Greetings
I continue to be amazed on what costs and what does not. This morning we were to be off to go and pick up Pastor Robert and Brenda to bring to the widow’s passion fruit seminar. Hezron picked me up around ten after eight we started up the road and we heard a noise coming out of the back wheel. We quickly pulled into the Nakumatt parking lot and removed the back wheel to find out what was wrong. As Hezron pulled off the wheel and the brake drum it became apparent we had a serious problem. The back brake adjustment screw and the bolt that held one of the shoes in place were in many pieces. This did not look good for the first thing in the morning. Hezron as cool as ever gets on his phone and calls his mechanic. Within about fifteen minutes his main mechanic had sent one of his workers walking across town to come and look what was wrong. The mechanic took a photographic memory of what he needed and about thirty minutes later he walks back with parts to fix the brakes. After another 30 minutes or so he was done and crisis averted. We then drove the mechanic back to his shop. He got out went to Hezron’s window and said something. Hezron then handed him some cash. I had to take a double take because I thought I heard 250 shillings. I quickly asked Hezron how much that repair cost and he told me 250 shillings. He had just given the guy a 500 shilling note and said he was waiting for the change. This guy just spent an hour and a half fixing the rear brake for less then three bucks. Yet a gallon of gas is pushing six bucks. I quickly went to my pocket pulled out 250 shillings gave it to Hezron. I then asked Hezron to tell the young guy to keep the change. We made the young man’s day.
After the repair we were off to pick up Pastor Robert and Brenda for the seminar. We arrived at Wamula International about and Robert informed us that we had to go back to Mumias to give some more money to the bank for the control keys to the micro-finance account and officially stamp the minutes and the Constitution of the NGO so the bank can proceed with opening the account. Getting the control keys is now going to be delayed a bit but hopefully they will be here in a few days. The manager said it could take up to a week but said he would expedite it since I will be leaving Kenya
Once we arrived back at the orchard we quickly gave Robert the grand tour of the orchard and we showed him the good ones and the bad ones. The ones that I showed him that I thought were fair he told me that they still looked good. The 40 that are dead are dead. Anyway we now have 60 extras in case any more die. After spending a few minutes in the orchard we were then off to lunch. After lunch the seminar started and lasted for a few hours before we adjourned for the evening. I decided not to attend so they could speak in Swahili and not have to interpret for me.
The widow's did a fine job weeding this morning
The replacement seedlings
I watched a goat eat this one the other day and it looks like it is coming back
Starting to look really good
Another good one
Widow's having lunch
Now that Robert had been to the site the only item left on the list to buy is the pesticides and other nutrients that will be needed for the next six months. He also suggested that we buy a 16 liter back pack sprayer for proper control of the pesticides and fertilizers that will be sprayed on the plants. We then went off to the Agrovet store and bought the needed items for tomorrows lessons. This is now the last of the associated costs for this project. It looks like the total cost of this project is going to be about 38,000 Ksh or about $425.
Tomorrow is an all day seminar with some classroom lecture and out in the field learning what is needed to care for the orchard. We will be doing some replanting and we will also be pruning the existing plants now that they have taken off.
Take care and God bless
Dave
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