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!