Garden's Gate and Crisis Nursey

Today (Friday) we started the day at Michelle Clark's project, Garden's Gate. She is using and teaching permaculture to the women of the local village. She has reached out to men / women / couples from other areas that want to learn permaculture. She gardens and grows food to use and to demonstrate how it is done. She has been involved in a local feeding program due to the severe food shortages in Malawi at the present. She has also taken in a deaf village child who was being abused - she has hired teachers to teach her sign language. She needs prayer (both Michelle and little Awema) as this is a difficult task. Michelle also cares for her 87 year old Mother. If anyone is interested in donating to her, contact me!

We also went to Crisis Nursery (Ministry of Hope - ministryofhope.org) to see / feed / hold the babies. I found Chisomo who was there last year. She is quite the hand full this year! There were several 8 month old kids, one named 'My' (at least that is how it is pronounced) is tiny and only looks to be ~3-4 months old. She can barely hold her head up. There is also a precious child, Christina, with severe cerebral palsy who is there temporarily until the social worker system can place her with responsible relatives (the ones who were keeping her were abusing her). She will look at you and smile, but basically unable to communicate. We had a good time with the babies, although there are sad stories there - death, desertion, abuse, physical handicaps - but the 'aunties' seem to love them all. Any donations can be made through their website and earmarked for Crisis Nursery.

Enjoy the photos!

PLUMERIA

Michelle Clark, Donna Ivey and Kelley McGowan outside Michelle's house with her outside guard dogs.

Laying hens. She also has small quail, pigeons and pigs.

Sow and her piglets

I am not sure what was so funny, but Michelle, myself and Kelley were obviously amused!

The road by Michelles - the brick wall is around her yard / garden and the fence (electrified) encloses her 'food forest'.

This is the bunk house she is making for permaculture students that travel a far distance to spend a week or so learning at her house. The back wall is bags, packed with mud and then dried and stacked. This room was noticeably cooler than the outside. When finished it will give the 'students' a place to sleep.

Some of the maize harvest from the 'food forest', being cleaned by one of Michelle's workers

Scrap paper is soaked in water until soft, then molded / squeezed into balls and dried in the sun. They can be used for fuel for the fires, like bricquets. 

Crisis Nursery - Chisomo and I. She was there last year when we were here.

Crisis Nursery, Andrew sleeping. When he awoke, he was the most mellow little guy!

Crisis Nursery - I am playing with Chisomo. She was very active and very desirous of attention and activity!

Crisis Nursery - Kelley McGowan with little 'My', I am holding Dorene and little Sarah is chilling on the edge of the blanket!

Crisis Nursery, Joey Swartz feeding Chisomo - we fed the others while sitting on the floor, but Joey thought containing this little live wire in a high chair was a better idea - and we all agreed! That is one active kiddo!

Thanks to all for prayers for safety. Tomorrow we go out with E3 for a village clinic, if you see this in time, be in prayer for that (it is on Saturday).  Also, need some prayer coverage for car issues. And always, always that we seek God's will in our endeavors!