Goats: Round 3

Last week Lamech brought another shipment of dairy goats into the district. This is the 3 shipment of goats from the Christmas order.

It was another long day, beginning early morning and arriving at 11:30 pm. A problem with the windshield wipers of all things, delayed them 3 hours on the road, as it rained heavily and welding was required.
These were the goats that had been quarantined. This may be the last of the females that we need to have shipped into the district, as the breeding within our district is beginning to gain momentum.
We have bought a few goats already that have been breed locally. This eases the burden of transport and also adds local blood of goats from this district, making them even heartier.

There is no ceremony this time, but some women are coming each day to pick their goats. Thank you to all those who gave goats!

Goat Gifting

Women, children and men whose lives have been affected through loss and disease gathered together last week for the latest goat distribution. I shared from Scripture about how Jesus is our Good Shepherd, with us in hard times, caring for us gently, and laying His life down for us. I encouraged them to be reminded of their Good Shepherd whenever they are caring for their goats that God cares for them more completely then we can.
Scott Myhre, WHM Team Leader, used the illustration of animal sacrifice, which people practice regularly here. He shared how Christ is the best and final sacrifice for our sins, doing for us what we couldn’t do for ourselves. He also alluded to the sacrifice of the donors who gave generously to provide the dairy goats, which they were unable to provide for themselves.

41 females were distributed, including some of the females that have been passed on (offspring of previously distributed goats).

4 males were also place in the villages to continue the breeding in the communities.

Goat Delivery

Tues night 51 goats arrrived. With the help of our truck's headlights to illuminate the area, 35 females were handed out of the huge truck and carried to their pens. Most of the 16 males were quite large, so after they were lowered from the truck, a firm grabbing of the horns and directing to their pen was needed.

Quarantine

Today Lamech is in Masaka preparing the trucks by creating multiple goat pens in the truck bed.
When he was getting the moving permits that allow livestock to travel within Uganda, he found that 18 of the goats he’d bought were within a sub-county with a recent outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD). Despite the fact that Lamech had previously vaccinated them against FMD they are unable to be moved at this time.
The 35 female goats from other sub-counties as well as the 16 donated males will still start their long journey to Bundibugyo tomorrow morning.

Round Two for Goats

Lamech is making preparations for the next goat distribution. He will visit in family in Masaka next week, he lives a day's drive from his wife and children. He'll buy calliandra seed there to distribute to the new beneficiaries. He'll conduct two separate 2-day training the following weeks. One will be in Bundibugyo Town (1/2 hour north) and the other will be on the mission. Seeds to plant for fodder and nails for the goat shelter will be distributed along with an abundance of helpful knowledge.

One by One

It was fun to watch the women come one by one to recieve their goats. Many had their babies strapped to their backs. Some had their sad stories written on their faces. Others' faces shown with joy, the pain of life covered by gratitude and hope. During the celebration I had watched one aunt offer her empty breast to an orphan who sucked eagerly, without much payback. I was happy to give her a goat who would produce a kid in 2 weeks and provide life giving nourishment. Other HIV+ moms were ready to wean their children from the breast to a non infected milk source. I wish you could have seen their expressions of gratitude with a smile, a bended knee, a blessing in their native tongue (which were many) , and hands together in grateful prayer.

The World Harvest Team pitched into help, the kids being great goat wranglers, and Pauline and Lamech went the extra mile in making the day fabulous.

Gift Giving

The smiling faces of the women were exciting to see. Biirwa, a local evangelist, shared from the Word of God the story of the talents and making the most of what you have. He encouraged the women to be faithful with the goats they were being given, to put time and care into them. Scott Myhre represented WHM and encouraged the women as well. I was also able to remind them of the Gifts God has given these women, in his Son, and in the goats that will nourish their children. I shared with them how so many people gave Christmas goats in their honor this past Christmas and that they are receiving the benefit of them. They clapped for you in gratitude. After Lamech also shared, a friend and recipient from the group came forward and conveyed his gratitude in words. Then they organized a special clap rhythm that ended in hands extended toward our team leader as though they were heaping the claps on him. They are now being passed onto all of you who made this goat distribution day possible.

Late Night Arrival

The goats arrived at 3:00 am after a long, long journey. The original shortcut they were taking wasn't in good enough condition, so they had to turn around and start again. Later they had a flat tire. Reaching Fort Portal, the vehicle needed some work done on the brakes. They didn't begin crossing the mountains until the sun was beginning to set. We try to avoid driving in the dark because there are no street lights, especially on the mountain curves. They pressed on for the sake of the goats. Eventually they found another truck stuck in the road and they were unable to pass by it. They waited for hours until that truck was able to move.

When the truck arrived it backed up to the fence and Michael turned our car lights on the truck so we could see. Each of the goats were handed off and carried to the pen. They were so tired and quiet, that after they were all unloaded, I hardly heard a sound from them. I wouldn't have known that 51 extra goats were just outside my window.

Fodder, Fodder and more Fodder

Pauline has the busy job of preparing for guests. 50 goats will arrive on the mission's farm today and will stay for about 48 hours. She and some helpers will gather branches from trees, long grasses and pea-type plants for a lot of hungry mouths. Tomorrow Michael will go out with the truck deeper into the villages to collect more.

Vet Visit

Today Lamech and a vet from Masaka will visit all the goats that we've purchased and vaccinated them against pneumonia and give them a strong dewormer. A shop owner from Nyahuka will arrive in Masaka with his truck and it will be transformed into an animal shelter on wheels. They will divide the truck bed into sections with poles and dividers. Then they will cover the bottom of the truck with soft grasses. Food and water for the journey will be collected. They will start to load the goats tomorrow morning before the sun is up!

Let the trainings begin!

Yesterday was the first of 9 trainings for goat recipients. Lamech, with Geoffrey's help, plans to teach a series of 3 trainings and repeat it in 3 locations for easy access to the beneficiaries. Yesterday's training was on World Harvest Mission's Community Center. After talking about goat breeds, why dairy goat breeding is valuable, and some basics of care, they took a tour of the goat farm on the mission as well as the demonstration fodder garden. People seemed very interested and engaged. Lamech has a great way of communicating and drawing people in.

50 Goats: Found and Vaccinated

Last week, Lamech traveled for a full day to reach Masaka. It took him a week to travel into various villages where many families breed dairy goats. Most "farms" are small and they only have a few animals. Lamech's goal was to find 50 females (half local blood and half dairy) at a mature age and vaccinate them for Foot and Mouth Disease. He found them, though a few are a bit younger than we wanted due to lack of mature ones. The local farmers are receiving the initial deposit for purchase and will receive the rest when they bring their goats to the truck April 1rst. They are so grateful for the sales, especially at this time of year when school fees are due.
Lamech also let them know that he'll return to look for more goats in May.

Christmas Goats

This Christmas you may want to give a gift to a needy child. When young children lose their mother or their mother's milk is tainted with HIV they are at risk of death and disease themselves. Formula and other sources of milk are not readily available or affordable in Bundibugyo. A donation of $110 provides a dairy goat that will give milk for such a child. In time, the goat will likely produce offspring and the firstborn female is passed on to another child in need of milk.
A Ugandan artist has made goat ornaments that we'd like to send to those who have purchased a goat. For those who donate a goat this Christmas, email me (Karen) at masso@iname.com sending your name and mailing address. That way I can mail off your ornament in time for Christmas.

Donations can be made online or by mail (designate fund #12375)