Amazed.

There are all kinds of takeaways from the Coronavirus pandemic.  Everyday Dorothy and I are reminded that it’s a global phenomenon. More than us old American folks’ staying out of circulation.  More than a population getting violent over whether or not they should be required to wear masks.  

Take Ankaramalaza, Madagascar.  More than ¼ of the village’s dwellings were destroyed by a weird whirlwind-like fire late last year.  Even if rebuilding funds were available (and they’re not) , there’s been no reconstruction.  Virus measures are restricting folks’ movement, even in this remote place.  Which means that as many as three families have been staying under the same thatched roof for the past nine months.     

In late July, we tried to help bring a little relief to the villagers.  Our partners used multiple bank transfers and made four 5-hour roundtrips to the nearest bank to reduce the risk of losing everything to robbers along the way.  In the end, 488 families (1,319 individuals) received, according to their size, a cash gift ranging from $13.60 to $37.85.   We’re simply amazed at how such extremely poor people could work so hard to take such good care of other extremely poor people.