Thanks for all the great birthday wishes from America! I thought I would share a little of my first birthday in Africa. On my actual birthday (July 28th) I went out to the small village where PFPF has its little farm. I met with Athanasius and his family and had a wonderful day. As always, they fed me great food including fresh avocados and guavas from their own trees, eggs from their chickens, and a celebratory bottle of beer. I gave them a few gifts to thank them for their incredible hospitality and generosity – always giving me food, showing me around and welcoming me into their home. They have little (they make less than a dollar a day) but they have always offered me what they can. I then did some PFPF work including starting a microfinance loan application with Athanasius for a poultry house and surveyed some other farmrs in the village.
Then on Sunday, Sylvester and his family threw a big party – but not just for my birthday. Were we also celebrating two of his daughters who passed their exams to head to university and advanced high school level, and also it served as my send off party. Lots of eating, dancing, drinking, and even birthday cake. Sylvester and I exchanged small thank you gifts – he gave a beautiful Cameroonian outfit (which I’m wearing in a few photos) and I gave him a hat of my home town team (go Cavs!). Check out the photos:
