Nothing is wasted; chickens and God

As you may know, we are in partnership with the Egg Farmers of Canada and the International Egg Foundation and Commission.  Through their support we have been able to build two egg barns, each holding 2,500 laying hens. This has allowed us to provide close to 4,500 hardboiled eggs EVERY DAY to the orphans and vulnerable children of Swaziland through our 31 church partners for the past year.

Now that I am married to a farmer 😊 I can tell you that a “laying hen” will produce an egg every 26 hours and will do that until they are approximately 70-weeks-old. After that, their production starts to slow down and so it is time to bring in a new flock, who are young and ready to pump out eggs!

Our next flock arrives on Friday of next week, so we are in preparation mode for that. What does that mean? Well, first, we had to “deal with” the 2,500 chickens that have finished their original purpose … laying eggs. Then we have to clean and disinfect the barns. But unlike many hens in other parts of the world, the breed of chicken that we have still has a lot of meat left on it, and they are very worthy of eating.  So we needed to “harvest” the 2,500 birds.

We had several people offer suggestions on the latest chicken slaughter/plucking machines, but I knew in my heart that we have the very best (and fastest) slaughter/plucking machines already on Project Canaan … our Swazi’s!  I have never seen someone slaughter, pluck, disembowel and chop up a chicken faster than a Swazi woman.  And so the task began early Tuesday morning, and was complete by 9PM Wednesday evening.  It wasn’t pretty, but was it was incredible to watch.

Our children eat 1,200 drumsticks every month, and so the drumsticks were frozen in large bags together.  Our Aunties eat the thighs and wings in stew and so those, along with the breasts were frozen separately.  The livers and hearts are a great source of iron and so they too went in to separate bags and are being added to our children’s menu (we love liver and heart here).  Our freezer is almost full! 

Then there are the intestines, the other organs and the feet.  Those are decidedly the “best parts” according to any self-respecting Swazi, and were cooked up immediately so that everyone could enjoy a “take-out” plate with them when they finished work on Wednesday night. 

I had hoped to get a large stockpot full of bones so that I could make a big pot of chicken broth, but I was reminded that nothing is wasted by our Swazi family, and when it comes to chickens the Aunties and Uncles will even enjoy chewing on the bones when the stew is finished.  No chicken broth for us this time.

Not to link God to chickens, but this week I was reminded over and over again that He also wastes nothing.  This week we also saw lots of hardship, heartbreak and suffering, but through it all we also saw the hand of God in so many ways. We received two babies (a 3-month-old girl and a 2-year-old boy) and through their tragic stories we saw salvation, redemption and renewed hope in the eyes of Doctors, Social welfare officers and Great Grandparents.  God wastes nothing.

There may be things in your life that are not pretty, do not smell good, and seem like a total waste, but I promise you, God has a plan, and he uses everything.  James 1:2-4 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

Let us not rush through the lessons that we are being taught now.  But let us persevere SO THAT we can be mature and complete, and lack nothing.

Live from Swaziland … I think we will have chicken for dinner.

Janine

Did you know a chicken lays an egg every 24-30 hours?

Farming education is a critical part of raising our children at Project Canaan.

Five years ago I met a man named Chad Gregory who is the CEO of the United Egg Producers in the US.  Chad invited me to speak at an International Egg Commission conference in Venice, Italy (I said yes).  While there we met egg farmers from all over the world, including a bunch of fellow Canadians.  Tim Lambert (CEO Egg Farmers of Canada) was one of those men and next thing we knew the Canadian egg farmers were visiting Project Canaan and learning about Swaziland, AIDS, orphans and the crisis that we are facing.

Tim Lambert (CEO Egg Farmers of Canada, Steve Manton (Chairman International Egg Foundation), Chad Gregory (CEO United Egg Producers),  Gene Gregory (Former CEO UEP), Peter Clark (Chairman Egg Farmers of Canada),                  Ian Maxwell (CEO Heart for Africa).

   

With each visit they became more and more immersed in learning about the culture, the challenges and hopelessness of so many Swazi people. They were even with me when I got the call about picking up a baby at the Woman’s Prison, and went with me to receive that child.  That child was Baby Shirley, and the Egg Farmers of Canada were the ones holding her in the back seat of my car as we drove her home to Project Canaan, burns and all.   That was the day they truly saw the Project Canaan was a place of hope, and there was hope for the baby girl whose mother tried to kill her by burning her.

They made a commitment to do something, and they are men of their word.

