It was the day of bad news and tough negotiation. Chris was welcomed at 9.0 with a visit from our landlady. She showed up on our doorstep with a policeman, a lawyer and the contractor who built the house. She was on the war path and was threatening eviction. She wanted money and we were the ones who were going to pay it! After two hours of tough negotiation, threats, emotion and finally compromise she left. We got a reprieve...shes not going to throw us out just yet. We are going to try and get a lawyer though.
At same time Jose, our logistician, was in discussion with our car hire guy. The drivers are fed up of staying in the hills of Lolomatua at the weekend and one of them mutinied. He got on a motorbike and drove 150km home. That left us without a standby driver in case of emergency; where we are without hospitals, doctors or emergency services.
Meanwhile a local NGO came to meet Cheryl. They were one of 10 companies that had submitted an application to build one of our health centres. Before the second round of short listing, they received an ominous call. They were told not to bother turning up at the next round, as the contract would be awarded to a local contractor. When Cheryl called round a few more contractors she heard a similar story. People had been told it wasn’t worth continuing with their application….here jobs are awarded on what your family name is, how much power do you have. Its nothing to do with skills or ability to do the job.
Days like this you wonder is it all worth it? We are fighting the way things are done in this culture, belieiving that people are motivated by goodwill and that you can trust what people say.
1 comment:
So frustrating! Be encouraged that you guys are doing what God wants you to in Indo even if it doesn't make sense all the time. :)
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