The rains finally subsided five days ago after months of nonstop rain. In fact, it actually rained every day for the previous two weeks and made it impossible to do practically anything. Ashlee has been sewing to pass the time. It was finally dry enough for a decent bike rides so they took off and went about 55 kilometers. They said it just felt good to be out in the open air and moving around.
They are preparing for an upcoming visit by the US Embassy folks to the area and a trip to Lusaka to train the new arrivals. They have been giving a lot of thought staying on a while longer possibly in another capacity with the Embassy or PC. If they stay with the PC they could be located in Ulapa across the Congo. Andy would be the provincial coordinator and they would probably live in a provincial house. Decisions, decisions.....
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Sunday, March 15, 2009
The Ides of March
The ancient festival dedicated to the god Mars, the Ides of March, had brought nothing but rain for days upon days to the jungles of Zambia and the Fritz's have been feeling the effects. Andy's clothes molded on the line and Ashlee was dismayed to say that she has fungus growing on her feet. She desperately tried to convince us that it was perfectly normal, but I am not sure any of us were buying it. The 'good bridge' and 'bad bridge' are no more. They have both been wiped out in the high waters. Andy has not visited his bridge since the last big rain but will be that way this week. I wonder if good old American construction will hold up. They have been trapped indoors most of the times since they return from their vacation and they had been day dreaming of home. Andy had been wishing for the old log bed at the parents' house and hoping it would be waiting for him, which of course it will be.
Fuzzy Nut has gone missing. It was a sore spot so we didn't dwell on it. He disappeared while they were away and no one is fessing up. Frankly, I prefer to not consider the possibilities. It is hard to not get attached to a pet when it is part of your human fiber to love animals as God's creatures. Tosh is still around, however so the treats I sent will go to good use. Maybe Fuzzy will reappear and brighten their days sometime soon. Positive thoughts their way...
They have decided to limit their efforts to a single project each. They have been getting burnt out with trying to do so many different things and the people constantly disappoint them. Ashlee said that after all the effort she went through to get knitting needles and yarn once she gave the ladies the tools they have never returned for classes. This seems to be the predominant attitude towards any kind of aid. They take what is given, but do not make any effort to really learn how to best utilize it or gain more knowledge. So Andy is an official tree farmer and Ashlee will be continuing her traveling work to education on nutrition and children's health. She has been fulfilled with that work and it allows her to travel to many remote places and make an impact as the hospital has a truck that they use for their site visits. One of the villages they are scheduled to visit is near a national park and they should see elephants there. They have trouble with them eating the maize in the area. Kind of a big pest to have to defend you crops against. I hope she carries a camera and a big stick.
Something that none of us has figured out yet has caused there to be an evacuation of PC volunteers out of Madagascar several of which are being relocated to Zambia. Andy and Ashlee will be helping with the training of some of these new posts in Lusaka in a few weeks. They sounded excited to get some new faces in the area and participate in some group activities and I think a trip away from home is always welcome.
There is a visit from some representatives of the US Embassy planning to visit soon. They are coming to see the projects that are underway in the area. They will be visiting the tree farm. They will be traveling with a large projection screen and will show a movie to each village as they go. Ashlee was hoping it would be Top Gun. No matter what the picture it will be a first for most of those they will encounter. I wonder what will be going through their minds that night.
Fuzzy Nut has gone missing. It was a sore spot so we didn't dwell on it. He disappeared while they were away and no one is fessing up. Frankly, I prefer to not consider the possibilities. It is hard to not get attached to a pet when it is part of your human fiber to love animals as God's creatures. Tosh is still around, however so the treats I sent will go to good use. Maybe Fuzzy will reappear and brighten their days sometime soon. Positive thoughts their way...
They have decided to limit their efforts to a single project each. They have been getting burnt out with trying to do so many different things and the people constantly disappoint them. Ashlee said that after all the effort she went through to get knitting needles and yarn once she gave the ladies the tools they have never returned for classes. This seems to be the predominant attitude towards any kind of aid. They take what is given, but do not make any effort to really learn how to best utilize it or gain more knowledge. So Andy is an official tree farmer and Ashlee will be continuing her traveling work to education on nutrition and children's health. She has been fulfilled with that work and it allows her to travel to many remote places and make an impact as the hospital has a truck that they use for their site visits. One of the villages they are scheduled to visit is near a national park and they should see elephants there. They have trouble with them eating the maize in the area. Kind of a big pest to have to defend you crops against. I hope she carries a camera and a big stick.
Something that none of us has figured out yet has caused there to be an evacuation of PC volunteers out of Madagascar several of which are being relocated to Zambia. Andy and Ashlee will be helping with the training of some of these new posts in Lusaka in a few weeks. They sounded excited to get some new faces in the area and participate in some group activities and I think a trip away from home is always welcome.
