Timber!
January 29, 2010
So, today, among other things, we cut down some trees 
We got up in the morning and went to a clearing in the (jungle?) middle of Pearls to a small plot of land that our hosts were clearing. Next week, another team is coming from the states to help take apart a sweet woman named Agnus’s house and move it to this clearing. Yes, I said her house! Around here, houses are movable (because there’s not much to them). In fact, many people don’t own the land they’re living on, but they own the house. In fact, sometimes in divorce hearings on the island, the judge will award one person the house, and the spouse the land the house is on. Then the person awarded the house has to take it apart and move it somewhere else. Lol, I know! Weird!
Ok, after chopping some trees down, we came back to the campus for a music rehearsal and a chance to shower up before we headed out to a few meetings. After the music rehearsal, we took all the supplies we had brought with us for 4-H down to the school in Pearls. We spent some time with their 4-H director and school teacher, Mr. Samuel, explaining what we brought and how he could use it. He and the people that were with him were very excited and very thankful. So, to all of you who donated things that got brought down here, many thanks to you!
After giving out our 4-H supplies, we went back to the Ministry of Agriculture one last time to meet with some advisors of the 4-H program. There, we spoke with about a dozen young adults who have been working to help younger children in 4-H and working to grow their own abilities both in farming, animal raising, and even wine making After a long but productive conversation, we headed back to Pearls for another music rehearsal, this time with the choir.
We made it back late tonight, spent some time processing what we’ve experienced in the last 3 days as a team, and the spent some time catching up on e-mails and the Apple press conference. iPad, huh? I’m thinking no. You?
Ok, it’s late (again) and I need to go to bed (again) so I can get up early in the morning (again)… need…to…break…the…cycle…
JF
