I have previously posted photos inside the Rafiki Village. Our village is modern, well groomed, and professionally managed. But right outside our gate is the real Africa.

The truck is carrying tabacco, one of the few “cash crops” produced in the country. The soil around here is a redish clay, And, as this is the dry season, it can be dusty. My shoes, once a nice grey, are now a greyish red.   

Mzuzu, where we are located is the third largest city in Malawi. It’s in the northern part of the country. Not surprisingly, being in one of the poorest countries in the world, the city shows its poverty.  It is a little disconcerting to be approached by aggressive panhandlers in the street. One woman crowded around us in a parking lot and wouldn’t leave. Another time, I was casually told that the guy who sold us a newspaper (“Uncle Larry” gave him 3x what the newspaper cost), has TB but can’t get the medicine to treat it. Larry seems to know everyone in town and is well liked. Rafiki, as you can imagine, is a huge economic engine for this town. Employing 70 people, as well as purchasing everything for the 100 children living here is a big financial undertaking. So Rafiki not only takes care of the orphans, but the money for them is leveraged into the economy of Mzuzu.

Oh, and if you’re wondering. There aren’t any animals around. Larry said the only animal he’s see in his 11 months here is a rabbit. There are a few bids. We saw a heron on the grounds yesterday.

Despite this, the people are lovely. I remember leaving the pharmacy with “Uncle Larry” and the manager wished us a “blessed day.” Where do you hear that in the USA?