There is a visit from some representatives of the US Embassy planning to visit soon. They are coming to see the projects that are underway in the area. They will be visiting the tree farm. They will be traveling with a large projection screen and will show a movie to each village as they go. Ashlee was hoping it would be Top Gun. No matter what the picture it will be a first for most of those they will encounter. I wonder what will be going through their minds that night.
Monday, March 9, 2009
A much needed vacation
Andy and Ashlee were at the Provincial house when we spoke on Sunday evening watching a Chinese movie subtitled in English. Just relaxing for the evening. They had returned from their cross country travels to see their friends Trevor and Lisa in the NE province. Ashlee said visiting them was like visiting themselves. They too are stacked with American food from their loved ones. Andy and Trevor took several long bikes rides, around 200 K, while Ashlee and Lisa knitted and quilted at the house. They also went on several long hikes together. Ashlee said it was a much needed vacation and enjoyable to spend time with another couple.
Trevor has been frustrated with the work that he has been doing, so they have been reassigned to another position. I am uncertain if they will be moving or not. They are the only other couple in the region and they are in their late 30's so they are more mellow like Andy and Ashlee. Lisa taught Ashlee how to make pizza on the brazier, so they were excited to get home and try it. Good thing I sent pizza crust mix, pizza sauce, olives, mushrooms, pepperoni and Parmesan cheese in their last box. I told Ashlee about what I sent and she said she can't wait to see Andy's face. That is exactly what he has been craving. Somehow I keep managing to pick the exact things they want or need. I guess God does work in mysterious ways.
Their original plan for the trip was to attend an annual festival that is held in the region. They did travel through the festival, but decided it was best to keep moving. The festival was about 75% men and about 80% of those men were completely wasted. Ashlee said it was not a place that she she be. Several of the women and men were dressed in their native costumes, which was interesting to see, but the underlying purpose of the festival was to drink a lot of alcohol.
They are now staying at the Provincial house to paint for a few days. Ashlee said she has been painting ceilings for a couple of days and it is hard work. A portion of the roof had to be replaced as there was significant water damage. They said it was okay to do a different type of work for a while. Andy painted a large rainbow like image down the hall, so I am sure he is enjoying himself.
Ashlee was telling me about carbon trading in Zambia. This is an international program where countries exceeding their allowable carbon footprint can buy or trade carbon "points" from countries like Zambia who have little carbon footprint. I am not sure how the points are purchased, but here is a link to some information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emissions_trading
They are trying to get some of the funds from these programs to pay for the seedling tree for the tree farm Andy has been working on. I think this may be what Trevor will be involved with in his new position. Andy is also going to be doing some radio programming. His experience working at the Andrews University radio station will be coming in handy. It seems like the variety of skills Andy has picked up over the years are definitely coming in handy.
Trevor has been frustrated with the work that he has been doing, so they have been reassigned to another position. I am uncertain if they will be moving or not. They are the only other couple in the region and they are in their late 30's so they are more mellow like Andy and Ashlee. Lisa taught Ashlee how to make pizza on the brazier, so they were excited to get home and try it. Good thing I sent pizza crust mix, pizza sauce, olives, mushrooms, pepperoni and Parmesan cheese in their last box. I told Ashlee about what I sent and she said she can't wait to see Andy's face. That is exactly what he has been craving. Somehow I keep managing to pick the exact things they want or need. I guess God does work in mysterious ways.
Their original plan for the trip was to attend an annual festival that is held in the region. They did travel through the festival, but decided it was best to keep moving. The festival was about 75% men and about 80% of those men were completely wasted. Ashlee said it was not a place that she she be. Several of the women and men were dressed in their native costumes, which was interesting to see, but the underlying purpose of the festival was to drink a lot of alcohol.
They are now staying at the Provincial house to paint for a few days. Ashlee said she has been painting ceilings for a couple of days and it is hard work. A portion of the roof had to be replaced as there was significant water damage. They said it was okay to do a different type of work for a while. Andy painted a large rainbow like image down the hall, so I am sure he is enjoying himself.
Ashlee was telling me about carbon trading in Zambia. This is an international program where countries exceeding their allowable carbon footprint can buy or trade carbon "points" from countries like Zambia who have little carbon footprint. I am not sure how the points are purchased, but here is a link to some information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emissions_trading
They are trying to get some of the funds from these programs to pay for the seedling tree for the tree farm Andy has been working on. I think this may be what Trevor will be involved with in his new position. Andy is also going to be doing some radio programming. His experience working at the Andrews University radio station will be coming in handy. It seems like the variety of skills Andy has picked up over the years are definitely coming in handy.
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