Nkhoma

After wells (final number is just over 3000!!) I spent about 5 days in Nkhoma where I lived in 2010-2012. I got to visit with friends, check in with those I still know (the number is getting smaller as the years go by), see and help at Ebenezer school and rest. After 6 weeks of wells, I needed to rest.

Ebenezer is growing! With 60 kids coming in each year at reception level (that is aged 3). They graduate at 7th grade and then go on to various high schools. Teachers can be hard to find and then to keep but they have some good ones! I filled in the 6th grade class teaching math - somewhat thrown into multiplying and adding fractions! It came back quickly but It has been some time since I had to do that. The English lesson was about adverb clauses but I ceded that part because while I can speak and write I don't know exactly what I'm doing any longer (though I remember diagramming many many sentences in school). *let me know if you are interested in sponsoring a child. The future is education. $30/month*

It was wonderful catching up with people. I stayed with Isabelle who is there working in the eye department. We lived together for 6 months during my first year in Nkhoma and have met up many times since then all around the world. Maralise is still there doing amazing things with the seminary students and the prison ministry. Elsabet and Hennie were packing up their house after 30 years in Nkhoma, ready for retirement beginning sometime in December. Beria is cooking for another family who came 2 years ago (I've met them but don't know them). Joanna is still the medial director's assistant so I know where to find her - we spent many hours putting patient files together. Had dinner with Chrissie who is principal of Ebenezer. Fun to see her after her visit to NC in the spring!

Isa and I climbed the mountain again. This time we slept in the mountain hut and made the summit for sunrise. It was a lovely night. Stars, quiet, if only the early wake up hadn't messed it up...but then it is always worth it from the top!

Trust

At our big final dinner with all the volunteers, Field Officers, Coordinators and staff we feast. And then share an observation.

I began by apologizing to all the Field Officers that I've worked with as well as office staff and pretty much everyone else. I'm a tough case. I don't want to say that I don't trust my people because I know they are here for me and have the answers, but I like to understand and I question everything. Everything! Why are we doing this? Why didn't we do that? That doesn't make sense to me...in the end, I usually defer to the Field Officer (as most of them have so much more experience than I do), but not before I get some sort of explanation.

I believe I come by this authority issue honestly (thanks, dad). My Field Officers have always been patient and explained and answered my queries and have mostly kept me out of trouble. And yet I still question. Thanks for your understanding.

One day we were headed out for our installations and we came to a police road block. We had already passed one that had checked my license and insurance sticker and let us through. So here is the second of the morning. The officer greets me and Laurie and then asks me, 'Where are you going?' 'I don't know.' He looked flabbergasted, 'You don't know?' I pointed at Alexander and said, 'He's the navigator.' 'So he's your compass?' And then he let us go.

As I drove I realized the truth in that interaction. We volunteers get in our trucks each morning, knowing (maybe) what direction we'll be headed and (maybe) how many wells we are aiming to install. We bring our compass with us because we have NO idea where we are going. And after some of the roads (very loose term there), I think it might be best that we don't know where the day will take us because if we knew, we might not agree to go.

I often joke with my Filed Officer when we come to a cross road or split and he tells me to go left...almost always my instinct would have been the opposite turn. 'It's a good thing I didn't leave you at that last well, we'd never have gotten back.' But it isn't really a joke. We need our compass, our navigator, and our trust to take us where we need to go.

(The count of installed wells at the end of Team 2 was 2603. Now Team 3 (African staff) has finished and the grand total is 2983 wells for 2018!!) Only together can we do the impossible! Give the gift of water: www.mmmwater.org

Exhaustion

I can drink the water from wells out in in past years (probably new wells too, but I'll give time to get the open water out). These two little ones filled my bottles and carried them up the steep hill to the truck!

At the end of the three weeks we join together as volunteers and staff to share a moment or moments that we noticed and will take back with us. As there are often quite a number of us, we try to keep it short (but that is only successful for some). I

I was in Tanzania at the end of Team 1, and we gathered as a team with the field officers in TZ for dinner on the last night. I spoke of knowing how well taken care of we were at all times even being so far out in the rural areas. Tipping mishaps, staying in unfamiliar places, with any questions we had. Wonderful feeling of new friends who are as close as family.

Then we drove to Malawi for Team 1 to prepare to fly out. At worship in the Sunday morning we shared more thoughts. It is always eye opening to hear everyone's impressions and take aways, newbies and veterans alike.

