Attention. I have booked passage on a jet plane to Malawi and will be
>leaving January 12th, 2005. I aim to bring Jake as many gifts as possible from as many people as possible, but space is obviously limited. I'm sure i'll be
>toting a lot of crap from Greg and Dana, and for myself as well - my journals,
>jungle boots, elephant gun, monkey-bite kit, the 9/11 Commission Report, etc..
>However, I encourage all, to send a little something to Myself or Greg(i'll be
>visiting Califon before i leave in January some time). I'd like to accomodate
>as many well-wishers as possible so let's keep these care packages efficient
>and compact. As a rule of thumb, i'd say no bigger than a small racoon. And as
>i am a man of modest size and strength (5'7", 165 lbs, brown curly hair,
>bench press 205 lbs), lightweight gifts such as embroidered taffeta, macrame place
>settings, and gift certificates would be preferable to jugs of cheap wine,
>Bibles, and the like.
>I'll be working closely with Greg on this, he is a trusted ally and has been
>like a surly father-figure to me, so contact him or myself if you have any
>questions at all.
>Let Freedom Reign!
>Joseph O'Grady
>398 Garden St.
>West Islip, NY 11795
>jeo2@aol.com
Joe,
Gifts will be sent to either you or Greg from Rich Uncle Al & Rich Aunt Pam
Thanks for doing this-----hope to see you before you leave----it is so great that you are going to see Jake-----
Sending you Love and Blessings,
Al & Pam
Posted by: Al & Pam at December 10, 2004 03:25 AMHI, Please bring best wishes for Jake, from Lithuania:))))
Justas
It was my intention to visit jake early october but never made it past NY. I'd appreciate any tips, advice on your journey as it is my intention to try again as soon as possible to get to Africa and see Jake. I'd like info on airlines, what you do when you reach Llongwe, best time to traval etc.
Good luck-it has got to be an interesting journey
Please give best wishes to Jake from his friends in Colima,Mexico.
Thanks and safe journey!
Jnana
Just wanted to let y'all know i'm following your comments and shall respond to them accordingly. Also, received a card for Jake from some bloke in Virginia Beach (Oriole Circle)- I am humbled by your trust in me and shall see to it that Jake receives it.Happy Holidays!
Posted by: LI Joe at December 27, 2004 11:02 PMI had the opportunity to travel home (Malawi) for Xmas. It was a thrilling experience to meet Gregory. He told me of his conversation with his dad about the message I had left on the web site.
I met Gregory on Xmas day, dressed in brown shirt and a neck tie, his beard nicely trimmed. I was driving past to a neighbouring village when I saw a Mzungu amongst thousands of my folks. There were some traditional dances and village drama very close to where he lives (that’s how we normally celebrate Xmas in Malawi!!). He was mingling freely among my folks when I sent someone to call him. Before I could introduce myself he exclaimed ‘..you must be Macloud Chavula’. It felt like I have met him before. Of course I knew him better than he knew me thanks to the information and communications on the web site. We spoke in vernacular for a moment. I am quite impressed that he can speak Tumbuka after such a short stint. Of course he could not follow the drama because the actors speak very fast!
Gregory is doing a very fine job. Our Hewe area once had very fertile soils. After years of using chemical fertilisers our soils can not produce without it any more. But the cost of a bag of 50kgs of fertiliser has got up from MK1500 (approx $150) last two years to MK 3500 ($350) this year (I couldn’t belief the cost when I wanted to buy for my father!!). This is clearly not affordable to more than 98% of the village folks and it is not sustainable. A more lasting and sustainable alternative has to be found. Gregory has initiated a very commendable project. AGROFORESTRY is the only way forward in Hewe. Gregory was eager to show me his nursery on Boxing Day and I promised I would meet him. Unfortunately I got tide up with some family matters and could therefore not make it. He told me about some Faidherbia albida, Gliricidia Sepium etc. that we has in his nursery. I think he should also introduce some Sesbanias and Tephrosia V. They too have very high N release.
I am back to work in Tanzania. God bless