As if the joyous births of two grandsons in April and May weren't enough to postpone our plans to return to Rwanda in late June, a tornado hitting our property on Stoney Lake early in June, knocking over more than 50 trees, meant that we weren't going in July or August either!
Further, a visit to the porters' collective by our Rwandan co-founder Paul revealed that the porters had not exactly held up their end of the contract. They were grateful for the sheep but decided that we would not be returning as both the distance from their home to ours and the cost of travel was unfathomable. As a result, no meetings were held by the collective and no updates regarding farmlife, use of the manure or crop yield were gathered.
We were so disappointed. Disillusioned. Deflated.
Do we give up? Walk away?
During the past 2 months, Paul personally visited almost every porter to explain, once again, the bigger picture of this endeavour.
In all fairness to the porters, it is hard for us, coming from a culture used to planning for tomorrow and for many years down the road, to understand the mindset of a people who live from day to day.
More than 120 lambs have been born since last September. Many of them will be pregnant in the coming months, as will the original ewes. More sheep means more shit. That part of the project is definitely a success.
We aren't giving up. We're regrouping!
Further, a visit to the porters' collective by our Rwandan co-founder Paul revealed that the porters had not exactly held up their end of the contract. They were grateful for the sheep but decided that we would not be returning as both the distance from their home to ours and the cost of travel was unfathomable. As a result, no meetings were held by the collective and no updates regarding farmlife, use of the manure or crop yield were gathered.
We were so disappointed. Disillusioned. Deflated.
Do we give up? Walk away?
During the past 2 months, Paul personally visited almost every porter to explain, once again, the bigger picture of this endeavour.
In all fairness to the porters, it is hard for us, coming from a culture used to planning for tomorrow and for many years down the road, to understand the mindset of a people who live from day to day.
More than 120 lambs have been born since last September. Many of them will be pregnant in the coming months, as will the original ewes. More sheep means more shit. That part of the project is definitely a success.
We aren't giving up. We're regrouping!
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