Gratitude

At the end we ask if anyone else would like to speak. Often the chief will speak at appoint someone or the chairperson of the village water committee. Each one is different and yet there are common themes that run through them. 

Glory to God! First thanks to God for this gift and second to the donors in America for making this possible. Thanks to you volunteers for coming from so far away. We welcome you with open hands and open hearts! This is a joyous day. 

We were getting water over there (with a point or wave over a hill or far off) and it was unsafe, unclean, we were drinking with animals. 

Or, you see we have water here but it is not safe or clean and now we can be assured of clean drinking water. (These are often near a slowly moving or stopped stream, pond, other water source that is green, has animal prints all around, frogs inside). 

Our women would go to the borehole (safe water afar off) or to the dirty source and be chased off by others, get into fights at the waterhole. They would have to get up at 2 and 3 in the morning to get to the after source and back in good time. 

Thank you for this gift, our children will now be able to go to school. This is a special day for us!

This one was even done in English! (I usually don’t have them on camera as I’m not expecting it)