Ending Extreme Poverty in the Congo

Water Inside and Outside

As I was walking up to the hospital, it started drizzling rain. This was my initial meeting with staff. The big subject or theme for this visit is water.

In the beginning, I tried to explain the impact of the global economic crisis. But the staff was not interested in our global crisis when they have a real crisis that kills thousands each month in the Congo.

As I got started with the major points, the rain began to really pour down forcing us to close the windows. Once when the lightning flashed nearby, I thought someone was taking pictures.

As I was leaving, I saw a number of women had used the rain as a source of water to do their clothes washing. Since the hospital's roof is metal, it is favorite place to gather water.

Please visit www.WhatsWoodyDoingNow.com For my other blogging about Congo.

from my HTC phone!

Did Your Children Sleep Under A Mosquito Net Last Night?

Did your children sleep under a mosquito net last night? That's a simple question that I will ask the Congolese parents during my visit. I will limit my questions to parents of children under five years old.

This is the net over my bed. Malaria is less of a threat to adults. For me, I am taking no chances. I am going to use the net and my anti-malaria tablets.

Also visit, www.whatswoodydoingnow.com

from my HTC phone!

Five Guys Equal One Small Lawnmower

Last night, I missed charging my phone. Normally, electricity is only available in the evenings from 7-10 or sometimes longer. So this morning, I was glad to hear the generator going and giving electricity to the main dining and meeting rooms.

As I waited for my phone to get fully charged, I observed the workers cutting the grass in the inner court yard. Actually, it was more like chopping the grass.

Five guys started working after 8am. And after three hours, they are about finished with the first half of the court yard. The total court yard is about an area of 60 yards by 30 yards.

These men are fully employed and busy during the rainy season. Fifty percent or more of the Congolese population is not so lucky.

A small lawnmower could idle four of these guys immediately. In theory, the four guys could be employed in new jobs created by the lawnmower.

Extreme poverty is defined as earning the equivalent of a dollar per day. Ending Extreme Poverty requires the theory to be put into practice.

from my HTC phone!

Where Are The Fruit Trees?

California, Florida, and Texas are big growers of fruits because of their nearly year-round warm temperatures. You would think the same would be true for Congo?

Growing up in central Florida, a major fruit growing area, our lives revolved around the growing seasons. Besides the commercial growers, small individual growers were plentiful. Also, most homes had one or two fruit trees But, it is not the same in Congo.

A few days ago, James and saw a perfectly good and mature mango tree. It had been cut down. The wood was being harvested. James seen many mango trees being cut down. Is this the innocent beginning of deforestation?

from my HTC phone!

House Gardening in the City

Sunday was cool and cloudy. It had rained heavily throughout the pre-dawn hours. But it was perfect day for walking and visiting friends with James

James suggested a stop to our friend the bishop. We arrived just before Abbé Matteo returned from Mass. While waiting, I noticed his big garden of beans. I had never seen such a big garden in the city at someone's house.

The beans would be ready in about another week or so. They were perfectly timed to be harvested at the end of the rainy season. In the city, sometimes it was possible to garden the entire year, IF you have a water source. Unfortunately, the bishop does not have a water source.

Water is needed to break the cycle of hunger during the dry season. Water is essential to life.

from my HTC phone!