November 2016 took me back to Tanzania where i met some incredible people last year and blessed to be able to meet them again. Welcomed with open arms and like i had never left, the warmest of smiles and the happiest of faces, i could not have felt more loved and at home.
I had asked about being involved in a water project in Iringa Tanzania and what would be required for this to be constructed, in a much needed part of the country and in a village water was a real problem for the locals. Immediately i was advised on 3 separate locations where they had a massive need for clean water and that if i was able to help, then it would make an enormous impact on these people.
I went out to visit a village in Itagutwa and i was shown a location where they had water and what was currently being used as their source of bathing water, for cleaning clothes, drinking water and what was also a place, animals including donkeys, cattle, dogs all used and i was so shocked and upset by what i was seeing.
The state in which this water was, i was eager to get started on ensuring this project was complete during my time in the country. In the build up to my visit, i had already given the confirmation to begin work in the hope it would be completed whilst i was there.
Two key labourers had been assigned to this project, they had been trained up over the years and by US charities to carry out such work, but they were not alone. The importance of this Well had the villagers eager to help and complete this project. There were close 15 men all willing to help and this meant, collecting cement bags, digging up concrete rings to fit into the well hole and clearing out the existing water and clearing all the garbage that was filled in this hole.
The effort and determination was incredible, it was very clear to see that this Well meant so much to them and that they wanted this to be completed and in full working condition just as much as i did. From morning until late night they worked and not using machines and heavy equipment that we would expect, they manually dug up concrete, used their own bare hands to clear out the waste water full of excrement and worked with all their energy to make sure the work was done the best way they could.
The excitement in the village was felt immensely, without understanding the language from the children standing back watching the work, to people coming to the construction site and asking questions about what was happening and how was it possible, their faces told me everything i needed to know about how much this meant to them. They know the village has no money to be able to do this work on their own, how was this all happening and who was behind this work?
Although the locals had seen me turn up day after day, it was never made clear to them initially who i was and what i was doing there, because this was all to be revealed on completion of the Well.. As more developments were being made they had an idea of who i could be and that the Well may have something to do with me, but they couldn’t be too sure. Every visit i had people come up to me and shake my hand, welcome me to their village, wanted me to visit their home and have lunch or dinner or a simple cup of tea. They had no idea who i was they just saw me as their guest and welcomed me like their own family member and treated me like they had known me all their lives, it was the most precious feeling and so very satisfying that this project was being completed within this community with so much love and gratitude.
The atmosphere began to get some what warmer in gratitude, more united as the days went on and work progressed, more people wanted to get involved and support the cause and i was very excited to see progress being made and it made me so happy, the smiles on their faces as they could see the Well developing.
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