On January 4^th, 2016, a flock of 2,500 chickens arrived in to a barn that the Egg Farmers of Canada, in partnership with the International Egg Foundation, built.  They have ordered a second flock of 2,500 chickens, which will arrive in July to the second barn they also built.  That means we will have just under 5,000 eggs, every single day, “with no off switch” as we are told.  Did you know that a chicken lays an egg every 24-30 hours? Now you do.

Did you know that brown chickens lay brown eggs?  And that hens "sing"?

As you likely know, Ian and I know nothing about chickens or eggs, and the egg farmers knew that, so help arrived a few days before the chickens did.  Kurt Siemens, a Canadian egg farmer from Manitoba and Aaron Law, a Canadian egg farmer from New Brunswick, came in January and got the flock in place, feed supply rolling and continued the training that our team had already begun with the largest egg producer in Swaziland and the eggs started to arrive. Kurt was here for 10 days and Aaron stayed on for the whole month!

We currently feed 2,100 children every week through our 30 church partner-feeding programs.  Starting on Monday these children will receive a hard-boiled, PEELED, egg with every meal they get from us.  This will not only help with the issue of malnutrition, but also help providing the perfect protein and assist with the uptake of vaccinations (which is critical to the health of every child).  The egg farmers, thanks to Chad and his friends at UEP, even bought us a new truck so that we can deliver eggs, Manna Pack and maize from Project Canaan to the most remote parts of Swaziland. 

John with Julian Madeley (International Egg Foundation and Worldwide Egg Organization)

Aaron Law, Julian Madeley (CEO World Egg Organization), Dr. Abdul Magdy (Bio-security expert from Lohmann)          Ian and our big kids.

We have also partnered with a local hospital to provide two eggs every day to every child in the pediatric ward.  Many of them suffer from malnutrition and getting a “high protein” diet costs extra money. Now they will not have to pay for that extra protein, it will be free, and they will get well faster.

First delivery of eggs to the hospital CEO and CMO.

God is good. He knows what we need, when we need it and we see His hand of provision over and over again as he sends people, expertise, equipment and funding, in His timing.

In addition to the organizations listed above I would like to also publicly thank the Big Dutchman in South Africa, Sonovo Technolgy Group in Denmark, Lohmann in Uganda and Eagles Nest in Swaziland for donation equipment, expertise, time and money.  This is truly and international project and we are thankful for everyone involved.

I am writing this blog on the roadside just before I cross out of Swaziland in to South Africa.  I am heading back to the US for five days for meetings, a few favorite meals and to see Spencer!  Can’t wait (not excited about the snow storm that I am hearing about).

Live from Swaziland … we live in a constant state of awe (that’s Ian’s favorite quote).

Janine

This peacock came and sat beside me while I finished my blog. Too funny.

Rain, a very sick twin and Ian saves a chicken's life.

This week's blog is written in bullet point format because I am late for a meeting with one of our local Chiefs and need to hop in the car, so here it goes:

·      Yesterday IT RAINED ALL DAY!!!  First rain we have seen since we moved here and it is not the rainy season, but we did get 1 ¼ hectare of vegetable seedlings planted yesterday and the rain fell from the sky … all day.  Thank you Jesus.

·      One of our new twins took a bad turn yesterday and we ended up rushing him to the hospital on Friday afternoon.  He is three months old and weighs only five pounds.  By the time we arrived at the hospital he was unresponsive.  He was admitted with severe dehydration and malnutrition and an acute intestinal infection.  We are keeping a watchful eye on his twin brother as he struggles to grow and thrive.  We are so thankful for the ladies at El Roi who are fighting and praying to keep these little ones alive.  Praying for complete healing and life for our littlest one.

·      We can’t express how thankful we are to have friends from the International Egg Commission and the American Egg Board with us this week to see how they can partner with us to help address the issues of hunger and malnutrition with the orphans and vulnerable children of this Kingdom.  I am especially thankful for Joanne Ivy and Pam Pierce who went to the hospital with us today with Ishmael and helped provide for the care that he will receive. Again, praying for the miracle of life.

·      On a lighter note, yesterday was the first day that our chickens were allowed out of their cage to walk around the yard.  Yesterday was also the first time that our puppies ever saw chickens. Let’s just say it wasn’t successful for either species.  The chicken lost most of their tail feathers and the Jack Russell (named “Jack”) felt completely ripped off when Ian dove for the chickens and grabbed them by the legs to save their lives.  Let’s just say the entire sight may have been the highlight of my seven years in Swaziland, albeit a little embarrassing with the Chairman of the International Egg Commission and the Chairman of the American Egg Board standing on our patio watching. 

