On the first I woke up to rain around 5am and it rained hard for more than an hour. When I was able to ride over to the PC bureau on my bike, Aisha, the mail clerk told me they picked up 39 boxes at the Post Office this morning and 7 of those were mine. Idrissa the driver drove me and my boxes to the taxi brousse after noon. On the way home our transport passed two petrol trucks which had crashed on the road and one rolled off, injuring the driver. The paved highways are all two lanes in Burkina Faso, and that makes safety hazardous at times. Once at the Shell station in Thyou, it took me three trips to get all the packages home.
The women and children are in the fields planting, so there's not many coming to the health center for baby weighing or anything else. We got done by 9:30 with no vaccinations needed today. At the compound the women are preparing food for Sita's relative who is here for marriage. By dinnertime in the evening many men were eating together in the courtyard to celebrate the marriage. Meanwhile the women gather in Minata's yard to eat. I never did see the couple and in fact they weren't both here.
When I opened the box Connie sent, I gave Fati her requested items, shoes, backpack, skirt and top, then invited the Major over to get the sterilizer. Over tea, we talked about it and the directions for using the pressure cooker need to be translated into French. We also discussed the district audit taking place soon, as well as the one the Peace Corps will do. I mentioned I want to teach the women how to cook with Moringa leaves.
My new friend Constant transported the gate here for the enclosure of the Moringa petite forest at the Maternite'. We had left it at the tailor's place last market until now. One morning Issa and Karim both helped me transport the gate, some wire, and new bigger poles for the fence We three worked until 11am reinforcing the poles and the fence, adding a layer for height. Karim dug holes and made a channel for the big woven gate to sit in. Now we believe the Moringa trees are safer from animals. See photos.
There was a COGES (health board) meeting one late afternoon, which Philippe ran and the accoucheuse participated in. There was a quorum of members and the discussion was about the audit and also the new residence for the head nurse and the need for more maintenance of the facility. They deferred my French report on my activities until Georges can attend and translate into Moore' for several of the board members.
With the rainy season comes higher humidity and a different feel to the heat. My midriff is sweating constantly. It feels very hot.
Father Andre' is a new priest ordained in KDG this first week of July and he says his premiere Mass at Nabatogo, with Maxime, George's brother, assisting. Yvette from our church organized a bus ride there for the women of the parish. We sang all the 25K way to that village. Each time a chant ended another choral member started a new one. It was a fun trip.
Many people circled the outside of the church, then processed down the aisles and onto the altar. Particularly colorful was the village chef in traditional hat, sword and clothes over his ordination attire. I taped the Mass, and the trilling of nearby choral member came across loud and clear. At the conclusion many people spoke, wishing Father Andre' well and presenting gifts to him. Then the congregation led by the priests danced out in similar fashion, very happy indeed!
Several of us walked over to the marche' in Nabatogo to eat our tuna sandwiches, and find dolo. Martine and Marcel, Kiemtore' relatives, had their dolo booth set up on the church grounds. We all piled back on the taxi brousse for the 5K ride to Andre's parents home where the rest of the fete would occur. We walked another kilometer past a broken bridge by their barrage, and to the family compound. Tons of people were there, in groups of singers, dancers, people visiting and/or eating. Guests of honor were under a tent at long tables to eat. Music could be heard over the loudspeakers. It was a joyous celebration! We left for home before dark, singing all the way back.
Second week of July 2009
The Major had helped me schedule a sensibilisation for students in Bonsmnore', his natal village. That morning the rain began at 8am and rained hard for three hours straight. Bonsmnore' is 8K up a dirt path, which in good weather is difficult to drive, but impossible with this weather. I text the school director on this last week of school and he invited us to come in October when school resumes.
So we went to the marche' and later Maxime text us that he wanted a family dinner to celebrate his advancement to the position of deacon in the church. We went to their parent's home and watched the food preparations, Riz Gras with gumbo and aubergine sauce, fish with onion sauce, fried chicken with tomatoes, garlic and onion sauce. They got out the boom box and church music cassettes to add to the occasion. It was a happy family celebration.
Only three women brought their babies for weighing this week plus two others came for prenatal visits. There was a family in the recovery room whose baby was born and died at home. Many people came to console them.
In the afternoon a young man helped me plant 15 trees over near the Maternite' now that our fence is secure. The Major found my watering can so we can keep them watered. I tried pumping water at the nearby pump, and found it takes practice to develop the skill. The people at the pump helped me out. Whenever I go there to weed, people come and help me too.
