We traveled down dirt roads filled with holes and rocks, crossed over rivers and passed by a chimpanzee rehabilitation area where not too long ago some tourists were killed by a group of angry chimpanzees.
Our well sites were functioning but you could quickly see upon an inspection which communities really valued the pumps and will likely keep them working for years to come. It all stems back to attitude and how they think of themselves. As in any society you have some that expect help without putting forth the effort to help themselves. All of our projects have a few of these and that's part of working in the developing world, but most have the right outlook and desire to help themselves on top of what we are able to provide.
It seems that the responses from the various areas are unanimous; the pump has eliminated sickness like cholera and diarrhea, and the extra savings in time the kids now enjoy because they're not fetching water is being spent on their studies.
One of the areas we visited was in a slum. We walked through a filthy, muddy path and over a dirty river to enter a sea of people in some of the most destitute states of poverty I've seen. Flies were all over the food in the market place lined with the throw away pieces of wood and tin that the poor market places got rid of. There seemed to be a more somber feeling in the area but the kids were still smiling, laughing, and playing with sticks and rocks. They looked sick and many had bloated stomachs from malnutrition. While the others were talking I slipped to the side and made funny faces and the kids giggled. It is amazing what light kids can bring into any situation.
We found out that someone said the water was salty so without testing it themselves everyone else took it as gospel and they've only been using the pump for laundry and not drinking. We knew it wasn't right because we had the water tested not to long ago and it was approved for drinking. Brother Turay pumped it and took a drink and said this doesn't taste salty. By this time people had seen the "white man" so they all gathered around the well. Another man stepped forward and took a drink and said he didn't taste any salt, then a woman came forward and tasted it. She turned to the large group and said "No salt!"
Everyone talked amongst themselves and the word started to spread. It was an interesting lesson for me to see first hand how groups of people in destitute poverty operate. A rumor from one person spreads like wild fire and is unwisely believed without any further evidence. I've been told about this phenomenon but never have seen it face to face. No fact finding, no study, just automatic assumption. I can see why unrighteous dictators prey on the poor and all too often find success.
On our way out of the slum we were stopped by a group that claimed they were collecting a local tax which the government is really doing at checkpoints along the road. The African brothers I was with knew they were just thugs trying to weasel money out of people. They smelt like alcohol and drugs and were literally left over rebels from the civil war. The exchange of words got heated because Turay wouldn't pay the tax to these guys. The water committee chairman happened to be walking by and started in the argument and pleaded with them to let us go because we are the ones who brought them water. They still wouldn't budge. They could see that they had a white man and thus could most likely intimidate and get some money.
Brother Turay is not someone to mess with and I felt like he would have given his life for me if needed. He has a short temper and carries a lot of authority because of his success in the country. He is 39 years old and is short and thick. At any rate he was about to bite the heads off of these guys and then all of the sudden the wire fence dropped and a little hole opened on the left side. Toray motioned for me to move quickly and I did. Once I was on the other side I knew they would lose their leverage. Even though I was safe now and their leverage was lost Turay still had to give them a piece of his mind through a lot of animation and yelling. It was very tense and I looked around for any guns or knives that might pop out but thankfully they were too poor to have any weapons (I think). I went over to some young men that were watching with wide eyes and I talked about how the world needs nice people and not trouble makers. I'm not sure if they understood but I hope they could see that they didn't want to grow up to be like that.
It was interesting because I never felt threatened or nervous. I KNEW from the peace I felt inside that everything would work out. All I can say is that it is nice to be out here on the Lord's errand and thus be entitled to his protection.
I have no doubt in my mind that this is the Lord's work and no puny arm is going to stop it from rolling forward and filling the earth.
Love ~ Matt
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