OK, remember I told you that I’d have photos of the goats that I bought with your donations . . . Well, things don’t always work out in Congo as planned.
First off, I had planned to give the goats to widows in Mususu, Walungu Territory, which is a 2-3 hour drive away depending on weather and road conditions. What I did not realize (had not asked nor even imagined!) was that we had to buy the goats in Bukavu, then transport them ourselves to Mususu by pick-up truck. Apparently, there are few goats in and around Mususu, which is why we had to buy them in town, then transport them to the country.
Our guard, Edou, and the Chief of Bozonga.
Now picture 18 goats in the back of a pick-up truck, with two of us sitting in back holding onto their leads so they don't jump out, bumping along on roads with potholes the size of craters. Pretty wild, eh? That’s what I thought, but I continued to consider the idea until fighting broke out in Ulvira, which is in the vicinity of Mususu, and it became clear that giving goats to widows in Walungu Territory was NOT happening.
Country kids bringing home firewood.
Traveling around Walungu without a guard with a truck-load of goats would not have been a smart thing to do. Not only would the goats probably not get there, but we might have been confiscated as well!
Driving in Walungu on a good day.
So I decided that giving microloans to the widows next trip would be with wisest thing to do.
What happened to the donations meant for goats?
Well, check in tomorrow and you'll find out . . . .
With love and gratitude,
No comments:
Post a Comment