| FROM “BUSH BUNNY BRENDA“ DATE: JANUARY 30, 2021 INSIGHT INTO RAINY TIME ACTIVITIES A month behind us and PTL our children are safe, healthy, and happy. Today, January 30th, marks the middle of the rainy season. It rained most of the night, and heavy, grey rain clouds still hang overhead. Our 3‑man milling team rush to mill 1.1 TONS, or 23 sacks of corn so our hungry “mob” of 200+ kids can eat this week. The teenage boys are up crack of light (5 a.m.) because dawn never came. They grab their hoes and rush to finish weeding 1 of 3 fields they have now planted with Juko beans, for all can see more rain is coming. As the boys approach the tree line at the edge of their field, a shout rings out! A 2 foot/60cm Adder has been spotted, ready to strike.  Celestino’s first kill last Thursday. I am thrilled he saw it before it saw him! An Adder is a rattlesnake without the rattle. We call it ‘Sneaky Snake’ as it gives no warning, and its venom sack guards the same deadly poison as the American rattler. No ant-venom exists in our area, making a bite difficult to treat. The adder can strike both forward and backwards. Its favourite trick is to lie hidden next to a trail and strike with lightning speed when a rat, or person walks by.  Celestino’s 2nd kill, today SO GLAD OUR BOYS ARE “BUSH WISE” AND ALERT TO THEIR SURROUNDINGS. This is the 2nd Adder they have put an end to in their fields this last week. Celestino, is the brave one of this group as he is the experienced snake killer who took out both snakes this week. FARMING IS A FAMILY AFFAIR Our widowed grannies not only teach farming to their orphaned “live in” grandchildren, but also invite other family members to help in their fields. Many hoes makes the work load lighter!  7‑year-old helping out her Granny The little girl in the photo is about 7, and a prime example of an extended family helping out their Granny. She not only looks after her little sister, but picks Moringa leaves to spice up Granny’s midday meal. It is great to see families joining forces so that all may have food on their tables.  View of our training fields for the orphans. 40 acres with church and food warehouses of to the right. BUSH BUNNY TIDBIT All of us, including Social Services, expected the triplet family from last week’s blog to show up on Thursday, 28th, for weigh-in. This is when they receive more milk formula. They have yet to come (2 days late), causing all of us concern. Never good news when this happens. I will keep you updated once I know what has happened. PRAYER OPENS SPIRITUAL DOORS SO THE ANGELS CAN DO THEIR WORK. KEEP THEM FLOWING HEAVENWARD AS WE FACE THE CHALLENGES OF 2021. BLESSINGS, BUSH BUNNY BRENDA LANGE AND THE BALAMA STAFF |
