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

We’ve moved!

 Week 1 numbers for team 2: 406 (that’s a total of 2,217 this year!)

On Sunday we went to church: choirs, prayers, a sermon on Daniel (can’t tell you much more than that even if we were at the English service), welcome. Then to a little cafe for some tasty samosas. A couple hours of downtime and then…

We’ve moved to Rumphi. (North of Mzuzu, in some mountains) Some of the dirt roads are graded right up until they aren’t! Lots of dust. Driving up and down and then hiking the rest of the way (uphill in both directions but also steep downhills). 

We had a day with wells that had over 11 ft of water! (One was 26 ft of water in a 37ft well!) 

We have passed a couple of previously installed wells but always from a distance and while driving…until today, we hiked right by one, so I filled up. It was from last year. 

We’ve had a few road blocks along the way…firewood, a truck, cattle…

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

Team 2 Week 1

weeks!

What a week it's been! On Sunday,Team 2 arrived, and Team 1 left on their plane. 1,808 wells were installed during the first 3 weeks. 

We trained again on androids and got our float money (MK1,500,000 = $725). Found out Casey and I were headed up to Mzuzu to start. So on Tuesday we dispersed (the Tanzanian team left Monday for their loooong drive). A caravan of 5 trucks headed north.  We dropped Francine and DiAnne in Kasungu to work with Happy, then Doug and Lucas in Jenda. Mr Khosa got a call from our CFO that he had a flat just ahead of us , so we all went to the rescue. Easy change once a good jack was found and on we went. 

Mr Nyirenda came to pick us up the next morning. He'd already loaded the truck with his Installaton Supervisor,  Mr Chimiliro. And out we went. 7 wells both day 1&2! We've had singing and dancing, waiting for arrivals of the villagers and sadly one well that didn't have enough water. (They will redig, and then we'll be back for installation). We've been gifted 4 eggs, many chickens, bananas, cassava, a litre of milk, maize, potatoes, plantains.  We've been prayed for and blessed, been talked to pass thanks on to friends in America and asked for more help for their neighbors.

Casey was asked to give names to twins and so here are our namesakes. (I've since heard that could mean we're responsible for their education?!?)

Tool boxes

I arrived in Malawi a week before most of the American volunteers to help prepare for the teams.

With 19 volunteers coming for team 1, we planned to prepare 20 tool boxes. These are big black action packers (industrial Tupperware) that will hold what we need for well installations. 

And then we found out they’d already been done! Yeah! The staff here is dedicated, diligent, and on it! There was more to be added but it came with volunteers in Lilongwe …

Here’s what we take with us into the field:

•18” pipe wrench 

•24” pipe wrench 

• 1⁄2” tap and handle (to thread pipe if the end isn’t already)

• 1⁄2” die and handle (to thread pipe if the end isn’t already)

• Sandpaper 

• Metal file 

• Wood rasp (coarse teeth) 

• Tote bag – to carry tools to the well

• Hack saw (and extra hack saw blades) 

• PVC solvent cement can w/applicator & 6 bottles of PVC cement

• Tape measure (25 ft)

• Sharpie pen to mark PVC pipe

• Matches

•Wire brush

• 4 Rachet straps (to keep pipes on truck during transport)

• 5 Bungees 

• Wiping rags 

I’m amazed that this is all we need to finish installing wells and giving the gift of clean water. 

Any amount small or large will help to fund this 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

Feet

Jessi Stitt

Volunteer, North Carolina

  

Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.

~ John 13:14-15

  

I notice the feet around me all day. In Malawi, shoes are not a requirement. Many people don’t own shoes or only bring them out on special occasions. Shoes are worn until there is nothing left to keep them on feet. Mismatched shoes are worn. I’ve seen women walk with one shoe on and the other was being carried to make them last longer.

 

I have a thing about shoes. I don’t really like them (I’d rather be barefoot). My feet blister easily when enclosed. And they get too hot. So while I do own closed toed shoes, I don’t wear them. I am now almost 365 days a year in sport sandals (even in the snow).

 

After a day in the field, my feet are dusty to say the least. The dirt has been ground into them. When I take off my sandals, there are white lines where my straps have been. Looks like tan lines, but it isn’t. Washing my feet at the end of the day is such a great feeling. Soaping up and watching the dirt come off feels good. 

 

It makes me think of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet and how I, like Peter, wouldn’t want anyone else to wash my feet. Nor would I really want to wash anyone else’s. But I see the holiness in this act. It is a vulnerable place. Feet can be stinky. Feet can be strangely shaped. Feet can be ticklish. Feet can be tough. And feet always seem to be dirty.

 

Jesus says, “Those who have bathed need only wash their feet to be clean . . . I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.”

 

While I don’t go around actually washing feet, even at the well sites, I follow and try to serve others when I can.

Application Question: What can I do today to follow Jesus’ example and serve others?

 

Prayer: Almighty Creator, thank you for this day. For the example you gave us in Jesus. Thank you for the dirt under our nails and for the water to wash it away. Help us to remember your example and to go out and to serve our neighbors near and far with love in our hearts and joy on our lips. Amen

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

What a week!

Happy birthday, Mom!!💗💐

The count for weeks 1&2 is 1,262 wells installed! I’ve personally witnessed 70 of them! From gogos (grandparents) to children, everyone excited for this safe drinking water (or just to see a mzungu). This water that will cut down on diseases, cut the hours spent walking for water, make life just a little bit easier. 

We’ve been gifted rice, cassava, chickens, bananas, plantains, lunch (rice or nsima with meat). There have been songs and dances, hugs and laughter. So much joy!

The driving is long, bouncy, and exhausting with mango trees overhead (got to watch those pipe racks), potholes below, people and animals coming from both sides. I broke a bridge and then spent an hour and a half watching people repair it. 

(Not one I drove over)

Francine and I moved to 3 different hotels as e we moved up the lake and still haven’t had time to swim (NOT my choice) but we’ve seen some gorgeous sunrises. 

Now I’m back in Dwangwa (where we started). Francine has gone to work around Mzuzu. This having 2 trucks is different…

Building

*most pics from building of wells witnessed last year. 

Beginning in August, the builders for Marion Medical Mission start training for building wells. They come together and build the training well. 

-Digging until they hit water and then 6 ft more so that there will be water even through the dry season. (We’re at the ‘end’ of dry season when we install so if there is water then, there should be water year round.) 

-Getting the stones for the bottom and making the bricks to line the inside of the well.

 -Cementing the rounds once they are some way up

. 

-Forming and pouring the concrete top slab that will cover the well. 

-Preparing the area for the apron and drain, flattening it and surrounding it with brick and stone to protect the concrete. 

And then they go out to the villages that have been picked to get wells this year. They are the skilled help to build their wells. 4,100 wells will be built this year. 

American volunteers arrived @ September 21 to begin driving to these villages, bringing the pipes and the pumps to finish the wells, to dedicate the well and teach proper use, to celebrate this blessing of clean water. 

Any amount small or large will help to fund this 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