Pearl River, New York
Prayer meeting, finalizing finances, etc. I called the Ford Foundation and got some names in Africa (Nairobi and Khartoum, not Southern Sudan). I talked to a woman who has worked at Logotok. She said the chief and a few others speak English, but most don’t. AIM’s Voluntary Service Group has a medical work and there is a small church (about 30 attend). She mentioned millet (with long, slender, single head), nut grass, cattle, goats, sheep, sorghum and groundnuts (peanuts in American English). Sorghum and groundnuts are the staple foods. There are more than 50 or 100 kinds of birds at the mission. They want to use a windmill at the mission for watering crops. There may be a problem with inadequate wind. The mission is at 1,500 feet and near mountains of 6,000 or 7,000 feet. Very long handled, almost spear-like hoes are used in cultivation. Soil is not disturbed much (apparently) but shallow slices are made and grass is pulled out and left in piles. (I should find out more about this. I wonder how the grass is used?) A rain queen is thought to have power to bring rain. Last year’s dry season began very early. (I forget when.) The wet season begins in April. (Rats, missed it!) People in general are very superstitious. This missionary said they bring food from Kenya . None is available in Logotok. There are no local markets there (I’ll believe that when I see it!) because all production is for family consumption.
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