View of Clinton Library

from Heifer International Headquarters

Exterior of Heifer International

Building has a unique pitched roof which channels collected 'grey'
water for reuse in commodes.

They also use a system to reduce mosquitoes on water. The water is
constantly churned so eggs are not laid. Wish other areas of country
would adopt this method.

Overview of Award Winning

Heifer Int. Headquarters in Little Rock

Heifer Ranch

We come away with a great understanding of the educational component
of Heifer International.

After a not so quick stop at Sonic for breakfast burritos, we head to
Little Rock.

Our lodge

In the morning light we can finally see where we are.

Water buffalos

For a $250 gift, a water buffalo from Heifer is really three gifts in
one. Families all over the world depend on them for protein-rich milk,
organic fertilizer, and draft power.

You might ask, "What the heck?

Camels are critical resources. We learn that they provide the 7 M's:
Milk, muscle, material, manure, meat, money and motivation to the
recipients.

Heifer Global Village

We rise before dawn and head out. There are representative dwellings
from around the world. Pictured to the right is a yurt from Tibet and
to the left are urban slums. Three seasons of the year you can stay in
these dwellings.

Artwork from inside lodge

Hersch Lodge

Al, the Heifer volunteer, just in from Kansas tries his best to make
us feel welcome. There is a sign in the kitchen welcoming us. We never
would have found this place without his help. He recommends a Bonanza
restaurant about 30 minutes away. We are tired and hungry. We would
take just about anything. At 7:50 pm we are still driving trying to
locate. We find a phone # and call. We are 5 min. away and even though
they close at 8:00. The manager keeps the restaurant open for us and
treats us quickly and royally.

At 9:15 Al comes back to give us a Heifer 101. Turns out Angelica is
very interested in volunteering. Al wants her to stay now and help. We
want her to stay with us.

Restful night. We are now sipping Kim's coffee in the living room
right next to kitchen below at 5:30 AM. Getting ready to walk through
the Global Village.

First day recap

While yesterday was a day of many highs, there were some lows. What
felt like religious profiling by TSA sobered us to the experience many
now face to board a plane. Is this right or wrong?

We were late leaving Baltimore. Called to let my contact at Heifer
Ranch know. We ended up being more than 30 minutes later than I said.
No one to greet us. By pure luck a volunteer just in from driving 9
hrs pulled in behind our bus and asked who we were. Since he and his
wife volunteer regularly they direct us to our lodge. Lodge is lovely
inside. Warm, hot water, but it is so dark outside. This is truly what
we saw of the outside.