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)

The installation

Get to the well and clear it of the sand that has been on it to cure the concrete (this is usually done before we get there) Attach the metal head into the hole in the well. 

Attach the foot valve to the big pipe and lower it into the well to determine the depth. Take it out and measure it for the records. 

Cut it to the correct depth and attach the collar which keeps the pipe from falling into the well. 

Attach the pump to the t handle and then to the small pipe. Place them next to the big pipe to find the correct length and attach the plunger. 

Put them both on the well and rotate the pump on the head until very tight. 

Warm up the spout and attach it. Watch the water come out!!

Team 2 arrived!

They came in on Sunday (bringing the plane that Team 1 left on). Had dinner and let them (and us) sleep. I spent the day relaxing at the hotel, reading and getting my clothes washed (ok that didn’t take me very long), helped a little getting things ready for Team 2. 

Sunday morning birthday celebration!

Monday was back to orientation. The devo to start was about being here, in the moment, remember where and why you’re here. Enjoy. 

We went over androids, money, dedications, reminders, tools, tool boxes, trucks and got our assignments. I’m heading out to Dwangwa which is close to the lake and hot and last year had a flood after we left. I’m working with Jan Van who was my trainer my first year.

Tuesday morning birthday celebration!

Team 2 minus the TZ crowd(they’d already left)

We have arrived in Dwangwa with a drive through Nkhotakhota Game Reserve (elephants, baboons and kudu seen) and checked into our hotel. I’ve been to this hotel before…and some of it was washed away last year. There are 99 wells left uninstalled with our field officer. (Team 1 did about 250!) we’ll get to work in the morning!

Team 1 2024 - 1506 wells!

(My parents got power back yesterday. No water and spotty cell service. My sister is also ok in Old Fort. Both have neighbors with wells and the communities are coming together.)

Yesterday (Saturday) we all gathered again at Thope Lodge in Mponela. (Minus the 4 who were here for 2 weeks and left last weekend). Francine and I went out for a half day of installations and helped with 5 wells. At 2 of the wells (huge village in need of even more water points) before we even parked the truck much less got out we could feel the energy and hear the roar. The crowd was large and they were already singing and dancing. It felt like a wall getting out of the truck! There was just enough room to get out and then we were shaking hands, greeting, singing and of course I started dancing with them. Wow. The joy. It didn’t stop until the first well was installed. As they were close we entered the information and took a picture and went with everyone to the second where we did the dedication. (After entering the info for this well too). Agogos shaking our hands, smiling and dancing. Laughter in their mouths and their eyes. It was beautiful! 

That evening we met for a rundown of the numbers. The goal for 2024 is 4,550 new wells…team 1 installed and dedicated 1506!! 

There are already 1907 wells ready and waiting for pumps…team 2 has their work cut out for them. Then team 3 (our dedicated African staff) will finish up the others. 

Tom gave us a rousing encouraging and important talk about telling the story and raising the money for these wells. As of Oct 2 MMM has funding for 1940 wells. The story will be told. The money will come. We believe but we also move our feet and do what we can. 

Team 1 went to the airport this morning. Team 2 came in this afternoon!

Want to help? Donate at mmmwater.org/donate any amount helps. $475 funds a well for a village. 

The dedication

After the installation, we gather the village for the dedication and ask for a villager to pray. We then introduce ourselves and our MMM workers. We talk about the Americans hearing about the need for clean water and wanting to help, gather the money to pay for the cement, the pipes, and the pump. Then that the village also wanted clean water and so they put in the work: digging the hole, making the bricks, gathering the sand and gravel. That only together is there a strong well here today. 

We ask who the well belongs to. Though I have learned that ownership here is understood differently and thus I ask who will be using this well. Is it the Americans who paid for it? Is it the organization that helped construct it? NO! It is you. This well is yours. And so you are the ones to take care of it. Keeping animals and trash away. Using it correctly. Keeping fertilizer and buildings far away to keep the water safe and clean. 

We talk of the maintenance fee that is paid yearly that insures replacement parts when the well breaks. We point out the maintenance person and make sure they know how to get in touch. And remind them that when they come to fix the well the village should give a gift of appreciation because the maintenance person doesn’t get paid to fix the well. 

We explain that the picture we take is sent to the donor in the US to show that there is a well and clean water and a happy village. We open the floor and a chief speaks thanks and admonishes the village to take care of this blessing. 

Then a demonstration on how to pump, with a few more instructions, maybe some splashing, dancing, gift giving and it is on to the next well!

Well building

We went to a well that was in the process of being built!! I’ve now seen into 2 wells (all the rest have had concrete caps on them to make them protected) 

(There is someone down there)

Last week we saw one being dug and bricks being made. There was a large crowd and lots of singing and dancing (I’m assuming for our benefit). 

Today we visited another. It had been dug and they were going to start lining it with bricks. First they had to empty it of water (bucket brigade) then put a layer of quartz stone down and then bricks. Layer upon layer. This well recharges pretty quickly (refills with water). There are two sets of builders and trainees in these pictures. The women are trainees and will be maintence women after the building season. 

Bucket brigade

Stone to be added

First team: Ausward and Elinati

Trading places

Second team: Wilbus and Elenata

We then went on to install 6 wells!

Singing and dancing

My home community is hurting.  Helene hit hard. They have been without power, water and phone service for 3 days. It is hard to be so far away right now but I know that there are people there to help and there is not much I’d be able to do that someone else can’t. And so I’m in the place where I’m getting work done and if I can’t be there with them, I’m glad I’m here doing this mission. 

Water is life. Here we have clean water. At home water has been the destruction.  Help where you can. If you feel led, MMM can install and maintain a well for a village for $475.  Red Cross and Black Mountain Presbyterian Church (memo hurricane relief) are helping the communities impacted by Helene.