Jan and I are together again! (Jan's my partner from last year). After the training we are paired up (mostly-tho some go out on their own) and sent out to the different areas where wells are being installed. Jan and I are staying in central Malawi starting in Ntchisi. Our Field Officer, Mr. Francis Kaponda, came to get us from the lodge and we moved to Tuneza Lodge in Ntchisi. Dropped our things and headed out to the field.
Bouncing along to get as close to the well site as we can (sometimes driving right to it and sometimes with a bit of a hike to arrive). Sometimes the villages know that we're coming and sometimes we just show up. Sometimes they are told we'll be there but then we can't get there and I'm not sure they are told...This year we have come to an area where a headman has died and so there are not many people at all left in the villages as funerals are heavily attended.
The singing and dancing of the women at the wells is so much fun. The rhythms and clapping, repetition of songs meant that I can catch on pretty quickly and get right in. Most of the time it is the women who sing and dance but at some of the wells the men also get into it. You can tell that those are very happy villages!
49 wells put in in the first week (Tuesday to Tuesday) and we're moving to Mponela!
Saturday, October 31, 2015
Friday, October 30, 2015
MMM again!
I'm back in Malawi with Marion Medical Mission to install shallow wells and bring clean water to villages. Upon arrival in Lilongwe, I was the first of all the volunteers through and so I started unloading the action packers from the luggage carousel. (Action packers are big black rubbermaid boxes.) With about 15 people coming for Team 2 and many have 2 (one with stuff from MMM and one personal) that is a lot of action packers.
Monday morning began our orientation/instructions. The devotion was from Mark 9:17-29. A boy with an unclean spirit could not be healed by the disciples. He was brought to Jesus who asked the boy's father if he believed. "I believe, help my unbelief!" When the disciples asked why they couldn't do it, Jesus answered that only prayer would work for that spirit.
Ed talked about how the disciples have been studying and working and preparing with Jesus to go out and do the work and spread the word. Yet when they are asked to heal this boy, they fail. All of their preparation gets them nowhere. There are some things that only prayer and the Holy Spirit can overcome.
The talk was of the preparation we do to come to Malawi for the three weeks we are here. Praying for MMM employees and volunteers and for the villages as they prepare to get the wells. Packing (and repacking) and getting the things needed for the trip. Walking so that we are in shape enough to get to the wells after bouncing in the trucks to the far out places we go. Getting visas and shots and tickets to come. But then of the things that we can't prepare for. The unexpected happenings that occur. The blessings and challenges that come up each day when we try to put in 2500 wells in only 6 weeks. Something that would not be possible without God to help us.
So here we go. With prayers and praise in our hearts. To put in wells. To celebrate with villagers. And to be the love that we know.
1600 weeks have been funded this year (so far) yet we will move in faith and aim for the 2500! If you would like to donate toward a well (or for a whole well--only $400) go to www.mmmwater.org !
Monday morning began our orientation/instructions. The devotion was from Mark 9:17-29. A boy with an unclean spirit could not be healed by the disciples. He was brought to Jesus who asked the boy's father if he believed. "I believe, help my unbelief!" When the disciples asked why they couldn't do it, Jesus answered that only prayer would work for that spirit.
Ed talked about how the disciples have been studying and working and preparing with Jesus to go out and do the work and spread the word. Yet when they are asked to heal this boy, they fail. All of their preparation gets them nowhere. There are some things that only prayer and the Holy Spirit can overcome.
The talk was of the preparation we do to come to Malawi for the three weeks we are here. Praying for MMM employees and volunteers and for the villages as they prepare to get the wells. Packing (and repacking) and getting the things needed for the trip. Walking so that we are in shape enough to get to the wells after bouncing in the trucks to the far out places we go. Getting visas and shots and tickets to come. But then of the things that we can't prepare for. The unexpected happenings that occur. The blessings and challenges that come up each day when we try to put in 2500 wells in only 6 weeks. Something that would not be possible without God to help us.
So here we go. With prayers and praise in our hearts. To put in wells. To celebrate with villagers. And to be the love that we know.
1600 weeks have been funded this year (so far) yet we will move in faith and aim for the 2500! If you would like to donate toward a well (or for a whole well--only $400) go to www.mmmwater.org !
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