told them this was ridiculous and asked them to show us where they had put the wallet. On our bike ride back, I noticed one of them had a bulge in their cargo pant pocket. Asking them to stop and empty their pockets, we found 2000 kwacha. They said they had earned it from selling cassava chips (a local treat) at the school. I didn't count the wad of cash at the time, as I hadn't gotten my wallet back yet. When we arrived back at their house, they pulled the wallet out of the bush, and indeed there was no cash in it. Frustrated, I began to ask them what they were doing in Kande, as it didn't make any sense, outside of exchanging cash, for them to go there. At this time, the boys parents came over. As it is cultural here, we sat down in their house to discuss the disagreement. As the boys pitched their case, and my team of interpreters repeated mine, I had the time to count the kwacha and do some math in my head. Then it clicked. There was no way the boys would've made 2000 kwacha (about 2 months wage here, or $12 USD), and if they had, they'd have it locked away in their house and not their pocket, as this is quite a savings here. I had my conclusion interpreted to their parents and they agreed. The boys were caught. The parents were extremely embarrassed. And I was frustrated that I was lied to. Luckily, the money lost wasn't a substantial amount and the wallet had been recovered. The parents apologized profusely and it was up to me to determine a punishment. Unsure what would be appropriate, I told them I'd get back to them, but wished to somehow turn this negative into a positive. As is customary with all disputes that arise in the village, the chief requested to schedule a meeting with me the next day. Frustrated with not only the situation, but also lots of other things I had seen in my short time here, I sat down to write out what I wanted to discuss with the chief. The following is a short story I wrote to help the villagers understand what I was feeling:

There was a farmer who was given an incredibly sweet cassava. One that would surely produce more and taste very good. Unfortunately, he was only given a few seeds, enough to plant only a very small amount. "That's OK," he thought. "I will simply plant these seeds, let them grow and when these plants bear seeds, I will collect them to produce more. Then I will have enough to plant an entire field of this yummy goodness." (not sure how yummy goodness translated)

Unfortunately, the farmer was an unskilled farmer, having previously been a fisherman. He was unaware he needed to clear the land before he planted the seeds. Not knowing this, he simply scattered the seeds amongst a field of thorns that was near his house. Eventually, the seeds began to grow into small plants. There was much hope for them and the new farmer was excited about his successes. The farmer continued to water and nurture his plants, but they stopped growing, and had yet to produce seeds. Eventually, they started to die. The farmer, frustrated and disappointed, decided to leave to go back to fishing, figuring he was never going to be a successful farmer. Little did he know the success he could have had if he had just cleared the field of the thorn bushes before he planted his precious seeds. Had he done that, the seeds would've produced thousands of seeds, because you see, the thorn bushes had suffocated the new plants, taking away any water and nutrients that would've made the plants continue to grow.

This is merely a story to help you understand what we, RIPPLE and Taking Back Lives, is trying to do here in this community. We have very limited resources and there is an incredible need, but the thorns that exist is what is holding all of us back. We want to be able to help you all out of poverty, but we don't have enough to help everyone, so we choose to help the few we can, hoping that the seeds they bear will enable us to help others. When we help the few we are able to, those of you who didn't get the help get jealous and take the things we've given them. It's not just the money that was lost in a wallet, it's the punches thrown at a soccer match because your team lost, the kid who was beat up because his family brought home a mattress, the chief who complains we're helping one community over another. Our goal is to help you all, but we simply don't have enough seeds. The jealousy that you have for one another is the thorns that are holding us back. When we help someone, do not be jealous. It means we're trying to obtain seeds to help you all, be joyous, be helpful, don't let jealousy continue to destroy the work we are trying to do for you all.

The next day, I sat down with the chief and shared with him this story. He was impressed and very much understood that jealousy is a big issue in the community. During the meeting, I also discussed Taking Back Lives plans for the community development program and how I'd have two colleagues coming out in a week or two to research this. Excited about the prospect of a program in his village, and agreeing that jealousy needed to be addressed, the chief setup a meeting with the community.

This meeting was yesterday and went better then ever expected. The community also agreed that jealousy was a problem, and saw how it was preventing development from flourishing. They, too, were also excited about the prospect of a community development program that they decided to start an adult literacy class at the local primary school so they could learn English and be ready for when we have the funding to start a community development program. This class is going to be taught voluntarily by one of the translators who helped initially with my wallet situation. I am continually amazed by this community. This has all primarily been driven by them and truly shows their eagerness to better their own lives through education. I plan to setup meetings with other area chiefs to share my story and discuss setting up additional adult literacy classes in their communities.

As for the classroom block, construction is coming along great. We finished the floor yesterday and started erecting walls this morning. We are currently four full days ahead of schedule and have all our supplies outside of steel roofing panels and beams, so we should be able to remain ahead, if not get even further ahead of schedule. I'm also very excited to pick up Cassie and Nina on Sunday at the airport. The next few blogs will be about our travels and discoveries, as we further research how to help this community develop.

