August 6, 2009 - “I know I’m blessed so then why aren’t the rest…”

I must say, my favourite times on this trip are when we visit projects. Today was great. Even though we were still tired from yesterday’s big drive, the day was invigorating.

First, an update on the view at Nkhatabay…yes, it was beautiful.

(Above) The view at Nkhatabay

The guys picked us up and we went directly to the CPAR office in Chinteche. It was great to see the familiar faces from our 2007 visit (Allan, Jericho) and to meet the new folks (Laban, James, and Venge). After a debrief of the current projects, Allan and Laban took us to Chilala School where CPAR has built new latrines, handwash stations, and drilled a borehole well. It was a beautiful little school. Although the kids are on holidays right now, they all came to be there for our visit. While Dwight was interviewing the Headmaster, village elders, a few students, and touring the new facilities, I was chatting with one of the teachers Boyce Mhone (not sure of spelling) over where the kids were sitting. He told me the new facilities have really improved conditions at the school and for the whole community because others are benefitting from the borehole well too. He said school attendance is up, and everyone is happier and healthier. He’s such a nice man. And the kids were fun too.

Keeping in mind the noise incident from a few days ago, I resisted taking my camera out until I got the all clear that filming was completed. In the meantime, with Boyce’s help translating, I asked if the kids had any questions for me. They were pretty shy but managed to ask some about where I am from, my name, etc. Kids are the same everywhere…The little ones were all up front, excited to participate. The older girls were sitting a little off to the side, interested but not as animated as the kids. Then, there were the teenage boys sitting way at the back looking cool. When Dwight was finished with the formal business he came over and joined us and sent the kids into a frenzy by filming them. Ha ha! It was time to go so we sang a song for them and then said goodbye. I’m loving, playing music for these folks.

 (Above) Boyce and the kids at Chilala

After a delicious lunch of stews and nsema at a little place in town called Mum’s, we headed to our next project visit…a community borehole. The people greeted us in song, which was really nice, and then we met with the Water Point Committee under a big tree. They are a well organized group and gave a great report of the work they do.

The next stop was a really interesting one. It was to a borehole well where the pump had stopped functioning. Today though, CPAR had an Area Mechanic working to restore it. It looked like hard work and it was pretty hot out in the open sun, but the guys finally got it going. A bunch of people had gathered around while the work was underway and there was lots of cheering and excitement when water poured from the pump. I was a few feet away in the back of the truck entertaining a bunch of little kids and felt quite emotional when I saw how happy everyone was. We take for granted that we can just turn on the tap in our house for clean water and here people are so grateful to have water within easy walking distance to their home. The country goal is to have water stations available every 500 metres. That’s considered good…yikes, can you imagine if we had to walk that far for water?

(Above) My view from the “mainstage” at the borehole.

It occurred to me today that I almost feel like I am getting used to seeing very poor people and it kind of scares me. It’s a bit hard to describe what I mean…I don’t want to feel complacent about it because it is so wrong. I believe there is enough money in the world so no one has to live in poverty but the distribution of it is the problem.

We checked into our hotel around 5 or 5:30pm. We are now staying at the same place as we did in 2007. It’s right on the lake and we love it here. We went for a walk along the beach and then for a drink before dinner, where from the porch, we watched an incredible full moon start off with an orange glow that turned to silver, casting the most beautiful carpet of glitter on the lake. The dining room is in a thatched roofed, open-sided structure overlooking the lake. This lodge caters to Malawians so the food is traditional fare. I had chicken, nsema, and greens, while Dwight had chambo (fish), rice, and greens. 

Not sure if I mentioned yet that the weather here is similar to what we had in Tanzania…warm during the day but chilly in the morning and at night. I’m not minding these cool evenings one bit…there are definitely fewer insects than when it is warmer! We did have a cute little gecko in our room when we first got there but he scurried out pretty quickly.