I invited the two new nurses for tuna sandwiches, which they enjoyed. An American meal! I gave them tank tops and we played Uno. Another evening Garrett, PCV in next village was hosting his replacement volunteer, Jonathan, a nice guy who plays the guitar and writes songs. Garrett finishes his service next month and returns to USA via Morocco.
Chris packaged up a Mexican Feast for me to host my neighbors with. I cooked up the black beans and the pinto beans along with preparing all the condiments, onions, tomatoes, and taco sauce. I had the kids learn how to say “Tortillas”, and explained this is a Mexican bread. They practiced wrapping their tortilla around a big scoop of beans. Three families came to eat, 3 women and 14 children. Everyone had from two to four burritos apiece and were quite content.
Annually at the close of school, the Sala teachers host a party for all the functionaires in village. Dicko Oussmane came by to invite me to the director's house the following Monday night right after dark. I biked there and was walking in the field towards his house when a scorpion stung me two times on my foot. That is an excruciating pain that last for upwards of four-six hours. We went to the clinic where the medical staff put ice packs on it and I took Ibuprofen, Tylenol, Benadryl, and applied hydro cortisone. But mainly I was home elevating my foot until the time passed. I had met my horoscope sign, which comes out at night! Ouch!
Mid July the auditors from DC Peace Corps arrived, a whole contingent of reviewers came and quickly spread out to the contacts they asked me to provide and interviewed all available. Reviewers spoke French as well as Moore' the local language. They talked with my Major, head of the CSPS clinic, Karim, my counterpart, Georges, my language teacher and translator, Minata, my landlady and a 13 year old student, Adama, who of course attended the sensibilisation at school. Two more school people were to be interviewed later. The goal of the audit was to determine the effectiveness of the Peace Corps program and service at the community level.
Third week of July 2009
On this week I traveled to Ouaga, because I was summoned by the police commissionaire to testify as a witness/victim of purse snatching last January and trial was set for Friday. The PC driver drove me to the police captain's office and I checked in. He said come to the Palais de Justice next morning. Congo Harouna, PC security manager and I were driven there to the huge stark courtroom, where the main judicial people were all in black robes. The judges were distinguished by their white ties. The tribunal main judges were women flanked by two male judges up on the “bench”. The prisoners, 30+ came in a blue paddy wagon with many guards with guns. The courtroom security kept saying “Turn off your portables” to the people, who were attending the hearings. The postponed case names were called first, and after a bit, Congo found the Police Commissioner Christopher only to be told our prisoner, Allasane was not in that group. Meanwhile the prosecutor spoke from left side of the bench and the defense attorney from the right side spoke for four thieves. Thirty minutes later another guy defended himself and the prosecutor became rather heated arguing with the defendant.
Congo motioned for me to come out to the lobby. The commissionaire had found out that Allasane was in court last Saturday, pled and was sentenced to two years, no time off for the 6 months awaiting court date. (Apparently the whole court system is not computerized yet.) We then went to the Magistrate's office who signed a permission slip for us to visit Allasane in prison, which is a few blocks from the Peace Corps Bureau. This magistrate's office had mounds of papers everywhere. We waited over 30 minutes for the prison to find Allasane to come talk to us.(Prison could also benefit from computerized data.) He was contrite as he told us about just meeting the ringleader two weeks before the snatching. He said the police have been looking for Sylvain for 4 years. He is very clever and keeps ahead of them. Allasane said he met another of the accomplices who was caught, and serving time, while the mastermind Sylvain got away.
Close to the omelet place on Charles de Gaulle Blvd, the police had traffic stopped this Saturday morning for a bicycle race that went whizzing by. It's amazing how fast they are! I got a cab to the Village Artisanal to try out my visa card, and they required purchase of 30 mille worth of merchandise to use a visa credit card there. I had no trouble doing that. I found a quaint little restaurant close to my Hotel Zamdogo called La Cuisine de Juliette. I can now recommend their grilled curried chicken, a welcome meal after a long day shopping.