·      Friday night we tried out our BBQ (or “grill” as it is called in the “South” or “Braai” as it is called in Swaziland) and our patio furniture with our dear friends and awesome long term volunteers Jere & Janet Scott, Frank & Jane Taaunau and Mark & Lisa Hackett.  So thankful for each and every one of them.

·      Only FIVE more days until we get to see Spencer and Chloe in Georgia!!  I miss my kids so much.  I also looking forward to (but not on the same level as my children of course) a good hair cut with Missy, Hep A shot with Dr. Paul, Target shopping, dinner with Beth & Elaine, and a pedicure if I can possibly swing it.  Ian also has a dentist and optometrist appointment (this is all in the ONE day we are in Georgia before driving to FSU in Florida).   Thankful that we can do it “all” before driving to Canada to see my mom, Kim and her kids and Ian’s family.

Okay, that’s it for today. I am heading out to meet the Chief, the Indvuna and the Forerunner (there are three Chiefdoms that Project Canaan borders on so this is a Chief we have not met yet) then off to meet with a family of children living with their Grandmother and struggling to survive and of course taking hard boiled eggs with our “egg friends” who are here to serve those in need.  We are thankful.

I hope you all had a good week and that you find these updates hopeful, not hopeless. 

Live from Swaziland, I am determined.

Janine

Name that rooster (so Chloe doesn't kill him)!!

Photo credit:  Britta Jarvie

First and foremost our babies are all doing well. Caleb and Emmanuel are racing Miriam to be the first to walk, but we believe that Miriam had a better head start and will likely leave the boys in the dust.  Of course Caleb and Emmanuel had a long road to climb back from severe malnutrition, but they sure want to keep up with Miriam and it is such fun to watch them work hard.  They are now starting to interact with each other and it is such fun to see them all laugh.  All the babies are a joy and our twins are eating well and starting to "fill out" a bit.

 

This week has been a much calmer week then the past 8 weeks.  Our summer interns have gone back to school and some long term volunteers and great friends have arrived to help out on the farm and at the baby home.  We welcomed Frank and Jane Tauanuu, who are here for a month to work alongside Jere and Janet Scott.  There is a flurry of cleaning and organizing going on when Janet is around that brings me great joy.  Even greater joy is the double decker bunk beds that Jere and Frank are building for our babies.  God is good.

Yesterday Jon and Carrie Bratz arrived from Wisconsin to spend a week with us working out the details for their move to Project Canaan in December with their two young children.  We are so thankful for those who have heard the call and said, “here I am Lord, send me”, even when the road is hard and full of personal sacrifice.

Chloe got on a plane yesterday and is heading back to Georgia to spend a couple of weeks with friends.   Her list of “fast food” visits is possibly longer than this blog.  She did lots of healthy eating in Swaziland in preparation for her two weeks of favorite food.  While I miss her already, I am thankful that she will have a fun-filled two weeks before we arrive to take Spencer to FSU at the end of August.

Speaking of Chloe,  my chickens and guinea fowl arrived this week.  No Swazi home is complete until you have your own chicken coop and fresh eggs every day.  We placed the coop on Chloe’s side of the house so she could enjoy them out her window J.  I forgot that we were also getting a rooster, who happens to wake up at 4:30 AM each day.  She was not amused and while she is opposed to animal cruelty, I fear for the life of the poor rooster.  I think I will have to give him a name so that it becomes “personal”.  Maybe we will call him Forhorn Leghorn after the famous character from the Bugs Bunny Show?  If you have any name suggestions, please feel free to put them on my Facebook wall.

The balance of the week involved trips to the police station to get final paperwork for our twins, trips to the hospital to visit a tiny sick baby who sadly passed away on Thursday, and a very encouraging phone call form the Deputy Prime Minister, Themba Masuku.  He was at the airport in Johannesburg on route to Ghana to attend the funeral of the late President of Ghana at the request of His Majesty King Mswati III.  We are meeting this next week at his office for a brainstorming session on helping OVC’s in Swaziland. More on that when I am able to share openly, but it is very encouraging news.

Well, those are some of the highlights from the week.  We look forward to a weekend of work, some down time and worship on Sunday with our Kenyan family.

Live from Swaziland, I HAVE MY OWN CHICKENS!

Janine