cows, their keepers, Loveness, and the Milk Store

Read about yesterday's parties.

Yesterday, we visited Shukurani. His name means, “thanksgiving.” Today, we visited Timothy.

Shukurani and Timothy and their families are among the most recent to receive a cow from the Cow Project. Their cows are 1 year old. In a few months, they will be bred, and Shukurani and Timothy will return their cows’ first calf to the church, so others may benefit. 

Shukurani’s wife, Loveness, was already at Mpare church preparing for our visit. But you can see their daughters pictures here: Brightness, Irene, Lightness.

They will sell the cow’s milk to the Milk Store and use the income to improve their home and pay for school.

Timothy and his wife, Upendo, have four children–three in school. They will also sell milk to the Milk Store and use the income to pay for school.

Evangelist Twizera is a veterinarian. You can see him and Timothy treating the cow, deworming and giving vitamins.

Some 20 years ago, Zion sent the first cows that started the Cow Project. Just a few years ago, your generosity paid for a freezer that allowed parish women to open the Milk Store. 

Today we also visited the Milk Store. Loveness tends it and she gave us an update. Since last year, many more farmers know about and trust the Milk Store. So they bring more milk to sell. The store buys it from them and resells it for a modest profit. Now the Milk Store itself makes a modest profit. Its income exceeds its expenses for rent, electricity, and other items Loveness sells there.

Loveness let us sample glasses of yogurt, to which we added ample sugar! After tasting it without sugar, Susannah could not be convinced to try it with sugar. Loveness hopes for a refrigerator to complement the deep freezer the store already has. This would be better for yogurt. 

Cows and a freezer. These gifts Zion gave keep on giving. They complement each other, offering a stable income for families.