Regrouping

Lalao and Hanitra flew back to Tana after our ten days together, while I returned to Sambava, somewhat shell-shocked. I asked Bruce to accompany me back to Antalaha for a couple days to see for himself what I had been describing. Feeling rather fragile from the original experience, I began to toughen up and couldn’t wait to return, hoping to instigate some infrastructure changes. By this time, we had developed a trusting and comrade-like relationship with the prison guards and higher officials. The path was wide open to move in with FOMM’s backing. 

Note: We are no longer working through FOMM but have joined hands with Elson Hanitra Madagascar Mission (EMM) as our Malagasy-based partners.

Donations are welcome through the RCA portal link.

I was reminded of a story told by Anthony Hopkins: 

There was a drought - cattle were dying, people were dying. 

And the shaman said, "Dig rain ditches. " 

"But there is no rain." the people replied. 

"Dig ditches and the rain will come. Just believe." 

So in good faith, back to Antalaha I went, this time bringing Bruce along. After I introduced him to the wardens and showed him around, both of us agreed that the toilet situation was intolerable.Neither of us could stomach returning to our home in India until the toilets were decent. We started looking at squat toilets, asking different plumbing store owners if they could recommend a good mason. One manager made a phone call and within ten minutes, Francel arrived on the scene. 

We asked him about his experience. He replied that he was both a mason and a contractor and assured us that he could find a team of workers and get the job done. And he had no problem working in the jail. 

"You're hired. No further questions." 

I wrote David and asked if he could please send up Hanitra and Elson, since they had construction experience, having built two hospitals together. Bruce needed to get back to his work, and I was out of my element. Within two days, Hanitra and I were united again, after our farewell, "for a year". Dr. Elson was willing to leave his practice for a couple weeks to help out, after having heard numerous distressing stories. We set out on a mission,feet to the path, this time to implement infrastructural changes. 

We ended up putting the toilet project on hold, as the septic system needed to be addressed and prioritized paving the grounds in the children's section, women's toilet area, and outside of the TB ward.