This is the first year that I stayed for both teams. I mentioned my exhaustion. At the end of 3 weeks, I am tired. As we walked to dinner that last night in TZ, I questioned myself as to what I was thinking and how I could possibly do another 3 weeks and I almost wanted to cry. At the end of that evening I knew that I had a long weekend to rest and 'recover' and I would be ready and refreshed to go again.

I spoke of the last day of installations. My Field Officer told me that by 2pm no matter how many wells we had installed we would be headed back to the hotel to return to Mbeya to be ready for dinner and leaving for Malawi the next morning. The hope was to install 9 wells. The first 6 went in with ease, some hiking, lots of appreciation. Well #7 we hiked to but could not install. The builder was new and hadn't been supervised well enough. So it would be rebuilt and installed by someone on Team 2. At that point it was 245 and I thought we were done.

"But the last 2 are close together, so we'll do those." I wilted. I didn't say anything but oh how I wanted to sit and not go on. But we are changing lives and bringing water to those who need it. What is my tiredness compared to the 200 people who would get clean water. I could do this.

And those last 2 wells were exactly what I needed. It was a huge village and they did already have 2 wells in that valley. We could see all 4 (2 old and 2 new) as we walked down the hill. The number of people there already using the wells and also waiting for us, ready for the installations and dedications, with their energy, smiles and excitement, revived me. I bounced and played, splashed and hugged.

We are refreshed when we've gone as far as we think we can. Helping others and being with them. Exhaustion does not stop us...(sometimes).

Moments

At some of the wells we install the original water source is quite near our new pump. (At others they indicate a very far walk.) One particular village had many holes and irrigation ditches not far from the new well. The water was grey and not anything I would want anyone to drink. In the comments at the end of the dedication the headman said, "As you can see, it is not a problem of having water. We have water but not good water until today. Now we have good water and can be healthy."

I know that I've used this quote from Tiffany in a previous blog: "It's like 6 Flags all day long and with no lines!" We repeated it over bumpy roads and tracks, just to remind ourselves that some people pay big money and wait hours in line for this experience. When team 2 started we had some 'smoothish' roads for the first 2 days...on day 3 I shared with Laurie as we bumped up to the first well of the day, "It's like 6 Flags all day long and with no lines!" Yes it is!

Driving all day gets long. We split it up between partners but the other time is bouncing along still on alert for holes, bumps and creatures in the road (or moving toward the road). I learned from Richard that whenever he passes soccer fields he does a figure 8 waving and honking the horn. i don't know if my Field Officers thought I would do that, but they didn't have me drive across any soccer fields for quite a while. I was able to do a few with the workers in the back trying to give directions before realizing what I was doing. Lucky for me the workers changed most days so it was a new experience for me to laugh as I wound around. On the last day I did circles in 3 soccer fields before the 1st well!!

I've been covering my head for 6 weeks with a scarf because my hair turns very dry and strawlike when I've been out all day with the windows down and dust all around. Also my neck and the tops of my ears were burning even with sunscreen. Richard gave me the large kerchief I'm wearing in most of the pics you've seen. Maria from our hotel in Rumphi gave me another when I asked for a lesson on tying one as mine wasn't big enough. i thought it was for the day but she said it was for me when I tried to return it!

"Yes yes yes good very good" was the continued refrain from a woman at her village's new well. She shook our hands multiple times as the installation took place, as the water flowed from the spout, and again as we made our way back to the truck. Missing all the English she knew, she knew there was a good change for her village.

*sorry if I'm repeating stories...I can't remember what I've put in but then again, they are worth repeating.

Stories

We pass some of our older installed wells...this one was from 2014!

On the way out to the day's wells we got Stopped twice by police blocks. At the first he asked for my license and went to check that the insurance on the truck was up to date. No problem and on our way. The second officer greeted me and then Laurie in English and then asked where we were going. I said that I didn't know. In the morning we are sometimes given an area or region but I don't always remember or know where it is. He was shocked and asked how come? How can I not know where we are going especially as the driver? I pointed across to our Field Officer Alexander and said he's my navigator. "Oh, he's your compass?" Yes, exactly.

We were at another very small village where some of the young men spoke English. They thanked us when we arrived as well as on our walk back to the truck. But when it was time for the picture of the well they hid in the back. Too cool for a photo, until I turned the android around and showed the others the picture. Then they were first trying to see it!

