Thede Connection- HAITI/Zambia: Post-graduation.

Since graduation, the good byes have been spaced out depending on the arrangements for rides.

Generally the district overseer is responsible but for the last ones who left yesterday this was complicated due to space and funerals.

Finally, Johnathan's family were escorted to their location by Rev. Samson who needed to go part of the way to Choma and also picked up an additional solar panel for the new well pump, so we combined 3 trips.

We wondered what the handful of chickens and one duck were thinking from the small cage they traveled in that was tied securely on the top of the truck!

Please pray for the graduates that do not have a church yet.

Many churches are struggling due to the crop failures so it is hard for them to take on a pastor.

At home we've been continuing with school, studies, and Fritz with soccer.

Cory went shopping by himself last week to Choma, putting in a long day of gathering supplies and travel.

With the drought and dry season sunshine, keeping the trees and plants watered is a very important job.

Cory recently harvested his second papaya, which sadly had an odd shape and was moldy inside.

We are very thankful for the increased water supply.

This is also helped by most of the students being gone on ministry assignments until the next academic year starts on Sept. 9th.

The new campus gate that was completed right before graduation is helping to keep the animals off campus, however Cory still had to chase a large bull calf away just yesterday.

While life remains very dusty with dry season and smoke, it does mean that we have some very colorful sunrises and sunsets.

The solar pump was underpowered and couldn't pump at all when the sky is smoky and dusty, but is pumping fine now with the 3rd panel.

It will probably be hazy now until October.

I, Cory, don't want to think about the equivalent cigarettes per day.... after being in Michigan last summer during the Canada wildfires.

I read smoke is more harmful than other similar size particles like fine dust so maybe it isn't as bad here as it looks.

4 bags of biochar from the ground at the charcoal market in Choma, 54 mango rootstocks to be grafted and 2 pecan trees.

The waste powder and crumbs from Zambian hardwood charcoal is suprisingly heavy, the bags about 100 pounds each, to be used in the garden and potting mix.

Cory planted mango seeds too late with the early arrival of the dry season so germination was low and needs to buy more, about 60-70 cents each depending on variety and the price jumps to $3 or more once grafted.

The nursery man said pecans are popular now that a farmer is selling them in town (only every other Friday when I am not there) and people are learning that they are good. $2 for each plant.