This week I spent with Becky, the other volunteer over 40. We became fast friends during training at our host village of Somiaga during those two months. Out of 8 people placed there, we are the two remaining in Peace Corps service. When I took the taxi brousse to Gademtenga, her market town, I was welcomed by her local friends and soon Becky pedaled up to meet me. Becky's village Likink-else is 7K further and we biked and greeted people along the route. Once there we sat under the stars in her courtyard relaxing and catching up on each other's activities. Monday was a day of meeting the village chef, the Major at the health clinic, and above all Zongo, the sweet nurse who laughs a lot and likes talking with us. We spent a fair amount of time sitting under the huge Baobob tree in front of his house. His wife Awa makes fried gateau (cake) that goes nicely with coffee in the morning. The village passed the word that the Fete of Masks was starting Tuesday evening in the nearby village. Meanwhile I observed Becky teaching an English class to 8-10 girls. The mutual admiration between students and Becky is very evident as they introduced themselves to me and I to them. They sang songs and practiced family connections, using my family. Other important folks I met were Ouseni, her Moore' teacher and Gansonre', the pastor and his big family and of course Madi, the owner of the local coffee shop. That evening Zongo and his wife donated a chicken to mark my arrival in Likink-else, which they prepared in wonderful sauce along with fresh local bread.
We went to the market where I found three tank tops new to me. We visited friends and tried out the local benga and dolo.
That evening we went to the outskirts of a village, Bengado for the Fete of Masks. A crowd was gathered on a knoll around a grove of trees waiting for the masks to arrive. Out of our view inside the woods men were preparing a sacrifice (chickens). In a clearing we saw 2 or 3 masks coming across the field towards us. Becky said “Look, they're coming out!” Saidou explained the ceremony as we and thousands of others watched the masked people dance toward us and to where other masques were gathered. They squatted in a huge semi-circle as the drumming and whistling swelled with the momentum. A signal that the sacrifice was completed caused them to start parading around the grove of trees with the children all running in front of them. Some masques carried fetish sticks. Their costumes were made of natural fibers, dyed black and pink. On their heads sat big hand-carved wooden masks, each of a certain animal, ie, gazelle, monkey, bird, antelope, sheep, herron, etc. Each masque in turn danced a particular step representing their animal. Then danced away into the grove. There were 23 in all, and it was captivating. We were lucky to see this festivity that only occurs every three years. It finished by dusk, and will continue two more days, when Becky got permission to take pictures. (See photos.)
Zongo gave me and my bags a ride on his moto to the gare, where the driver made a special trip back to Ouaga for me. At one point he let out his assistant, who went into the nearby village for milk, which I assume was freshly drawn. We waited for him to return with his two liter bottle. Reminds me of the fresh Jersey milk route my father made most weekdays stopping on route to town from the country.
Fourth week of July 2009
Back in village we weighed 28 babies and only one was frightened of me. That is progress. There was much visiting among the women today and they seemed to understand the Moore' numbers I was saying to convey their baby's weight. Albertine gave out immunizations to those infants needing them and then she did 3 or so prenatal consultations. We were done well before noon.
I went to the market to get vegetables for Garrett, when I received both a text and call from Zongo back in Becky's village. As I was visiting in the church hangar I saw Kabore' from Stephanie's village, Gao. He remembered me from a visit there. A Puel man bought me dolo and JB came by to say the pork was almost finished, so I left to buy enough to share with George's family. On the way I got my new fan motor from Augustine, who had repaired the motor himself for one mille. I practiced the Moringa sensibilisation for the CREN the following day.
Indeed at the CREN Sr. Margaret was waiting to greet us when we arrived after 10 that Friday morning, and there were over 20 women with malnourished babies in attendance at the Moringa talk. We were in the big octagon shaped main hall with little fire pits along one wall. The women and babies sat in an L-shaped bench area along another wall and we used the table in that area to train from. There were two or three sets of twins, which typically have high incidence of malnutrition. Sr Amy, Father Paul from Togo and a visitor from France as well as some of the CREN staff came to observe and ask questions as they were so interested in the topic. We had a chart up on the wall about the vitamin and nutrients that Moringa leaves contain. I spoke in French and Georges translated into Moore' for the women. They asked which is better fresh or dried leaves or powder. The concentrated powder has the most, and the fresh or dried leaves retain theirs if cooked under 5 minutes. Adding the powder to broth for infants is especially helpful. At the conclusion we passed out little cloth gift bags of Moringa seeds, which pleased the women. We had them share booklets showing how to plant, protect from the animals, etc. There were not enough to go around so they declined to take one home. The staff thought the mothers understood the presentation, which pleased us.
On Saturday Madi returned home to his family next door from his year studying in Bobo. He had passed his BAC, which is a high achievement in Burkina Faso. Now he goes on to the University either in Koudougou or Ouagadougou. No one knew he would arrive, as he lost his portable phone and couldn't inform them.