One of my favorite things at a well is playing with the children. This often turns into chasing the children. They all (almost) will stand and even shake my hand in greeting but after that they don't really want to be anywhere near me. I will sidle up to one who looks brave or confident just to see what he or she will do. Sometimes they are so engrossed in watching the installation That I can stand there quite peacefully. Other times they are watching me and will move almost in time to my steps. At one well I have gotten them to chase me as I acted just as scared of them as they were of me. I also like to mimic how they stand as they studiously try to ignore me (while taking side glances at me). The rest of the village often gets a kick out of this as well.

At a well a grandfather came up to me with a chicken in his hands. Before the well was installed he gave me the chicken, shook my hand, looked in my eyes and told me thank you. This is a small gift, not enough, but what I have to give you for this gift of water. It is all I have. Thank you.

Why?

There are so many reasons I'm here...(many of them selfish) but here are a few not so selfish #mmm2018trip #cleanwater

Vote!!

I did!

While installing wells with Marion Medical Mission around Rumphi, Malawi, we saw this each evening as we came back to our hotel. Please vote! Vote early or Nov 6 but VOTE!!! Get your voice heard! #mmm2018trip

Mother's Day

Oct 15

It's Mother's Day here in Malawi. national holiday. My partner asked if she got the day off too, but we decided that bringing clean water to mothers around rural Malawi was a better way to spend the day! Wishing all the mothers out there a wonderful day! #mmm2018trip
$400 or any part thereof will help fund the wells we are installing in the villages www.mmmwater.org

Would anyone like to say something?

At the end of the dedication service we open the floor. Sometimes someone is ready and stands up immediately and sometimes it takes a minute but this is often what we hear:

Thank you for this wonderful thing that you have done to us. It is through God's love that this has happened. We had no idea that this would be possible for us.

Thanks to you for coming. Thanks to all those who have given back in America, please take back our thanks. May God bless you and them!

Now we have life because water is life and it is clean and we no longer have to worry about diseases or sharing with animals.

Our health will be better because we live downstream of people washing in the river and animals who use the river, but now we have protected water.

The children will not have to be sick and can now attend school. We can teach them and help their bodies as well as their minds (at a school installation).

The hospitals will have medicines for those who need it as we won't be sick from water diseases.

We are so far out (and the roads were terrible) that we have been neglected by the government. We are so close to the border that neither take care of us.

Now our families might have an easier time and better marital relations as the women don't have to get up at 3 to walk for water.

we are so sorry we don't have more words to say or gifts to give you because really this is such a big thing. We are so happy you can see our smiles. All of us. thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Thanks you for your help. We will remember you, please don't forget us. Continue to do this thing for our neighbors who still need this help.

And we are given chickens, bananas, ground nuts (peanuts), maize, honey, tomatoes, hugs, hand shakes, cooked cassava, egg plant and green peppers, love and gratitude.

Thank you to all who make this possible!!

Dedication service

It starts with a prayer from someone in the community. Usually I kneel on or near the well and pray for the village and the well. I pray for blessings for the clean, clear water to bring health and strength to all who use it.

Our Field Officer, Alexander Nyirenda, or one of his Installation Supervisors, introduced us and we give a group greeting (in the language of the villagers - or close to it) " Monire mose" (chitimbuka) response "Yewo".

We explain that Christians from America heard that they needed clean, safe water and wanted to help. They donated money for the pipes, pump and cement to complete hard work that they did for this well. (Similar to sweat equity at Habitat for Humanity, the villagers are responsible to organize themselves to dig the hole -by hand, get or make the bricks, gravel, sand with direction from trained MMM builders). They do the hard work!

The well represents the love of Christ. On the top in both English and Chitimbuka (or Chichewa, Swahili, local language) is etched Glory to God, Uchindami kwa Chiuta (Ulemelelo kwa Mulungu, Utukufu kwa Mungu, etc).

This well belongs to the village! And they must take care of it by keep in the area free from trash, keep animals away from the well. That way the well can last for years and years, for the children that are there now to grow up and have children of their own.

We then explain the maintenance plan. The village has a maintenance fee to pay each year. the figures I have heard this year are between 4000 and 5000 Malawian Kwacha which is between $5 and $7. The fee pays for any parts should something break. There is a trained maintenance person in the area. If the well breaks, they call him (or her!) and he (or she) will come to fix the problem. The maintenance people are our builders and installation supervisors who get paid per well they put in (September-October) but are volunteers the rest of the year (no pay). The village is asked to thank them with a gift when they come to fix the well.

