A bike and a little helper

We may have talked a little bit about our helpers around the house. We now have a few pictures to show you. Novencio is our water boy. We told a few people that we would have running water. We just didn’t know if it would be on it’s own or a boy “running” for it. Novencio comes every other day and carries four containers of water unless we have company when we ask if he would carry two more. He also carries any water that Noemia (our house help) needs for cleaning or washing clothes. Novencio is the oldest son of our Pastor here in Gondola. We are helping each other to learn Shitewe (the local dialect) and English along the way. I am also helping him to learn to type and to use the computer.

We also have another helper around the house (when he chooses to be). Noemia’s son, Delton. He is 18 months old and he goes around the house and shuts the doors and all the cupboard doors for us as well as rearranging the furniture for us. It has taken him a while to get used to us but now he finally comes to us when we call instead of running away to his mother.

Last week I finally bought a bicycle. I spent the following afternoon tightening bolts and adjusting the brakes to get it into top shape. We don’t have a car so it is important to have a bike in order to visit farmers’ fields that are a long way away or any other place we can’t reach by bus. We only have one bike so I am going to have to learn how to carry Jenny on the back like the other farmers or vice versa. She might have the stronger legs of the two of us. I am sure it will bring a lot of laughter, however, from all the people who watch us as I don’t see a lot of women carrying men on the back.