Later my friend Achille came to visit me and spend the night. He had painted a big sign for the Moringa petite forest. “Tree of Life”. We went over to CSPS to hang it on fence. See photo. He also brought me an oil painting of a Moringa tree for my house, as well as cultural drawings he made for each of my children. Achille proudly showed me his passport and documents he had gathered to get Visa to come visit in America.
That Sunday we went to Sabou to attend Father Emanuel's first Mass in his home parish since his ordination last week. Kiemtore' Maxime was the second Abbe at the Mass, and the congregation was truly excited at the event. The choral group and young dancer group were both amazing. At the conclusion the priests and others danced and clapped in procession through the church. The village chef gave Fr. Emanuel a hat, a daba, a bag and valise. Many other gifts were forthcoming.
On Tuesday Madi and I pedaled 30 minutes to the field of his family SE of our house. We saluted many people en route who were working in their fields. Upon arrival I photographed each of Minata's children planting corn in the fields. Abdoulaye came over to where we were and helped Madi and I weed one field. I worked an hour and got so tired I had to rest. Then I managed another hour before I actually called it quits. We sat under the tree next to the chicken coop Minata has there, and watched the new brood of chicks follow their mother around hunting for something to eat. The two brothers grilled corn for us to snack on, then when the pot of beans and corn Minata was preparing for lunch was ready we ate together. As we observed the various fields of crops, I noted that Minata has rotated crops since last year.
First week in August 2009
One of my neighbor's Sanata's baby was ill and I advised her to take him to the clinic. She said she had no money, so I said ask the price for medicine and I will pay for you. It was 450 francs, about $1. When I paid the pharmacist, I spoke with the Major about his suggestion and my desire to plant Moringa trees at around the perimeter of the school garden. He was OK with that, and I texted the school director for permission, which he granted. We convened a work party and the next day we took the 56 older Moringa saplings from my veranda to the school grounds to plant. My fellow volunteer Garrett came to help Karim, my counterpart and I load up the trees in a huge basket Hamadou loaned us. He also provided a machete' to cut big weeds and a daba, digging tool. Karim put all that on his bike and it was a precarious sight to be sure, but he made it .5K away. Two of the Major's sons, Saidou and Oussmane were there to help us. We all worked two hours straight to get the little trees into the ground, secure some parts of the fence, and water everything with the help of little boys at the school pump. About that time black clouds came and threatened to rain, but no luck!
The next day I returned Garrett's daba to him, and he said he can go with me to Sune' for sensibilisation after his meeting tomorrow at 10am. A group of young men in Thyou formed a young men's gardening association and are making plans to grow produce for money. It rained hard overnight.
We biked to Sune' as planned. I had texted ahead to the health liaison in village that we were coming, but they have no cellular reception there, so had no notice. Last night's rain and today's mud made the journey tricky. We found the chef in the village and he said everyone was in the fields and some farmers had traveled further east to help their fellow farmers in their fields. Garrett commented that he liked the village and said now he felt like he was in Africa (in the remote village). Near the village meeting place, a grand old Baobob tree had hundreds of birds chirping from their huge nests, while a vulture perched on a limb squawking. Clusters of new leaves were coming out on the branches. We set a date with the chef to return for the HIV-AIDS presentation and I would invite Garrett's replacement, Jonathan to help with it. On the return home we saw a woman wearing a wreath of leaves on her head and atop that a huge calabash was resting, full of something I'm sure. We also passed a man whose bike broke down and he was walking his produce to the market in Thyou. George took his grain for him to Sala to leave at mechanics hangar. The man told us while he was voiding in the bush, one of his two pigs got away. Oo-la-la!
Second week of August 2009
Our Moringa meeting was over the weekend in Ouagadougou, and I prepared Kopto, as a dip from the harvested leaves to wrap a tortilla around. It was a hearty and also lucky late morning snack, because the lunch we ordered in did not come. The original members of this committee showed pictures of progress with Moringa projects in their villages, and we had lots to discuss and decide before the coming turnover of members. Rob and I worked on the broth recipe for the little Moringa booklet he has designed. The booklet is in French and 5 other local languages to be given out to the villagers as we talk with them about the benefits and how to plant Moringa.
On the roof of the Peace Corps Bureau, four stories up, we watched a beautiful sunset ranging from red to pink to violet along with beautiful shaped roundish clouds. There were thousands of bats in the air as far as the eye could observe. (See photos.)
Also Idrissa, a driver took me for my five country Visa located in an old government building with stacks of musty files and one guy working the desk. Idrissa requested the form, and had me fill it out. We went a couple blocks away to get visa photos, turned those in with 25 mille and left to return later when that was all processed.
