It was like a gangster movie. First I cased the possible locations for the transaction, stepping into small rooms manned by security, asking to speak to the boss. “What kind of rate can you give me?” “271.” “No, that’s not good enough.” “How much money are we talking about?” “A lot.”

In the end, I chose a place based less on the rate than on the ease of the getaway. I backed our 4×4 up just outside the door and then looked around for suspicious characters before entering the exchange bureau with an empty backpack. Once seated inside, I pulled from my pocket an envelope containing one year’s worth of gifts to Kindle Orphan Outreach from one of Kindle’s largest supporters: seventy-four $100 bills. A few minutes later I quickly exited the building and drove off with a backpack stuffed with over two million Malawian Kwacha, in K500 notes.

The next day I was ushered to a private window in the bank where Kindle has an account, with James our Administrator like a personal bodyguard, depositing the money. It’s now being used to support orphans and vulnerable children in our community.

At the time, K500 was the largest denomination, but now they have introduced a K1000 note, much to our delight. It’s not easy for filling station attendants to count out the 50-70 bills that it used to take to fill the tank of a vehicle.