Hello all,
Sorry it has taking so long to write. A lot has happened. One being that the nearest city to me Farafenni had an accident. The accident being someone fell asleep at the powerplant and it partially caught on fire. So there is no electricity in Farafenni now, so no Internet.
So the rains have started. They are intense. Lots of wind and lots of rain. Let's see I was stung by the largest Scorpion in the world. It was painful. I was eating dinner one night and it crawled up my leg. (I was wearing long pants so I did not feel it.) And it decided to hide under my arm on my ribs. I moved my arm later and it took a swipe. It sucked. Currently my cashew nursery is village is doing wonderful; all is growing well and looking good. The nursery is home to 1,000 cashew trees. I created some amazing compost and am using it currently with amazing results. On a sad note a good friend of mine in my village died the other day. The first death I had seen since I have come to the country. So this is what happened. His name was Aladghi. He was our village Immom (Religious Leader). Before his death Aladghi and my host father were contacted from some Saudi about the construction of a new Mosque in my village. They discussed everything and agreed to start the work. So Mustapha (my host Father) and Aladghi were prepared for this construction and received all the bricks and concrete and etc. The work started. Everyday Aladghi would comment the work, he offered everyday to help. He seemed so happy to have a new mosque in the village. So recently, the day for the official opening of the mosque. I did not know this at the time, but Aladghi was at a hospital in the capital.
So there are maybe 5,000 people at the mosque for the opening prayer and right after its finished, Mustapha gets a call that Aladghi had died. The next thing I knew all the women in his compound were wailing and everyone was running to his compound. A group of men immediately went to the cemetery and started to dig the hole. All I can say is that it was a crazy. I am tired and going until later.
I'm so glad to hear your cashews are doing well, that was an excellent choice for a project.
ReplyDeleteVery sad to hear about Aladghi. It is always painful to lose a friend, but especially so one to whom you look for spiritual enlightenment. Sounds like he was waiting for the Mosque to be finished before he could leave you all. I'm sure he was a wonderfully kind and caring man.
Hang in there through the rain, that's also an experience you'll probably never have anywhere else, so try to appreciate it for all that it can be.
Life sounds tough over there, rain, fires, SCORPIONS!!!! Sheesh, you can't say you won't have any stories to tell when you get back, huh??
I love you sweetie. You take care. Do good and then get back home. We miss you very much.
Aunt Kathy
Jeremy,
ReplyDeleteHave you considered pistachios? The tree likes hot, seasonally dry soils, grows well in California.
There is a small company in Arizona that ships seedlings. They only sell them a few months of the year. (You can look it up on the web as well as me.) They can be very helpful regarding suggestions for propagation.
Good luck in all your PCV experiences. Its a tough job, but somebody's gotta do it.
We're all behind you!
Will in IL
Thanks Will for the idea! I will look it up. Are you a Former PCV? Thanks for the help.
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