Week 1

40 wells were dedicated by Mary and me. We are based on Nkhata Bay which is northern Malawi on the lake. We are staying in a hotel in town and right on the lake. It is a bit noisy but has a great view.

We've been out each day driving and dedicating new wells, shaking hands and sharing smiles, and hiking up and down some steep mountains and hills, changing lives. At the end of the dedication we give the opening for comments from the villagers. Over and over we hear that we need to send (bring) thanks back to those who have helped them, that now we are free because we have clean water and will not be sick. Thank you for coming, we had no idea that we could have this. Please continue to help our neighbors.

During one dedication, I watched an older man go to the old open well and get a drink of water as we were only 15 feet away. It was heart wrenching. And yet I knew that soon he would have clean water, safe to drink.

We have received gifts of bananas, cassava, beans, bananas, ground nuts, maize, more bananas, chickens, bananas, 3 bowls and 2 books. (There are many different types of bananas and we've gotten lots of them.) It is so humbling to receive when we know that we have all that we need and that they give from full hearts.