We ask them to tell others from their village and area who will be using the well what they have heard and seen so that the well is properly maintained. Then we ask if anyone would like to say anything.

Then the demo on correct usage and a picture before jumping the truck and doing it again!

Installation

The first thing done at the well is to drop a 20 foot pvc pipe down the well to measure the depth. Mark where the pipe sticks out (or glue it to another if it is over 20 ft) and pull it back out making another mark for where the water level is. Measure and enter the info in the android.

Glue on the foot valve to the bottom (if it isn't already on) and cut the pipe about 5 inches shorter than the well depth to keep the foot valve from being in the bottom and sucking up mud. Add a collar to the other end of the pipe to hold it in place.

The hole in the top slab is created by a spider (central ring placed in the concrete as it is being made). It is threaded and the head piece (Pic in last blog) is screwed in.

The T handle is put through the pump and then attached to a thin 25mm pvc pipe that will go inside and pull the water up. Using the larger pipe for measuring, the plunger is attached to the bottom of the small pipe slightly shorter than the big pipe.

Drop the large pipe down the hole, then the plunger and pump and screw it together, tight as it will go. Build a small fire to warm up the outlet pipe so that it fits into the pipe and voila! A new well installed! Time for the dedication!

The typical day in the field

Pics: the well as we arrive (it has been covered, the piece sticking up was added by the installation crew, but I rarely get to a well before that has been added); conferring with the crew to answer android questions about the well

That is one of the topics that we cover during the daylong orientaion...and the speech started with :

"There is no such thing as a typical day in the field..."

And it is true. It depends on which country you are in (we work in Malawi, Tanzania, and Zambia), which field officer you are working with, and what happens during the day. So this topic is taken for what it is, a possibility of what the days may bring.

Up early. 6 is sleeping in for some...the hotel in TZ started serving breakfast at 7 (we pushed for 645), but the one in Rumphi (where I am now) feeds us at 6am and we are out the door by 630. Load the truck with everything well related: pipes, pumps, little parts for the insides...To the shop to get water for our team, biscuits (cookies), bread and peanut butter (bought this the first day in TZ and never stopped to eat it...2 weeks! They push through til dinner), and cokes.

Drive. Drive. Drive. We try to go to the farthest well of the day and work our way back. When we arrive we pull what we need from the truck and walk to the well site. The team starts putting the well together and we volunteers start greeting: hand shakes, how are yous, fumbled responses, and then info gathering on the android (what the well looks like, village demographics, builder names). Then the dedication service and a demonstration on how to use the well correctly. Then back to the truck (possibly a hike to get there) and on to the next well!

This goes on all day with a break for lunch (unless you're in TZ where you might pause for biscuits and drink) until you have either completed you projected goal or the time is getting too late as you need to get back to the hotel before dark (company policy that doesn't always work). Time for dinner, backup of important well info, showers, prep for the next day and bed...ready for another day!!

Leaving TZ ~ 410 wells

Thursday was a half day of work as we were gathering back together to eat and prepare to head back to Malawi. My field officer said that we were aiming for 9 wells but would turn back at 2 to have time to leave. We had some longer walks to get to wells and we did the first 6 with relative ease. Number 7 was a bit of a hike and we weren't able to install which was too bad, but they were assured they would be the first well installed on team 2. It was about 2:30 and I thought 6 out of 9 wasn't too bad and said so. "No, no. The last 2 are very close together." I wilted at that point. But on we went. When we arrived, the people were there. It was a very populated areas that already had 2 wells from last year and they were being used! I could see the 2 were going to install (very close) and the energy I found from those people was exactly what I needed. It was refreshing and renewing and just beautiful! The last 2 wells were what I needed.

We started the 2 day trip back down to Malawi (Lilongwe) to meet up with the whole volunteer crew. We had a music memory stick in the truck that is a bit like an iPod shuffle with lots to music on it of all kinds. We had a Christmas sing along for about 40 minutes, Dolly Parton, Bryan Adams, NSync, and so much more. (If you haven't heard Dolly sing I Will Always Love You, you should- and I now have over 25 times - and I sang to every one of them!)

Final Well Count for Team 1: 1203 completed (out of 2900)

Not all have been funded... $400 or any part thereof goes directly to fund clean water... www.mmmwater.org ...

