From: Bush Bunny Brenda Date: February 8, 2014
SCHOOL DAYS KEEPS US HOPPING!
Been a very busy week getting our 50+ kids outfitted and in their proper classes (1st through 10th).
Another 30+ are now registered in the pre-school for 4, 5, and 6 year olds who don’t speak Portuguese. (Can’t go to 1st grade in Balama unless you speak Portuguese). Fitting shoes on all these children was the biggest challenge of all. Thanks to Emma Clifford and her Mom, Amy, we were able to outfit many of the orphans with brand new shoes from the USA. Emma and Amy organized and packed 4 suitcases full of socks, shoes, undies, and children’s clothes that last year’s June visitors hand carried to Africa for us. Those with feet that didn’t fit into any of the shoes got to go to the market to choose from the almost new shoes that are on sale there. It’s a big relief when all is said and done. THANK YOU Emma and Amy for making 25 orphans REALLY happy this year with new shoes.
BBB’S CAR IS SICK AND MUST GOT TO PEMBA FOR TREATMENT
As you can see from the photo, my 2 year old King Cab has motor problems.
Eric had the idea of digging duel holes for the back wheels of our 7 ton truck, to lower the back end to the ground. We then took 2 steel side panels off our 10 ton trailer as they are SOLID and make great ramps. Within 90 minutes, 2 of our tractor crew had the hole dug, and Eric was able to drive the car up onto the ramp. The engine runs fine, but the rpm’s are limited to 2000, so it only goes slow speeds. Gotta get it hooked up the computer analyser to figure out what is wrong. The only one in the whole STATE is at Toyota in Pemba. They’ll leave at 4a.m. on Monday to take it.
BBB’S NEWEST TALENT–GOAT BANDING
That’s a nice way of saying “bloodless castration with a special rubber band”.
The photo shows the intense interest of our goat herders. It’s the first time I’ve done this (and I’m grateful for the wonderful teaching videos on You Tube!). We banded 13 small goats, and none of them are having any problems after a week. With so many little boys running around, this will control who gets to breed and who doesn’t.
We spent the whole day adding on to the barn, as I was about to have “Goateens” due to overcrowding. The goat version of “sardines in a can” because the herd is now so large. We have purchased many more females bringing our breeding herd up to 110 females of all ages. Will tell you more about this in the next blog, as the sun is setting and the Bunny is beat after a long day of “barn raising”. The goats appreciate the new “house” and settled in nicely.
Blessings, Bush Bunny Brenda Eric Dry And the Balama Staff