January 2015 (two e-mails from Sarjo, describing recent treks)

Dear Fatou
Sorry I didn’t write earlier but most of the internet was closed. Now everything is ok and we are back to normal.
It was a very very nice trek and we had a lovely time with villages with lots of happiness. In our first handing over at Kolier, we were both given new names, My was Sulayman, Setty's name was Alagi Fatty. This group never had anything like a dryer and they are very very happy.
In Worokan we had some problems. The Lady President of the Women’s Group who spoke to me died before the day. Another group changed the programme to theirs and spoke to Setty who approved it without getting my approval. When we arrived, 2 groups had come to the welcome and there was a big argument and I was very embarrassed and angry with Setty. He said he thought that the death of their lady president would make the group postpone and i say it wouldn’t have mattered because there are 87 women in the garden who were happy to get the dryer. In the end we gave to the first group, and I told the other group to forgive us and one day I remember them.
In Njaren we have the best handing over as the group is not big and their garden is among the best you have seen. They are had working and are going to dry most of their vegetables and keep them for the rainy season when it get difficult. We also were given very unusual presents - mine is a hat made of palm leaves whilst Setty got a pair of shoes made from car tyres. We both are very happy to receive something we never think of even if we don’t want it.
Our next trek will be on the 16th Jan.
Thank you so much and wish you again a very health and happy 2015 to you and all the family.
Best wishes
From Sarjo D
Sent: Monday, 26 January 2015, 11:34Dear Fatou
Sorry I didn’t write to you sooner. On my way back from the trek I stop at my mum to spend a day or two as I didn’t see her for a while. When I arrived there I found she was ill had little help, so I stayed with her until yesterday when was better and able to do things by herself. My sister will be there with her today for a few days so mum will be happy to have her near because I have to come and rest and be ready for this weekend.
We have a very good handing-over and all the 3 groups are very happy.
In Kundong we have the most successful meeting. They have 2 women who have seen a dryer before in Sewol which we gave a few years ago. We also encourage them to grow more sweet potatoes as they don’t have enough mangoes in the village.
In Baladagi, they had never seen what is a dryer or anything like that. They were very very happy and everyone was pleased. At the end of the meeting they gave us 2 sheep to take along and I take the big one and Setty the other. I am so happy and the sheep is now in the house with the goats. I appeal to them to keep their animals but they say what we gave them is bigger and better than the sheep and is going to change their living. They have a very big garden of vegetables and I advised them to grow more sweet potatoes. They also have a lot of mango trees and they will dry as much as they can though it is a big village
In Jumansarr we have a very short time as we have to return home which is a long way from here, further than our trek last March. So we just explain how to use it and how to keep and storae it. They were very disappointed as they have all the drummers ready for us but we really didn’t have the time.
We will be going on trek this Saturday but only to Foni area - not far.
Best wishes 
Sarjo D