 Marion Medical MissionShallow Wells for Clean Water in Africa |
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| "And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward." | |||
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A Commemoration Ceremony was held on October 23, 2009 for
the ten thousandth well installed by Marion Medical Mission since the program started in
1990. MMM volunteers and the General Secretary
of the Synod of Livingstonia and other officials, traveled 60 kilometers from Mzuzu on the
scenic road to Usizya. When we stopped, we
were greeted by children singing and waving branches.
The remote village of JUMBO , in the new Bula Zone(each zone may have 50-200 wells
within the maintenance program) was the happy
recipient. As a result, 25 households (approximately 125 villagers) are now enjoying
access to clean safe water. As we hiked down the forest trail, we could see a perfectly constructed well and the village community waiting to have the pump and pipe installed. The sharp contrast of the muddy water stream where the village community drank from, visible below, reminded both Marion Medical Mission volunteers and the Synod of Livingstonia officials present, of the need for clean, safe water. The group village headman, accompanied by 4 other village headman who are the villages’ leaders within the zone, gathered and gave praise to the program. They had been among the ‘unreached’ by any organization providing water wells. |
| The group village headman and other speakers spoke of the
problems the community, particularly the children, suffered from drinking dirty
water..diarrhea, dysentery, cholera, death. This shallow well represents hope. Tom Logan spoke about the meaning of partnerships between the community and the zone within the maintenance program and of Marion Medical Mission and the Synods. It is a relationship of working together and the importance of sustainability. The Rev. Levi Nyondo, General Secretary of the Synod of Livingstonia in Malawi, emphasized the holistic ministry the church is focused on..schools, water, agriculture…to meet the physical needs as well as the spiritual needs of the people. When the pump and pipe was assembled and installed, the chairwoman of the shallow well committee pumped the first water and all gathered and cheered. The women whipped their tongue and made a shrill sound to express “joy”. Rev. Jeff Grote, from Illinois, dedicated the well to “The Glory of God”. |
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