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.