
John, Charles, Elizabeth, Peter and Marty collected ripe mangoes from our four trees. Peter climbed up and shook the trees, forcing ripe ones to fall. We collected two big baskets full. On Friday we pulled green ones and distributed them along with the ripe ones. We distributed two paint-can size tins full of mangoes (ours are a small variety), a dozen bananas and some leafy veggies to each of 13 widows. The avocados aren't quite ready, but will be distributed soon. It takes an avocado tree up to ten years before it will bear fruit. Ours has not done so before this year. That was one of Marty's heart's desires - for the avocado tree to produce.
Not far from where we live in town there is an area called Kiboko. It is located right on Lake Victoria. Kiboko is the Kiswahili name for Hippopotamus The community is named that because many hippos live in the lake there. In fact, nearby is an area called Hippo Point. We just learned that they stay in the water in the day time to keep cool, but at night they come up into the village area and graze - in large numbers. We are told that they have been part of the locale for years and the people accept them and they accept the people. Our driver said they are "friendly" and there have never been incidents in the community of injury from hippos. He assured us it is different with hippos in the wild; they are ferocious. (No photos of the local hippos! And most likely won't have any.)
Prayer Requests:
Penny Bell, Jeremy's wife - Diagnosed with esophageal cancer - surgery scheduled for June 23 (Jeremy is our colleague in the UK, who works with us in developing the farm);
Health (We are well, other than getting tired.);
Wisdom in operating the farm & decisions for the future;
With Blessings & Much Love,
J & M