Day 27: The store rolls again...

Today, the alarm clock rang again at 6:20 am. Since the workers in Okaue are supplied with food every Tuesday, we had to go on a store trip again today. First, the car had to be loaded. Since we were driving with a different car today, we had less space on the loading area and had to load up the seats behind as well. Jakob's seat and Jakob himself were also loaded...

With slightly limited freedom of movement, we started at 10:00 am. This time, we supplied the three settlements with food in reverse order. From basic foodstuffs such as corn and wheat flour, rapeseed oil, sugar, rice, and pasta to small extras like fizzy drinks or tobacco, work tools, and clothes to special orders like conditioner or a new mobile phone. Always with us was the box with the cash books of the individual workers. Each item of goods was noted there for later billing and accounting. Compared to last time, the first two villages today showed extreme shopping frenzy, so that we couldn't even offer basic foodstuffs for the last village. But apparently that didn't bother them much, because only a few took up the offer to place extraordinary orders with us. With a lot of garbage and even more workers (I think there were about 15) on the loading area, we went back home via Kalkfeld. Especially in Kalkfeld, one can see that we are at the beginning of a month and people are practically throwing their fresh salary out the window. When we arrived at the farm around 2:00 pm, we could finally take a lunch break.

Later on, we started to settle the 'sales' of the day. In addition, a new employment contract had to be prepared for each worker. Due to the application for the FSC, some conditions had changed and the local association of charcoal exporters had issued a form to all farmers. This had to be filled out in preparation for each individual worker (almost 50 pieces). Now, together with the workers, we still have to enter individual information (e.g. missing ID numbers or family relationships) and sign the contracts. When that time comes, it will definitely be a long day...

During dinner, a little surprise was brewing. One of the workers from Okaue called to report that his wife was in labor and there seemed to be complications with the child. First, Sylvia tried to call the ambulance station. However, it is located about 1 hour away (in Otjiwarongo) and was not available when asked at the emergency call. The next call was made to the local police in Kalkfeld, who promised to come to Okaue with a nurse from the 'Clinic Kalkfeld' (a 'clinic' where there is no doctor, only first aid nurses). The only problem was that the police couldn't get onto the premises without a key. Normally, a key is available with the 'leading' worker in Okaue, but since his tractor was being repaired at the time, he had no way to get to the gate. So we quickly set off, but we couldn't make it in the dark in less than half an hour.

About an hour after the call, we arrived in the settlement. The woman seemed very weak, but was still able to walk and was taken to the 'clinic' by the police on the fastest route. So it was not such a big deal after all...

Usually, pregnant women make their way to the 'clinic' in Kalkfeld independently and in good time before giving birth. After all, they are known there through a few, but still a few, prenatal check-ups. In this case, however, there was a misunderstanding about the money for the taxi. They borrow it from the 'Bank Sylvia' and it is noted in the cash book. However, we had forgotten to bring enough money with us this morning and could not lend the pregnant woman any taxi money. In the evening, the woman started having contractions and couldn't wait for the money the next day.

I still don't know if the child was born healthy, but she certainly arrived safely at the hospital.

We returned from our evening excursion around 9:30 pm and could go to bed.