Here comes team 2!!

Week 3

Sunday was youth Sunday at the Lutheran church. And there were lots of youth there! There was a skit done of a meeting (decently and in order?) In which they discussed the need for uniforms and right worship...I didn't understand any more than that. The young woman (a youth) who preached used Matthew 18 and talked of bringing children to church to show them the way not keeping them away.

Tiffany and I were split into separate trucks to get more wells In for the third week. I went to Vwawa to work with Field Officer Sunday Samson. On the way there I was stopped for speeding. She came over and showed me her phone with a picture of the truck nd the speed radar...impressive but I didn't like it! 57 in a 50 kmph zone...it doesn't even feel like speeding. Oh well.

At one well, there was only 2 ft of water so we tried the 15 bucket test. If the well can fill 15 buckets it should be refilling fast enough...this well only did 12 buckets so the decision was to dig it deeper and then we would come back to install. It is hard to leave without an installation but it is better in the end.

I find in TZ that the people are more reserved than in Malawi but that, of course, doesn't hold across the board. I get to some wells and I get hand shakes and sometimes I get hugs and bounces. I always get smiles. The children are curious and sometimes scared (even terrified). At one well I got to cuddle with a 7 month old who was so happy. She babbled and drooled and stayed with me through the dedication. A 6 year old boy at the same well was scared and wouldn't come anywhere near me! (Boy in the TOOLS shirt pic). The next day I had another little girl come to sit in my lap as we watched the installation.

A tipping mishap and other news (week 2)

Your prayers for safety are always welcomed, appreciated, and needed.

They warn us that the driving we do is the most dangerous part of our time here...the obstacles are many: stick shift driving, driving on the left side of the the road, dodging chickens, goats, dogs, and cows, four wheeling through sand and over and through streams, etc. Our trucks are tough and they can do a lot. They can survive tipping as we discovered on Thursday...the path narrowed and there was about a 2ish foot drop to the field next to the road...in slow motion that is where we went. One bruised knee and many sore muscles, everyone in the truck is ok.

Villagers arrived quickly as we were busy assessing ourselves and walking around the truck. I think that the pipe racks stopped us from continuing the roll (though they also make us pretty top heavy and if like to blame them too). Tiffany and I watched as the racks and back were unloaded. Villagers took hoes to the drop off and made it more level and then they righted the truck. It wouldn't start so the word was sent to Rev Mwasakifwa to come with the mechanic (he's the coordinator for TZ and was on his way to check on us as soon as he heard). We decided to install the well we'd almost made it to (needed to do something besides sit and wait--let's change some lives!) When we got back to the truck it had been turned around and pushed to a flat place.

We walked to the second well and passed Rev Mwasakifwa on the way. He reassured us (again) that trucks are man made and can be fixed or replaced but humans are not. After a couple of hours the truck came into town on its own steam...just needed 10 liters of oil! A few dents and a hard to roll up driver side window! Utukufu kwa Mungu! (Glory to God),

That second well was too close to an animal pen for the water to be safe to drink so we had to take it out. (3 days later: ) They have already rebuilt in a better place and the well has been installed! As we waited Tiffany developed a following of children who were at the clinic and they played, tossed rocks, counted, head/shoulders/knees/toes, hokey pokied and more!

Tiffany and I have helped with 104 wells in the first two weeks! That is a personal record! As is the 15 wells installed in one day!! (Not the tipping day, that count was 3) We have received a few chickens, eggs, beans, maize and dinners. We have been blessed and asked to convey their thanks and prayers back to the Americans who have helped fund their wells. We have danced and bounced with joy, chased children and shaken so many hands. They have been long days, bouncy, dusty, rewarding and refreshing.

Just like 6 Flags...all day (week) long!

New pipe rack holding strong.
The only beige MMM truck I've seen and it's ours (for now)!

(Title) Quote from my partner Tiffany on day 2 of heading out

well, not quite the field...on Wednesday we spent the day getting set in Tanzania. We went to the phone store to get TZ numbers for our phones, but the network was down so we had to return in the afternoon. (We did and connection was working!) On our way to lunch (at a fancy hotel in town) the truck I was driving started stuttering, flapping. Yep, flat tire and we hadn't even hit the rough dirt roads yet.

