House of Faith - picture taken some time ago....

A message from Mike in Zambia -Tue Nov 13, 2007 (edited):

It was a special meeting yesterday. I saw Chief Mukuni with what was probably an investor. The Chief probably asked for the meeting to fit the schedule of the investor, probably only in the country for a few days. Anyway, the council called half a dozen of us for our "interview". I had to pay k900,000 for the sitting, which seemed outrageous, but the others paid well over k2,000,000. I think it went well. They asked for transport to see the site. I told them I would be happy to take them, sure they would be happy with what they would see, and please come soon. They make their decisions after the interviews. I'm very sure they really want this project and must give the permit. However, they could delay. This is the problem in Zambia, and much of Africa. The Council Secretary said he would call me. If they want transport to see the site, I'll do it immediately. Several people from the council have already seen the buildings and were impressed.

We pickup Jo Anne today from Livingstone Airport.

I don't know where lemon grass can be purchased, but I'll do some checking. We have all of our people living on site planting something. We did a farm training program for years when we lived in Senkobo. I usually give credit for the seeds and fertilizer, and sometimes help with plowing, with the promise of payment in kind upon harvest. The majority end up paying the credit through working for me, not through the crops grown. On an average rain fall year in this area the pay back for seed and fertilizer should be about half of what was harvested. On a less than "normal" year the payback -it would be everything harvested. On a drought year payment would only be through credit for work. They are always asking to do the "credit" thing, knowing they will not go hungry as long as they are with us. Typically, if no one holds the people accountable, or isn't flexible in the way payments can be made, the credit will never be paid. Often times this leads to dependency, deception, no respect for personal property, and dreadfully low productivity. I think we can grow things near the orphanage, enabling a worker to keep the fields/gardens, while doing other jobs -like security. The need/cost for labor should only involved one person. However, we'll have another problem -because we don't have fences, cattle can wipe out a field. Fences cost money and must be watched, or the fence could be stolen. We should be able to assign someone to watch the fields while doing other jobs around the orphanage.

Peace

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A sitting with the Chief is required for approval from the council to open the Orphanage. Though we have been pre-approved by the government of Zambia and the local Chief, a desire for this facility was clearly communicated. This is their accountability mechanism versus a series of inspections that we might experience in the U.S. upon the completion of a contruction project. Blessings, -Scott