(this is the day Chris fell sick with the flu bug that was going through our group)
Mr. Abion Muntanga is the head of a small village in the Munkolo area, where we were learning about the Choonga Area goat project; an area that has received over 300 goats into the community through the provision of the Gift Catalogue. He was telling us this story to try and help explain how the community feels about receiving these blessings. It may seem a little different, after translation, and my trying to get it copied down as it was spoken, but I think you’ll get the drift, although I admit I’m still a little confused as to the point he was trying to make.
“There was a school child doing well. The father told the son that if he passed his grades he would buy him a vehicle. The child was very happy. He told his friends and he did well. The time came for the boy to receive his graduation present; friends and family gathered to watch as he received his gift. He was handed a parcel, when he opened it he found a bible and was not pleased. He was frustrated, he had expected a vehicle, not a bible! He wanted revenge on his parents and so he killed them. After killing his parents he was all alone and so he sat down and looked at his books from school, he looked at the bible he had been give. Inside he found a check and a letter. The letter told him to take the check and buy a vehicle. He was surprised and realized he had made a horrible mistake, that he had been told the truth. He then went on to study the bible and became a preacher.”
Mr. Muntanga then said to us, “ here in Munkolo we received such a bible, we didn’t want to kill when we received it, we were happy, then we looked inside and we saw a good thing; inside was a gift from Canada.
In 2000 ADP Kalomo started training Mr. Muntanga about raising healthy small animals. He went back to the community and told of his training and after discussions it was decided they would keep goats. The community started to built a koral . He told us that like the story of the boy many could not see the light at the end of the tunnel and stopped helping, but 9 members remained and they finished building a strong structure and they each received 3 female goats. They took it upon themselves to look for a ‘billy’ and after finding one many babies were born. As promised to WV for the gift of goats, the offspring were passed on to others in need. As the debt was repaid they were able to keep more of the offspring and were able to start selling them. They were able to raise1.2 million kawachas (approx $300); from the profits they bought a calf, which has been growing strong and this year will finally be able to help with the plowing. Their goal was to help to community become stronger, healthier and self-reliant, which is finally coming to fruition; “so you see“, he says, “the item in the bible is bearing fruit and they are sharing the message to do good when they have enough and help their neighbours.” He wanted to thank World Vision and all Canadians, through their empowerment the lives in this community are improving.
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