The other evening we sat down to a meal of grilled chicken and pounded yam. As we were eating, the cat brought in a large mouse and deposited on the floor. Straight away, Faustin got up, picked up the mouse and gave it to Essotchelinam. An instinct : the older brother making sure the younger brother gets enough protein.
I don’t always, but this time I intervened. “Faustin, there is already enough meat on the table. Give the mouse back to the cat.”
The kitchen has been attacked by termites. One doorframe, one window frame and several ceiling panels need replacing, because there is hardly anything left of them. And they are only two years old. We also had to remove everything from the kitchen, set up elsewhere, and spray all the woodwork, including the roof rafters, with a heavy duty insecticides. All this is very time consuming. And people ask me how I can justify having employees…
While we are in Lomé this week, Faustin will take Honorine to see the doctor and we will try to assess what to do next concerning the tumour on her jaw. It is clear to me that the operation has not been a success. I’m sorry to have to say this, because so many people have given so generously, and I had such high hopes that we could make a difference for this family. A doctor in Kara tried to intervene and take the case on himself, but I am determined to stick with the doctor in Lomé, partly because we have already paid, and because he comes with a good recommendation from my own GP. We need to see this through with him. Full report to follow.
Honorine