By Ed Scharlau

Our day today will be one well visit and a drive back to Mekele.  As we went off road we changed to high clearance pickups as there was areas of deep ruts, many protruding rocks (sort of had to think I was on a bucking bronco horse) for about 4 miles.  One pickup became unable to continue as a rock was under the axle so several rode in the back.  Then our walk was another 2 plus miles.

In this picture you can see the rain clouds gathering on the horizon.  We are deep into the rainy season now, so the continual rains make getting to the projects a real logistical challenge.
 
 
As we were walking we observed that folks were gathering for a funeral and shared that our number of folks therefore would be less than normal.  
 
 
They were very hospitable with our reception.  Often the ladies preparing the coffee cermony in such a spot that I could not take a picture.  Note the coffee bean grinder. We had pictures of the water committee and a demonstration of the maintenance of the well and I took a video and from start to finish with water again being pumped – about eight minutes.   This next picture shows the spare parts and the tool needed to disassemble and reassemble the pump.  The water project is designed for low maintenance that the water committee can perform themselves, especially since the town is far away and would not have the parts anyway.
 
 
I asked how many people the well would serve and response was about 400 families with an average of about 7 or 8 so the well benefit about 3,000.  Large farm families just like we had in America when farming was more physical labor.  Our recorded information is that it would serve 250 and that is because the goal is to serve a walking distance of about a mile from the well however until more are built the service area will be at least three miles in all directions at 50 plus pounds on the backs of the ladies.  
 
 
This elder spoke with great passion about the thanks for the community for the precious gift of clean disease free water and thanks for coming all the way from America.  He spoke about we are all God’s children and need to care for one another.  He hopes that his community will now prosper more as it has been through so much strive.  
 
 
This young man asked to converse with me in English to the delight of all.  He has completed high school and will go the University this fall following Ethiopian New Years on September 11th
 
 
Wanted to share the switch backs.   The farmers are very ingenious in their farming methods in the mountains.   Have a site visit in the AM and then back to town and to the airport to Addis Ababa and on my way home.  

 By Ed Scharlau

Our day today will be one well visit and a drive back to Mekele.  As we went off road we changed to high clearance pickups as there was areas of deep ruts, many protruding rocks (sort of had to think I was on a bucking bronco horse) for about 4 miles.  One pickup became unable to continue as a rock was under the axle so several rode in the back.  Then our walk was another 2 plus miles.

In this picture you can see the rain clouds gathering on the horizon.  We are deep into the rainy season now, so the continual rains make getting to the projects a real logistical challenge.
 
 
As we were walking we observed that folks were gathering for a funeral and shared that our number of folks therefore would be less than normal.  
 
 
They were very hospitable with our reception.  Often the ladies preparing the coffee cermony in such a spot that I could not take a picture.  Note the coffee bean grinder. We had pictures of the water committee and a demonstration of the maintenance of the well and I took a video and from start to finish with water again being pumped – about eight minutes.   This next picture shows the spare parts and the tool needed to disassemble and reassemble the pump.  The water project is designed for low maintenance that the water committee can perform themselves, especially since the town is far away and would not have the parts anyway.
 
 
I asked how many people the well would serve and response was about 400 families with an average of about 7 or 8 so the well benefit about 3,000.  Large farm families just like we had in America when farming was more physical labor.  Our recorded information is that it would serve 250 and that is because the goal is to serve a walking distance of about a mile from the well however until more are built the service area will be at least three miles in all directions at 50 plus pounds on the backs of the ladies.  
 
 
This elder spoke with great passion about the thanks for the community for the precious gift of clean disease free water and thanks for coming all the way from America.  He spoke about we are all God’s children and need to care for one another.  He hopes that his community will now prosper more as it has been through so much strive.  
 
 
This young man asked to converse with me in English to the delight of all.  He has completed high school and will go the University this fall following Ethiopian New Years on September 11th
 
 
Wanted to share the switch backs.   The farmers are very ingenious in their farming methods in the mountains.   Have a site visit in the AM and then back to town and to the airport to Addis Ababa and on my way home.