Another Update from Gesuba

Today is Friday and the end of a really busy and productive week.

Today we went back to Waraza.   The building of this site commenced in March and we went back there on Tuesday but just before we arrived, one of the citizens had passed away so people were busy paying their respects.   Today everyone was back working on one of the reservoirs.   Everyone was delighted to see Yalew and I and they were very hospitable.   It was a really humbling experience to be so welcomed again and to be thanked so much for bringing them clean water - something that should be just a given.   It’s the first time I have ever been hugged by a man here.   Men and women shake hands but only hug if they are family.    Today I was hugged by one man who is a community leader and by several women.  and again, there were tears and blessings.

Yalew and I could have driven back to Addis Ababa yesterday because we had achieved so much and set up new builds, but we decided to stay for two more days to visit Dalbaza and Waraza a second time.  It has been a good investment of our time to create trust, to encourage people and to reassure them that we truly care.  This is especially for the workers at the council’s water office who are the meat in the sandwich.     Dawitt from the water office said he has had a few phone calls from the people in Mirgo and Gumbo -  the communities  we visited on Wednesday and  for which we have signed a contract to upgrade and rebuild their water sources.   The people in these two communities were concerned that we were just joking around with them as other organisations have done in the past.   Dawitt reassured them that we are committed and that the work will be done - he could only do this because we have spent time with him and he has seen how we operate.

Tomorrow we go to Addis Ababa - it is an entire day’s drive. I arrive in istanbul on Tuesday morning and come home a week or so later.

Many thanks to the board of WFAV - we can be proud of what we do

Serving others

Catherine