A Foundation to Stand Upon

Today, the foundation was completed. Construction here takes time. I originally thought the foundation we dug last week would be entirely filled with cement, as we do in America. However, this is not America, this is Africa. Instead, a six inch layer of concrete and stones was poured into the trenches, upon which a thirty-six inch wall was erected on top of. Then the exterior walls were plastered. As you can imagine, this all took much longer then I had originally envisioned. But non-the-less a foundation is in the ground. Tomorrow we begin laying the steel and brick that will reinforce the floor of the classrooms. I've learned that construction here is like stepping into a time before all forms of machinery and everything is built with with your hands. It's been quite an experience learning how you do things when you don't have things like cement trucks and cranes.

I'm sure you are all more interested in learning more about the people and the students whom we are helping with these classrooms then the actual construction itself. I have had an incredible time getting to know the local people and am still learning how they live life on a day to day basis. I have learned that life here can be incredibly frustrating at times. However, it's been amazing to experience how the people here are able to focus on the things that truly matter. They don't get upset with their circumstances, but rather care more about spending time with their family and friends. I've developed some incredible friendships in a short amount of time. My next few blogs will be dedicated to introducing you all to these amazing people.

Something in the Ground

After two long years, Taking Back Lives can officially say we have something in the ground here in Malawi. The last two days have been spent digging the foundation of the school and today we are finally pouring the concrete. As one can imagine, construction here takes much longer then in America. Everything is done by hand. Shovel full after shovel full, we're finally ready to pour the concrete.

It's been incredibly exciting, as the students have returned to school this week (there was a national holiday last week, so there was no school the entire week), they are all very enthusiastic about their new school block and are continually saying "thank you" every time I stop into one of their classrooms during a break in the construction process. To see their faces and the joy they get from a simple "Hello" from the "Azungoo" (white person) makes this whole two year process worth it. I'm very excited to share with you all in this process and wish that you could all be here to experience the hope that you all have given. It's simply amazing and awe inspiring to be doing this.

Again, thank you for being a part of this. No words can express the thanks that these students and their parents have for what you have done for them.

(I've taken several hundred photos and about 3 hours of video so far, but unfortunately, due to slow connection speeds, I've only been able to upload a few photos. I'll be sure to share everything when I get home.)

Anticipation

Someone at Tampa International has a sense of humor. As I walked to my gate early Monday morning to begin my trek to Malawi, the PA system was playing the song Anticipation by The Temptations... I don't think a better word could have described the moment for me. After 2 years of fund-raising, here I was about to embark upon a 3 month journey to construct a classroom block. The opportunity of a lifetime was before me. To say the least, it was a moment I anticipated.

In the 48 hours since, I have successfully made my way to Mwaya Beach, the home of RIPPLE Africa, where I will be spending my next 3 months. Having traveled half a world away, crossing the Atlantic Ocean, stopping in 3 nations on 2 continents along the way, it is nice to finally be settled in.

Tomorrow I will travel to the Mazembe Primary School to discuss where the block will be laid out, inspect the construction materials that have arrived and to check on the status of the remaining orders. I am unsure when we'll actually break ground, but it is surely a moment we are all anticipating.

1 Week

ONE week from today I will be touching down in Lilongwe, Malawi. It seems too surreal. After two years of pouring our blood, sweat and tears into our fundraising efforts to help some of the poorest people in the world, I am about to embark on a 3 month journey to construct a school for their children to have a better tomorrow. I sit here amazed at the efforts of all those who have made this trip possible. First to Kay Yoder, our executive director at Taking Back Lives, no one will ever know how much she has sacrificed to see this dream become a reality. To Cassandra, our founder, who has spent endless hours researching how to best help these kids. To all the students who came out to our events. To the walkers who raised nearly $10,000. To the campers who raised nearly $5,000. To the ball persons who have helped raise $12,000. Thank you! You will never know how much hope you have given to these children and their parents. Through your efforts, Taking Back Lives is able to provide a fully equipped classroom block to enable the students who attend the Mazembe Primary School to better their own lives.

I'm excited to be able to partake in this journey and honored to oversee this process. I do not take my responsibility lightly. I owe it to all of you to keep you up to date on the results of your hard work. I intend to post weekly updates, however due to the unreliable nature of the internet and electricity in Malawi, I can only promise to post bi-weekly at best. Please subscribe to this blog if you'd like to receive these updates. I will also be bringing a video camera, laptop, and lots and lots of film to do my best to capture this pinnacle moment in our efforts.

Thanks to you, the bricks have been made, the timber's been cut, and the concrete has been ordered.
The only thing left is to construct the school.