The Head Chief is putting on a sad face as he shows us the well is not functioning correctly
We were greeted at the airport by Lester and Lepherson who came to help us carry the luggage that would not fit into the compact car we have rented. I feel the affects of the last 36 hours and wish it was time to fall into a bed somewhere, but it is only early afternoon. Getting settled in for the two week stay is a must. The next morning bright and early we, head for the villages and meet with the friends that come to welcome us back. The first order on our agenda is to see to getting our wells running. This chief is always smiling, so we told him to put on his sad face for the picture. This is the big well we had drilled last December and it worked well during the rainy season. When the dry season came it was evident that it was not deep enought. It is at present waiting to be redrilled under warranty by the company plus another $1,000 for fuel? You come against all kinds of delays and bargaining pieces. This well produces a bucket an hour of water and during the rainy season should function better. Don got the company to go ahead and drill the new well and leave this one in place. A kind person agreed to donate the well head for the new well. Delays and phone calls later, it is supposed to be drilled on the 19th of Dec. The smaller well that was drilled at a neighboring village never functioned correctly due to the rainy season causing it to collapse. It too is supposed to be redrilled any day as a warranty job. We played soccer with the kids on our visits out to the villages over the next two weeks. My son donated balls to be given away. The problem is handing them to so many kids with their hands flailing in the air. The children will win your heart with their smiles and their constant happiness with the smallest of gifts. David’s grandaughter made bracelets to be given away and the children were so excited to receive them. We will leave Malawi with the wells still not pumping water. We thought to stay a few days to ensure the work got done. That would have been a mistake as it has been almost 2 months with no results.
We hired a (geologist) to help us find a good spot for the well to be dug.