The New Truck
Life is hard on vehicles in Malawi. The roads are pot holed and rough. Trips into the bush to pick up and discharg
e babies almost always require travel on “roads” that we consider paths. They are dusty, rutted, rocky, and often don’t even look like a road. I have had several trips that I thought would be impossible for any vehicle. Nevertheless, over the mud holes and down the ravines to the villages we go.
Our Land Cruiser was starting to need frequent repairs, often costing as much as $700.00 a month. It was killing our budget and we were never sure whether the vehicle would be able to make the trip. What would we do if we got stuck in the bush and had a tiny baby with us? Not nice to contemplate.
So with funding from our friends in the Presbytery of Northern New York, we purchased a new truck. Now, such a purchase is never simple in Malawi. The paperwork is lon
g and complicated. There are licenses, certificates of fitness, and insurance. And then there are the taxes. Malawi charges about 90% tax. Yes, that is correct 90%! This is painful. The cost for our new truck had to be almost doubled. OUCH!! There are certain instances where the tax can be waived, but we didn’t qualify. Only single cab trucks are eligible. However, we can’t function with a single cab as we always take a driver, nurse, social worker, caretaker, and baby –at minimum. Hard to fit 5 or more into a single-cab. Paul has written letters, visited government ministers, faxed, re written letters, and made endless phone calls. He has invoked the powers that be in the Synod. All to no avail—so far! Nevertheless there is still a glimmer of hope for duty-free status.
So, thanks to t
he generosity of folks at home, the Nursery now has a 4x4/double-cab/diesel pickup truck at double cost. We call it “The Lone Ranger” (it’s a Ford Ranger), and we love it. It doesn’t break down. We can leave the windows closed when it is hot and dusty and let the air conditioner filter and cool the air. The babies (and we) no longer cough from the dust. The lights and fans work. And it has working shock absorbers. Wow. We have never had it so good.
Here at the Nursery there was singing, clapping, and general joyousness when the truck arrived. We gathered around and had prayers for those who drive it, for those who ride in it, and for those who provided the funds. We are all really happy that it is here.
e babies almost always require travel on “roads” that we consider paths. They are dusty, rutted, rocky, and often don’t even look like a road. I have had several trips that I thought would be impossible for any vehicle. Nevertheless, over the mud holes and down the ravines to the villages we go.Our Land Cruiser was starting to need frequent repairs, often costing as much as $700.00 a month. It was killing our budget and we were never sure whether the vehicle would be able to make the trip. What would we do if we got stuck in the bush and had a tiny baby with us? Not nice to contemplate.
So with funding from our friends in the Presbytery of Northern New York, we purchased a new truck. Now, such a purchase is never simple in Malawi. The paperwork is lon
g and complicated. There are licenses, certificates of fitness, and insurance. And then there are the taxes. Malawi charges about 90% tax. Yes, that is correct 90%! This is painful. The cost for our new truck had to be almost doubled. OUCH!! There are certain instances where the tax can be waived, but we didn’t qualify. Only single cab trucks are eligible. However, we can’t function with a single cab as we always take a driver, nurse, social worker, caretaker, and baby –at minimum. Hard to fit 5 or more into a single-cab. Paul has written letters, visited government ministers, faxed, re written letters, and made endless phone calls. He has invoked the powers that be in the Synod. All to no avail—so far! Nevertheless there is still a glimmer of hope for duty-free status.So, thanks to t
he generosity of folks at home, the Nursery now has a 4x4/double-cab/diesel pickup truck at double cost. We call it “The Lone Ranger” (it’s a Ford Ranger), and we love it. It doesn’t break down. We can leave the windows closed when it is hot and dusty and let the air conditioner filter and cool the air. The babies (and we) no longer cough from the dust. The lights and fans work. And it has working shock absorbers. Wow. We have never had it so good.Here at the Nursery there was singing, clapping, and general joyousness when the truck arrived. We gathered around and had prayers for those who drive it, for those who ride in it, and for those who provided the funds. We are all really happy that it is here.
posted by Paul and Darlene Heller at 11:22 AM
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