My extended family in America was at Lake Shasta for a reunion, so when we connected on “Skype” there we all were seeing each other on live camera. We talked a long time and my brothers were in rare form as we joked and visited. What a treat to see my grandchildren and how they've grown since I left home.
On Sunday four of us had a guide, Anselme drive us north one hour to the famed personal animal park of Blaise Compare', the president of BF. Each visit has to be set up, so we were lucky Anselme coordinated this. Zinaire' Animaux Parc has large game animals and some small ones too. We drove into the 20 acre park and walked to the very big circular cages of tiger, hellan, elephants, monkeys, hippo, snakes, giraffe, horses and an ostrich egg. The hippos put on quite a show, which Christina captured on a video.
Anselme told us we brought him good luck, as his wife was getting her veterinarian degree soon in that town, where he visited her while we had lunch. Afterwards we stopped at the market going on in Minagou, where Anselme treated us to dolo. What a pleasant day we had! Later I showed all the neighbor kids the photos and hippo video, as most have never been to Ouaga, let alone to a zoo.
The next day, I returned to village to find Minata's husband, Oussmane and daughter, Sanata both were home too. That week on Thursday when the women and babies came for weighing, we began a series of Prenatal Care sensibilisations using a flip chart funded by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and provided by the Health Minister of BF, and Family Care International, . The accoucheuse asked the women to stay for the talk. She and the two nurses, Emilie and Bibita, chimed in at opportune moments to comment on the topics related to good prenatal care for the mother and baby during and after pregnancy. There was a lively back and forth discussion between several women and Georges and the accoucheuse, who fielded those comments. Especially when the subject was coming into the clinic soon after they become pregnant. The midwife said they need to stop working so hard then and have their husband come with them for checkup to assure good health and she will answer questions then for both parents. Some women don't come for prenatal visits they said because they have no money for medicines prescribed. Albertine asked them to encourage other women to come for the good of all.
The Assumption of Mary into heaven is a big Christian feast day in BF. Our church had just finished the new grotto honoring the Virgin Mary by this date and the priests from Sabou came to say Mass outside near there. The grotto is like others in BF, big reddish pumice rocks form the “cave” and the alcove opening to display the large statue for the occasion. Otherwise she rests in a windowed case above the archway. The congregation formed a procession with the statue of Mary for the dedication on this feast day. It brought tears to my eyes to witness the undying devotion the Burkinabe' have for the mother of Jesus. The celebration continued under 8-10 grand trees in the meadow, with food of every description and drinks too.
End of August 2009
At the market I found Pascaline, who went home to gather Moringa branches for me (200F) as I wanted to take Kopto over to Garrett's for dinner on his last night in village. He is advisor and has a meeting that night with his young men's group who are planting a garden for profit. I went home, sat under the hangar out front and stripped the Moringa leaves from the branches, making two big bowls. I dried one bowl of leaves and made Kopto from the other. This is a nice pesto on garlic toast. The rains started at 4pm and continued straight through to 6:30 only letting up a little. I biked to Thyou with my new bike lite and Garrett was waiting on the main road for me. The four of us ate together, as both our language teachers were there to enjoy the beans Gar made and my offering. We were lucky with the earlier rain and the darkness of night to be able to get together. I was anxious to buy his dutch oven, which he had packed on his bike and put the big marmite on mine. Gar and Geo biked home with me for safety.
I went to the clinic to visit with the Major and saw two new babies in the maternite'. One of the mothers had another woman with a one year old child visiting her, and she asked me for a mousquitaire. I explained to come to my house across the field, but she didn't come. I think she only speaks Gourounsi and the language was a problem between us. I met the president of the young men's football group, Issaka, and was able to express my condolences on losing their 10 month old daughter to malaria last month. They took her to the hospital in KDG for transfusion, to no avail. He came by my house the next day for the mousquitaire I offered and I gave a couple Moringa trees too.
6 year old Ali was in the path crying his heart out, and I gathered Karim took his food. I brought him into my house to feed him the rest of Kopto on some bread and a power bar I had. The tears dried up then.
One morning by 8am it is pouring buckets outside and the skies are all gray. That continued until noon. In the afternoon I needed potash for my beans and rice, so I went next door where Sanata was making some. She had a container of sorts with ashes that she dripped water through into another vessel. Minata tasted it for strength and put some of the liquid in my jar. The two women were making bengado. Minata ground the beans into a powder, Sanata washed the leaves from the bean plants. The next step fascinated me. Minata built a rack from sticks of wood and straw in a big curved marmite and put it on the open fire. Meanwhile Sanata combined the ground beans, leaves, oil, potash and water and formed balls. Minata put these on the rack to cook in the contrived steamer.
