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!
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