Maisy is a BOY!!!

We recently came to the shocking realization that Maisy, our favourite hen is actually is a cock! And another one as well! So that explained their lack of egg production! So very sadly, in yet another Monger chicken saga, we returned the two “boy” chickens, including our beloved Maisy, to their birthplace and swapped them for two “girl” chickens! These two are very young, so we will be waiting quite a while for these to lay … that is providing we don’t notice a suspicious red bit appearing on their heads! But the Great Chicken Swap was another adventure in itself, and that story I will save for the girls to tell you about!

Tim has been getting into more stoves work! We had a two-day visit from Dr. Leonard from Dar es Salaam who is an expert in this field. He came to share his knowledge and skill with Tim and Andrew as they worked together with a team of workers on a large stove for the school in Uhambingeto. This is the school where the rainwater tanks have just been completed. Since getting water, they have been able to serve uji (like porridge) to all the childen. They have been cooking on a large three stone fire, but now, with this stove, they will be able to cook for the children using much less firewood!

The new stove!



Uji time!

While Tim was working on this stove in Uhambingeto, I was at home wishing he might have been building one for me here! We had already been several days without phone or internet, and power has been very off and on, and then on Thursday, the power was out all day … I kept hoping it would come on in time to cook a meal for Tim and Dr. Leonard when they returned! But nothing, and then things got worse with no running water! 6pm approached, and we were expecting them back anytime, and I was wondering what to do! But then it was on! I raced into action, not sure how long it would last, and enchiladas were quickly prepared and cooked! Thankfully, the men were late and we enjoyed a hot meal together at 8pm! But the following morning, we still had no water (we don’t smell too bad, really!!) and again couldn’t wash the clothes! When the water did come on later that morning, we rushed to get the laundry in the machine. And it had a good 5 minutes, and then the power went out again! And so it continued all day … later we had power but the water was off again! So we learn again to appreciate, without taking for granted, the wonderful resources of water and electricity … and make the most of it when we have it! And it is exciting, seeing the need around us here, to be able to help people benefit from having water and managing other resources!

Cooking in our wonderful outside area!

And now today, a week after having no phone or internet, we are very excited to be back online and hope to catch up on some news ... I hear Canada and the UK have snow now!