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.
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