This week

We moved farther south to Jenda where we are working with Sam as our Field Officer. We’ve had some LONG drives to our wells…2 hours on Monday and 3 on Tuesday. That’s a lot of time I  the truck! But it’s all about the people and we’ve met some beautiful ones!

One head man said, “we have many problems here, but today, one of them has been solved.”

The next village sang, “we are very happy, we are very happy” over and over. “On our own we would not have managed this. Thank you for your help”

And the next day

A couple of days when we went from well to wells and didn’t stop to eat then we got fed by the village. I must have been grumpy enough on the no meal day that yesterday we stopped twice! First for the peanut butter and bread that we bought at the store and then at Reverend Nyondo’s for nsima, chicken, goat, greens and greens in peanut sauce. I wasn’t too hungry for second lunch but I definitely ate because it was good! (And peanut butter and bread doesn’t last too long)

At the beginning of the dedication we pray. Usually in chitimbuka but sometimes in English. They pray for us and our work, praising God for this blessing that has arrived. I pray for all those who built the well and worked on getting it to this point. And then for all who will use the clean water, coming to the well and having access in their homes. 

At the end we sing and dance!

I noticed all these shoes and don’t know if it’s what is available in the market…but so many have them!

This is Bridget Madise who is the chairperson of the zone as well as a MMM maintenance woman!

Long days

On Monday Val, Mr. Nyirenda, and I moved a bit farther north to Rumphi. We’re at a great hotel Tukupalisha Lodge. The water pressure is wonderful! And the food is good. 

We’ve had some very long days. Breakfast at 630 and then out all day. Back about 630. We have found more dancing and a few water splashes. Monday we didn’t ever stop for lunch (not for lack of trying on my part—but when wells are close together it is hard to find a place away from watchful eyes). 

Tuesday we had a LONG hike. Uphill (then down and up and again). About 2 hours? (I didn’t look at a clock) it was a new area and they were so excited that we had come to install their 2 wells-one down in one direction and then the other down in the other direction.  They fed us lunch- nsima (ground maize eaten with fingers), rice, chicken and greens. Tasty. Had a drumming and singing performance. Then we started back to the truck. And got offered (and taken) motorbike ride to the truck. Lifesaver!  

At the next 2 wells we were met with women playing drums and shaking dried maize in a pot as a shaker. And lots of singing and dancing! The joy!!

One of the women spoke after the headman saying, “women here get up by 4am to go to fetch water. And sometimes when they get to the water hole they find it empty because someone else has gotten there first. They can return at noon and find goats everywhere in the water and around. One day that happened to me and I went to another far water hole and in the way back I fell. There was not water that day. We won’t have that problem anymore!’

Gifts

In the dedication we emphasize that this is a partnership. That Americans raised the money for the pipes, pump and cement but that the village did the work of digging the hole, making the bricks, sourcing gravel and sand and then maintaining the well. The well could not happen without both parties. 

Hand molded and then stacked and burned in the kiln

At the end we are gifted so many things. Leaders speak both to us and to their people. Thanks are given and we are asked to bring their thanks back to the US to those who supported them. Bananas, chickens (and roosters), bananas, maize, sugar cane, bananas, ground nuts, rice, bananas, tomatoes, eggs, mangoes. They are given to us and we give them to our builders and installation supervisors and field officers. 

Bananas are really heavy!

We take them with both hands as they are given with both hands, openly and with joy. There is often genuflecting as the gifts are given and many of the women actually kneel to give us the gifts-a sign of respect and gratitude. So humbling. 

Natural

The colors are of course brighter and more vibrant than I can get pictures of. But I’m loving all the color that can be found in the dry season. Some of the trees look like fall is here and sometimes the green is bright contrast to the red dirt and dust. But here are some of the flowers to be seen. 

And this buddy was in the truck…the day before we found a praying mantis in the cab. (No pic)

Team 2!

They arrived just after Team 1 was through security (I imagine…I didn’t go to the airport, I relaxed at the hotel gathering strength for the next 3 weeks) big hugs for all who arrived. 

Another day of orientation and then assignments. I finally convinced someone to come with me (‘with’ meaning she had to get here on her own as I was already here). Val and I have been assigned to the Mzuzu area. This is northern Malawi where they speak Chitimbuka (not what I’m familiar with though can do some greetings). Also much more mountainous. 

We get spoiled by staying in the guest house of MMM. The days are still long and full of bouncing, joy, chickens and water!

Our first day installing wells we did 8. The first 4 we’re pretty easy. The second 4 we’re possibly the steepest I remember doing. Not far but strait down (and then back up to the truck). Today we did another 8 and one of the hikes was super long…of course it was the one I started off by running with the kids. 

Team 1!

 Team 1's three weeks is up! They flew out today. We gathered together on Saturday. Francine and I put in 5 wells along the way to lots of singing and dancing...

it was a beautiful day. Went and wandered through the market with one other team as we were early arriving at the hotel. 

The numbers:

Wells installed Team 1: 1398

Wells I helped with: 136

Goal for 2023: 4095

Wells funded so far: 1913

Help fund a well here 🪣💦