Difficulties

            It’s difficult knowing if some people really need help, or if they’re just hoping for a free handout. I just got back from a chicken project that was started here recently. Money for chickens and a chicken coop was given to a local family in hopes that they would be able to raise hens and make some profit from selling either the eggs or the young chickens. Two projects of this type were started at the same time. One project has 10 chickens and a whole bunch of baby chicks that roam with their mamma’s. The other project has 4 chickens and 1 rooster. No babies and no eggs.

            The later project is the one that I just returned from. I was trying to figure out how the project was going and why they had so few chickens left. I talked with the owner for awhile. He told me that the chickens had some sickness that was killing them off. He said it was malaria and he needed medicine for them. I had a really hard time keeping incredulity off of my face. I don’t know much about chickens, but them being sick with malaria? That seemed a little far-fetched. He went on to say that he wanted something other than rice to feed them, that just rice wasn’t good for them. I asked why he didn’t let them out of their pen during the day so they could forage. He answered that he was worried that they would associate with the sick chickens, maybe eat the other chickens that died, and thus become sick themselves. Ok, this is a little over the top…cannibalistic chickens? And malaria doesn’t get passed that way as far as I know. He says he needs more money, I’m not sure that I’m willing to condone giving more money to a project that isn’t succeeding.

            Thankfully, our other project is doing well. I suggested that they start selling the eggs instead of just having tons of babies, but maybe they want to sell the chickens at the market. That would probably bring good money too. Half of the money they earn is supposed to come to the hospital to help provide food for the malnourished kids in the peds ward. I’m excited about this project, it seems like it might actually be successful.

            Maybe it seems backward, but I would be more willing to pour my money and time into the second project, the one that is actually doing what it’s supposed to rather than trying to revitalize the one that’s failing. I would like some proof that the first project is actually doing what they are supposed to be doing and not just using the chickens and money to their own advantage. They started out with 10 chickens, they’ve lost over half. Is it really all due to some mysterious illness? Or are they being negligent?

            It’s difficult to know who’s telling the truth here. It’s difficult to know who to trust. I guess it’s difficult everywhere, but here there is so much corruption that it seems even harder than at other places. I have to keep reminding myself that I’m here on God’s mission and He is the judge, not me. At least I know I can trust Him.