Thursday was our first day in the field. Tiffany and I dedicated 12 wells! It's a personal record for me! (And her as this is her first trip!) We drove out about an hour and a half and then never got back in the truck! Innocent, our Field Officer, moved the truck a little to be closer to the wells, but it was closer for us to go from well to well (that isn't to say they are that close together...just closer than going back UP to the truck and then down to the next well.). Needless to say, it was a long and exhausting day. But so good!

At the well, it always makes my heart leap when clear water comes out of the pump from the very beginning. Sadly this doesn't always happen. The bricks and gravel in the bottom are dusty or the water that began refilling before the brick walls were out in was already muddy. It clears up pretty quickly (usually) but sometimes it takes some time. Our last well on the first day was one of those. The water was so icky, we pumped and pumped and it didn't really change, but our team said that it would as they continued to pump the water out. Yesterday we went back to check on the well and get a good picture and the water was crystal clear!!! (I don't want to say that I didn't believe my team but I guess I did have my doubts.)

We were headed home after a good day of well installations. I got a bump (many of them really), but this one wasn't any bigger than the rest. Innocent said we need to stop, the pipes are loose. Woo i stop the truck and get out and the back pipe rack has folded backwards over the tail gate. The pipe racks are what hold the pipes as we head out over the roads (or foot paths or for tracks). And they are pretty important. We took the rack out of the holder and laid it in the back of the truck. Then ratcheted the pipes down but not too tight...We had to stop about 500 ft down the road because they had already bounced loose. Added a strap on the middle and they lasted longer...still a slow way back to the hotel. (New (to us) pipe rack the next day)

Innocent brings his whole crew to all the different wells. He says they can learn from each other. It is a great feel the way they all get along. In Tanzania, the villages are large and for the first days we were doing our installations all in one village (different villages each day). The villages are divided into hamlets which I think would correspond to what we normally think of as villages. There were few gifts at the individual wells but at the end of the day the village would provide dinner for the whole installation team. Rice (ugali once), chicken, beef, fish, or a combination, beans, cabbage, eggs. It is tasty. We eat and run as we have to get back to the hotel before dark (and sometimes we do get back!)

What a day looks like...

Billboard at a busy intersection...good reminder in life

Of course every day is different but here is an overview of the average day. 

I set my alarm for 6am...to hit snooze for at least 7 (usually 10) minutes. Up for some stretches to get ready for the day. Pack up my bags (water, android, phone, snacks, visor, keys and....) Head out for breakfast of eggs (hard-boiled or omelette style), bread (sliced and a little tough), and cassava or yam with tea (or coffee if you prefer). We then read the devotion together (There are 4 of us US volunteers: Tiffany Poch, Richard Ashe, David Fisher and me). (Join us! Email devotions@mmmwater.org for a daily email or get the kindle version on Amazon for 99¢.) Rev Mwasakifwa (pronounced as it looks), the MMM coordinator in Tanzania, and Innocent Deus, a Field Officer, are often at the hotel by then. 

We head for the office to load the pipes, pumps, and small parts and tools that we'll need for the day. Tiffany, Innocent, and I head out to the Mbeya Rural district. (Mbeya is the town/city we are based in.) After about 1.5 hours and a few stops to pick up installation supervisors and builders, we arrive at the first well. In Tanzania the villages are much larger and very spread out. So we install many wells in one village but they aren't usually very close to each other. 

Our installation supervisors and builders grab everything they need from the truck and head for the well. We follow (a bit slower). As they measure and install, we fill in information on an Android that gives MMM stats and greet those who are at the well. Once the pump is in, the dedication service and demo begin. Then on to the next well. We keep installing and dedicating until about 4 and then head back home, dropping people off again and (hopefully) getting back before dark. 

Dinner and a shower (not necessarily in that order). Chatting with the others about the adventures of the day. And then bed!! Hopefully some journal and reading time but that is usually cut short with the call of sleep!

Week 1

Sunday: arrival of the rest of Team 1 and travel to Mponela for orientation.

Monday: long day of training. Learned a lot and met the team after a night's rest. (Getting off the plane with that jetlag makes people fun but we don't necessarily remember a lot)

Tuesday: travel to Tanzania. Leaving at 5am and arriving at 7pm. (Losing another hour to a different time zone).

Wednesday: changing money, getting phones set up, more driving practice, flat tire

Thursday: first well installations! 12 in and so many happy people. We were fed in the village : rice, chicken, eggs, beans, cabbage

Friday: 11 more in and another meal! On the way home we completely broke the back pipe rack (holds the pipes on top of the truck so they don't bounce too badly). Made it back with a few more stops for adjustments.

