MMM

Team 2 is gone. So far this year (in 6 weeks) 3,051 wells (out of 4,095 planned - which is over the original goal of 3,500 for 2023). The field officers will finish the installations and so many more people will have access to clean water this year! What an amazing feat! 

I got to work with 2 volunteers, 4 Field Officers in Malawi, 12 Installation Supervisors and many builders this year. I got to visit the workshop where the well parts are made in Malawi for the first time, without which the rest of the process wouldn’t happen. 

I received chickens, a rabbit, groundnuts, tomatoes, maize, soy beans, beans, rice, onions, eggs, potatoes, mangoes, bananas, love, handshakes, hugs, drumming, nsima (lunch), dances, joy, songs and so much more. 

About 2,000 of the 4,000+ wells have been funded. They have all been built, we just have to pay for them. If you feel moved to support, any amount helps. $450 pays for a well for a village and gets you an individual picture of ‘your’ well. Donate at mmmwater.org

Last day of installations

 It was cold this morning, well cool. The breeze was as well and while I would have worn a long sleeve shirt if I'd had one handy, it did warm up quickly. 

Val and I helped to install 109 wells in this last 3 weeks. 

Rough roads, steep hikes, hot weather, happy people, clean water, joyful dancing. My heart is full and I’m tired.

 And excited to go to Zambia to see some animals and the big waterfall!!

Splashes!

We’ve had lots of fun getting to play in the water. 

after taking the picture, I start with going to the bucket and putting some water on the back of my neck. Then I splash high in the air getting lots of people a little bit. Then I try to invite the children (or adults) to come up and do the same, or to just splash me. It took me a while to realize possibly why it is so hard to get them to play. They haven't had extra water in quantities to be able to play.  They have also just heard about taking care of this water. But eventually we sometimes get to here. And sometimes the little ones still start crying when they get wet...

Rain!

Here are some of the old water sources and some sunflowers (calling on no more rains for a couple of weeks!) 

It rained after we finished Tuesday’s installations (6 wells!) but not before we were back to the hotel. Puddles and rivers along the roads. Fields flood until the rain stops and then everything is soaked up pretty quickly. It's not much fun to drive on the dirt roads in the rain (also not to ride in the back of the truck) but we made it back safely. The storm had taken out the power though. 

The next morning was muddy but we made it to 11 wells. (much closer to Jenda) by 10am all was dry again.

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!’