I practiced the two lessons on prenatal care for the talk Thursday morning with the women at the maternite'. One topic was about involving the husband in the birth process early so that he is well informed and helpful. The other topic was the need for good diet during pregnancy and nursing of the baby. Many small meals are preferable and food from each of the food groups. At the discussion we emphasized that alcohol is bad for the woman and fetus, as well as infants. The 35 in attendance got involved with the issues.
I was excited and busy cleaning house for my guest that came for the weekend. Amade' my host father in OHG took the bus from there to Ouaga, south to Sabou and then bush taxi the 15K to my place. Wow, what a treat! The women couldn't come due to working in the fields. He was carrying his suitcase up the path as I showed him to my place, where he met the neighbors. We walked to the clinic to meet the Major. They are about the same age and got along well. I showed him the Moringa garden. We went to visit the forestry agent, Bernadette, then onto the village chef's place.
Amade' and I talked of the family of course. He was anxious to show me the photo album I had my daughters make up and send to them. I made Riz Gras for dinner, which turned out well. Amade' prayed two times that first day with me as is his custom. On Friday we sat visiting on the porch until it was time to go to the mosque. Madi accompanied him there and afterwards showed him around Thyou. While they were gone I fired up my dutch oven and made banana nut bread from a mix, which was a success. After lunch the three of us went to see Sala's barrage, which is very big now, esp in this rainy season. Since we were on foot we didn't go to the far end where Minata and many other villagers have gardens. But Amade' was impressed by it nonetheless.
Ramadan began that Saturday, which means all the Muslims fast from food and water during daylight. Minata rose at 4am to prepare breakfast before daybreak for Oussmane, Madi and Amade'. Later that morning Madi and I went down to the road with Amade' to wait for the bush taxi back to Ouaga for him. I loaded him up with toothbrushes for his entire family and sent my best wishes to Orokia and Alizetta and Awa the grandmother in the family. I hope to get to see them all before I leave.
Every evening for over a week the neighbor kids came over to play with the bionic Lego type toys that Luke sent for them in zip lock bags. Their creative sides took a while to catch on but soon they were into making their own objects. It was fun to watch.
The catechist from church, Jean Baptiste, wanted to come pay me a visit. Georges came to help with the translation. One day I prepared tuna sandwiches, and cole slaw, and we drank melange. JB led grace before and after the meal. He said Marie couldn't come because people were helping her in the field today. JB brought me a chicken from his own flock. I was pleased to show him my families, USA, OHG and Sala, I have on my bulletin board. I sent him home with two Moringa trees, a tuna pack and a sandwich for Marie.
My watering can had lost its handle, so I took it to the solder guy in the market for repair (300F). He did a fine job and now I can water Moringa in both places easier. Three adult sons of the Major came by my house for a visit and to get the mended soccer shoes for Zachariah. I found footsies to give them as well. I packed up ten Moringa seedlings in a box for the Major to take to Bansmnore' his natal village. I am hopeful to distribute the rest of the seedlings before I go on vacation. Gerard, my carpenter came to get six for the row of Moringa at his house. Then an idea struck me to ride around and distribute a Moringa tree to each family chef to plant and be used by all the women of his compound.
The first evening I took four to compounds behind my place and east of me. The next day Syrille came by to get two more trees for himself and two for a blind neighbor. That evening I took a tree to the big house en route to the Thyou barrage and north of me a ways. There were two more neighboring compounds I gave them to there. Next I packed up four trees and headed east of the clinic to leave trees at those compounds. One of them was that of the man plowing in the field with his steer and boy following him. I gave him that photo too.
One late afternoon/early evening I passed out eight trees on the west side of the main road in Sala, starting this side of the school and all the way to the mechanics place. Another time I took six down the hill from me but on this side of the road and passed out seedlings to those nearer neighbors. I found people who understood French, seldom English, but most could tell from the body language what I was doing and we got a good visit with each other in the process. Some villagers even showed me their already existing Moringa trees, which I was very pleased to see.
The evening before I left for Ouaga on vacation to Togo/Benin I went to my family chefs houses and gave them each Moringa trees, then also to Sita and Alizetta who each have houses on the outskirts of our compound. All the older seedlings are distributed and the young plants will be ready in a month or so. Rainy season is the ideal time to plant and hopefully they all take!