Saturday: 12 wells installed and we got to hold some babies.

Sunday: church in the morning and rest in the afternoon getting ready for another (full) week of installations.

Hoping that our vehicle adventures are about done!

Tanzania encore!

Team 1 practicing entering well info into androids and find shade at the same time!

Orientation went well. It was long (only 1 day but there is a lot of info imparted). We were welcomed by each of the area coordinators (Nkhoma Synod & Livingstonia Synod in Malawi, Lutheran diocese in Tanzania, and the synod in Zambia). So that we don't have to listen to one voice, each of the returnees is asked to present a topic and mine was cultural differences. (Lucky me it was the same one I did last year and I still had my notes!!)  A few moments from the first 2.5 days:

At dinner the first night I asked for Nali Garlic, a garlic hot sauce that I adore. There are many different flavors of Nali (such as hot, ginger, gold, kambuzi, etc). The server said she would check (Nali Kambuzi was on the table, Hot the next day). She then came out with a bowl with peeled fresh garlic in it...not quite what I wanted but I couldn't be rude! While I didn't eat all of it with dinner I was glad for a room to myself --definitely no vampires either!I

During one of our breaks at orientation I had tea and I added some lemon juice. Not thinking anything of it I added milk as well and it curdled on contact...I had no idea it would do that but now I know. (And knowing is half the battle)

Tuesday morning we took off for Tanzania! Rev Mwasakifwa set our departure for 5am and he drove. With our luggage on top and well tied down we went. I was facing backwards as I get carsick from sitting sideways (This vehicle has two benches down the back facing in but we only had 3 people) and I saw a plastic bag look like it came from the top but it could have been over the car so I just kept watching....well that'll teach me! The next thing to go was a sports bra of mine! Stop the car!! The top of my action packer (black heavy duty Tupperware used as suitcase) had been tied down too tight and was bowed to catch the wind! Tied it down again and I got the plastic bag contents back but the sports bra was gone when we went to get it! Oops!

We crossed the border after a wonderful early lunch/breakfast in Mzuzu (Thank you, Peter!). A 12.5 hour day of travel to reach our hotel for the night. We lost another hour crossing the border into TZ and this are 7 hours ahead of NC time. 

We are now in Tanzania and it is time for some rest before starting tomorrow!!!

Arrival

I have arrived! After driving (thanks, dad!) to chapel hill and staying Wed night (thanks, kate!) And getting to the airport for a 615am flight our of Raleigh before Flo came through...24 hours of traveling (Raleigh to Washington D.C. to Addis Ababa to Lilongwe) I got through immigration and am back in Malawi! I

Isabelle picked me up and we took off for Salima and Cool Runnings (great place to stay). Glamping for two nights, relaxing, napping, swimming and getting over jetlag (maybe) and meeting some interesting people (2 guys in for 2 weeks of diving safari, an Australian couple who are taking 2 years driving around Africa (14 months in), and others).

Today we came back to lilongwe where I met Team 1 and am getting ready for orientation and wells!

MMM!!!

I'm getting ready for my 5th trip with Marion Medical Mission and am so grateful for all of your support! I'm leaving home on Wednesday and flying out VERY early on Thursday from Raleigh. (Thank you, Kate!!) 

This year I have been asked to be a member of both well installation teams, thus spending 6 weeks (September 16- October 28) helping to provide clean water and doubling my impact! Marion Medical Mission has set the goal of 2,900 new protected water sources (100 more than last year) as well as expanding into new districts for even greater distribution. I am so glad to be a part of this organization!

I ask for your prayers while I am gone and look forward to sharing new stories and experiences when I return in December after traveling around to visit more friends!

Peace,

Jessi Stitt

P.S. Marion Medical Mission (www.mmmwater.org) has a devotional booklet created for this year's well season. It is available by daily email if you put your name on the list by emailing devotions@mmmwater.org or by download on your phone, tablet or e-reader from Amazon for $.99 search MMM Daily Devotions 2018.

summer in pics...

worship each night...hiking Table Rock (x2), Lookout Mountain in Montreat (x10)....paddling the lower Tuckaseegee (x4)...climbing (x4)...1 road clean up....2 backpacking trips at Huntfish Falls...and on camp activities...What a great job I have!!

there are many many many more pics from the summer on camp grier's facebook and instagram if you're interested!