The day was filled with meetings again. First, we met to discuss the eyeglasses project of the church women. Almost two years ago, I attended the global health missions conference. An exhibitor did a evening workshop to demonstrate his eyeglasses-making kit. The kit was invented and developed to provide reading glasses for the poor for about $1 each. And the kit was priced and configured to be an income producer, too. We purchased a kit and brought it last year to the women. I barely could remember how to make a pair of eyeglasses. But it was simple step-by-step process, and the kit came with a instructional CD or DVD. The eyeglasses project was big success! They made 320 pairs of eyeglasses. Most were sold for about a dollar. But some were sold at a reduced price of 60 cents and a few were given away freely to some older poor women. After their local expenses and salaries for eyeglasses makers, they still cleared a profit of more than a hundred dollars. They asked why I did not bring more kits and materials. They were waiting because many people in the surrounding village came to buy glasses. But they were sold out. I apologized for missing their earlier request in a report sent to me. It's one of those 'lost in translation' things. Next, I met with 6 of the 9 school headmasters in the village. A time of sharing and updating by me. Also, it turned into a learning session for them, too. At two elementary schools, we have a project to start replacing thatched roofs with tin roofs. The money that we had sent was used to purchase the some tin roofing materials, boards, and nails. They were 'on hold' since it was not enough money to complete all the buildings at both schools. AND we they have no money for labor. So the purchased materials was just being stored. I gave them a quick lesson in 'community' development. I told them they needed to think of innovative ways to get the community and especially parents involved. They saw the light and agreed. Just as fast, they decided to roof the office building at each school. I offered to take the materials to the schools in the BUV. It was an offer they gladly accepted. Finally, I received an update on our Moringa tree project. They had distributed hundreds of seeds to villagers to grow the 'miracle' tree. The leaves are very nutritious. They can be dried, crushed, and used as supplement in their food without altering the taste. During the update, they highlight the need to expand to a chicken project. It was outside of the scope of the Moringa project. Next we went on walking tour to some the trees. Most of them were growing very well. Some people in the village were stealing cuttings to start their own Moringa trees. However, most villagers were not pruning the trees so that they became bushy. Some trees were 20 feet high which is clearly too tall to harvest the leaves. Repeatedly, I emphasized more work on developing the Moringa trees. Also, the chicken project would take them farther away from developing and harvesting the Moringa leaves.
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