Waiting in hope

From the MMM daily devotion booklet: Sept 19

We wait in hope for the Lord; God is our help and our shield. ~ Psalm 33:20 

“We’re coming tomorrow,” the words all the villagers are waiting to hear since the beginning of the well process in the early part of the year; this is the day! 

The village applied for a well with their district’s water committee. And waited to be approved. Then they waited for the trained builders to come and pick an appropriate place for the well. They gathered sand, gravel, and bricks. Waited for the cement to be delivered and the builder to come back and get to work - directing the digging and brick making. Once it was assembled (hole dug, brick lined, concrete capped, sand curing done) they must wait again. Wait for the installations to start. Wait for the day their area will be picked. 

And I bet the waiting is excruciating. If they are one of the first to be built (August), they could be waiting until October for installation because there are so many factors as to where installations happen (where volunteers are assigned, whether other wells in the area are ready, outside factors - flat tires, malaria, funerals). Past experience could be broken promises. 

But then those words, “We’re coming tomorrow.” Hope—but not too much, just in case. And then the truck arrives. Joy spills out—in song, in dance, in ululation, in smiles, in gifts. “We didn’t know that this could be true here in our village.” But they had labored in hope and now it was real. 

Application Question: What are you waiting for in hope? What can you do today to help hope come true tomorrow? 

Prayer: Creator of all the Earth, thank you. For the ability to hope in things to come. For giving us the eyes to see the next small step that might lead us forward in sharing Your love with all who surround us. Remind us that You are with us always, guiding and shielding us. Amen

Installations

We’ve arrived at the village and the people are here and waiting with such energy and anticipation! We’ve been driving on very potholed dirt roads. 

We pull out the wells parts needed: big pipe, little pipe, pump, handle, head, spout, and the little pieces. Then we head to the well site where we find a concrete covered well awaiting these parts and the people to install it. 

As the workers work, I greet even more people (those I missed at the truck or the walk down). We dance and sing. We watch in fascination as the parts get put together and then (finally) the water comes out of the spout. Rejoice!

  

We dedicate the well to the Glory of God and teach them how to use it as it is their well to use and take care of. We demonstrate what to do (and some things not to do). They convey their thanks to us who come, to those who sent us, to those who funded the wells and those who will help take care of the well. They tell us that their thanks are too little, that their words are not enough, and they gift us with some of what they have, reaching deep to show their gratitude for this blessing of clean water. 

Then it is time to get back in the truck and continue on. The blessings continue and time is short. 

 

Any amount small or large will help to fund this life giving gift. For $500 (an entire well) you will get a picture of the well and some of the villagers that you have sponsored. To donate go to mmmwater.org

Team 1

We’ve arrived! 13 American volunteers to be divided into 5 pairs to go out in 7 trucks on Tuesday and start installing wells. 

I’m not here as I arrived 2 hours later…

Tom, Doug and Jim came in a week early to help the African staff get everything ‘ready’. I helped with this last year and found most of it already done but it is always good to get more eyes on it. Checking trucks, looking at plans on where to send volunteers, planning for the unexpected, prepping tool boxes, calling to see how many wells are ready in the different areas, etc. 

During training we started with a devo I the Good Samaritan. Looking at taking care of others. Being the one who helps. That is why we’re here. 

We were given our money. For $1 the exchange into Malawi Kwacha is 1,930. It is quite a stack of money. Discussion on when to use personal money (lodging, dinner, speeding ticket) vs Marion money (fuel, repairs). 

We got phones and went over data collection at the wells, dedication service, tools in the tool box, truck highlights and then the first drive to reorient ourselves to driving on the left side of the road. 

Jamie and I are excited to be staying in Nkhoma Synod (central Malawi) to start our installations. We’ll be off early tomorrow morning!

Any amount small or large will help to fund this life giving gift. For $500 (an entire well) you will get a picture of the well and some of the villagers that you have sponsored. To donate go to mmmwater.org

Zimbabwe

I came to Zimbabwe a week early to visit my friends and get time zone acclimated. The first 2 nights are usually the hardest but I think I did well. Slow mornings (for me). Third term of school started up this week. They’d take off early with Ute on her way to work and I would read and relax. 

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Afternoons spent crocheting and playing games (phase 10, cards, field hockey 🏑), cooking. 

Saturday evening was Zimstock! A concert/carnival fundraiser for the Hellenic School. What fun!

Now it’s time to get ready for wells! 

Any amount small or large will help to fund this life giving gift. For $500 (an entire well) you will get a picture of the well and some of the villagers that you have sponsored. To donate go to mmmwater.org

El Paso 2026

I’ve been in El Paso for a week now. Volunteering to give hospitality to those let out of detention. It’s different each time I come back (this is my 4th trip). Very few new arrivals to the country, many who have been picked up in US cities and sent to ‘camps’ here around El Paso. Many with the proper paper work to be in the US legally. Many who have been here for many years. The stories of ICE raids on people driving to work, picked up at work, having their doors almost busted down. ‘Officers’ not looking at paperwork and/or taking someone else in because the get paid by the body. One was told to ‘look at it like a vacation and he’ll be out in a short while’- 6 days later he is dropped off in El Paso with no id to get back to Minnesota. 

I’m glad I can be here to help but am sorry that I’m needed for this.

3,138

The American part of the well installations is over. (Ended on Saturday). The count of dedicated, installed wells was 3,138. (The African teams have continued installations so the number is higher now). What an amazing time we had. I loved having Casey here, working with so many friends and getting to celebrate God’s gift of clean safe water with si many who have been dreaming and working for it for so long. 4,150 have been planned and will definitely be installed. There are more that have been asked for and are needed. And 1,500 (at least) still need funding. Any amount small or large will help to fund life giving gift. For $475 (an entire well) you will get a picture of the well and some of the villagers that you have sponsored. To donate go to mmmwater.org

Casey and I left for South Africa and Kruger National Park with my friends and we’ve been seeing all the animals. The pics are not the greatest but…wow! We’re staying in a private park and they have ‘wild’ animals that come to visit at our house. 

A well

Week 5 numbers are in! 2,786 wells have been dedicated and installed! Many still need funding…

 We arrived at the well and they were there waiting. The most people we’ve seen at a well this year. It was my turn to enter information into the android. As I walked up a woman continued singing with the rest, but came over and shook my hand and pulled me in for a hug. I got the gps reading and was waiting for the depth measurements. The foot valve had been left at the truck (luckily not far away). The women changed songs to one that they dance to so I quit waiting and went to dance (of course I did). 

Then I finished entering the technical info, build quality, who is present at the well, who built the well, etc. As I finished that they started to set up for a drama. We watched them act out getting water from their old source, a shallow hole that was very sandy and didn’t have much water. Each scoop also pulled up sand and those who came to get water each explained why they should get the little water that was there. And they would fight over it. The drama was full of laughter but it was a sad story. 

Then they took us a little ways away and showed us the old water sources. The first was small enough that it was scooped out with a cup…to fill a 20 liter bucket would take a lot of time. The other was larger (pictured) but still shallow and not a fast refill. They said women would sometimes sleep next to it. 

The joy of the installation was overwhelming. They listened intently to the dedication. And celebrated back to the truck. 

Uchindami kwa Chiuta!

Any amount small or large will help to fund life giving gift. For $475 (an entire well) you will get a picture of the well and some of the villagers that you have sponsored. To donate go to mmmwater.org