Our First Day at the Farm

November 7, 2011

We began our journey out to the farm in two vans filled with painting supplies, gifts, day packs and of course many people.  The girls from the Oil of Joy House were given the opportunity to join us at the Farm and miss school.  Like most children they happily joined us and took a day off school to help at the Farm instead.

Not long after starting out we managed to be pulled over by the police at a check point.  Who knew that you were not allowed to even have your camera in view in an industrial area?  Although Shelley assured the police that she had not taken any pictures they insisted on checking her camera.  They definitely enjoyed the pictures as the police didn’t stop at the Africa pictures … they continued to view the pictures through London before handing the camera back.

Our insides were shaken as shortly after leaving the check point we started down the only road servicing the area.  Down a dirt road carved amongst vegetation Kathryn (house manager) drove us.  We were having an off road experience on a road as she managed to maneuverer around pot holes, through ruts and vegetation on both sides. 

As we drove where it appeared no one existed we would see people walking down the road (often a mother with a small child) or we would see people in the distance walking through the untamed landscape.  As we saw very few homes it made one wonder … Where are the people coming from?

Upon arrival at the Farm we saw the Mill on the farm hard at work.  People from the surrounding area come to the mill on the farm and pay a small fee to have their maize ground so that they can use it for their cooking and when possible they sell their excess. At the mill today was a mother with two young children.  Kristy being friendly and all smiled at the young children instead of smile this brought on tears from the children (1 ½ and 2 ½).  They have never seen an albino before!!!  When the grinding was completed the mother with a young child wrapped around her and one walking beside her loaded the maize atop of her head and started her journey home.  

Soon after arriving at the Farm we all split into our groups to work on our jobs for the day.  One group worked on the plumbing in the bath house, one group painted and another group headed out into the community to meet children that may be candidates for the Mercy Touch Housing Program.

Later in the afternoon Sandra decided that she should test out her off road driving skills.  A young mother had come to a Clinic for help as the baby hadn’t been fed properly.  The Clinic has a new policy about underweight babies, any baby that is underweight must be referred to the Mercy Touch Feeding program.  The mother walked 25 km from her home to the clinic and then to the Farm for help.  The Feeding Program provided the mother with two cases of powdered formula.  Knowing the mother and Five week old baby a 25 km walk ahead carrying formula as well as donated baby clothes Sandra took it upon herself to drive them home.  Three hours later, with kidneys almost failing and shaky knees Sandra successfully returned.

Everyone including the children worked heads down today with few breaks.  The excitement to have the opportunity to help with painting was contagious as each child took a turn with the roller or paint brush.  By the time we finished up for the day just about everyone had a splash of paint on themselves and some more than just a splash.

After all the work it was time for a little play.  The children and members of our teams join together for a fun football scrimmage.  The rain had come down hard earlier in the day leaving behind puddles and lots of mud.  The children were no match for the mud as they slipped, slid and ended up covered from head to toe in mud.  It was quite the sight to see … mud oozing between toes, pile ups of children and huge smiles that went from ear to ear.   Contagious laughter could be heard all over the farm.  What a great way to end a day of hard work!!

Bet you wondering what Jason has been up to today … other than the fact that he managed to require two Band-Aids after cutting his finger trying to keep a roll of toilet paper from falling there have been no further mishaps.  Let us hope he is on a roll! 

Watch for the pictures we are hoping to post soon ...

Off to bed in preparations for another full day tomorrow … The MT Commandos