Safe drinking water is life not death for many in a place
where over 80% of the children who die under the age of five die from water borne or
sanitation-related diseases. 211,750 people with safe drinking water in 6 weeks. This is
extraordinary, unbelievable. This is the fire that burns but does not consume. This is
holy ground.
It’s not easy to explain why those who go on our mission trips volunteer
to go again and again. Work starts at first light and ends after the sun sets. Its hot,
sweaty, dirty work. You move 110 pound bags of cement, pumps, pipe, down-hole parts and
people. You drive where there are no roads and bridges and then walk over rough terrain to
remote villages. Accommodations can be Spartan and sometimes there is not much to eat or
safe water to drink. So why would anyone volunteer again? I think it’s because of the
relationships and the friendships that develop and because by working together
hand-in-hand we make a difference - making our lives count.
The shallow well program becomes a part of those who participate in it. It
becomes a part of who we are. Through the shallow well program we become a part of each
other.
The shallow well program represents a light shining in the darkness to show us
the way. An example for others to follow.
In addition to shallow well installation, MMM volunteers taught workshops
attended by teachers from five schools (Embangweni, Etchiyeni, Kamwabombo, Thosa and
Chizimya) at the Embangweni Full Primary School library. The workshops emphasized Teaching
English as a Second Language, Health, Safety and AIDS education. MMM provided teacher
resource materials for the six weeks of workshops.
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