Today we had our traditional coordinator-to-coordinator lunch. Each trip Theresa and Jen get together and discuss openly any issues there are with the project, recognizing that keeping the lines of communication clear is essential to the success of this whole endeavor. Without fail we come away from these meetings reminded of how very lucky we are to have Theresa.
At lunch Theresa talked about how, now that she is part of the NGO scene, she is friendly with a number of project coordinators and/or funders. Several funders who have come to visit the Living Compassion project have joked with Theresa that they wish they could clone her to come head up their projects. Other project coordinators have told her they marvel at her ability to be part of the community while also providing strong leadership. We agreed that having someone head a project who is FROM the compound is essential; it is just so rare to find someone who has all the skills to pull that off. We are blessed indeed.
Theresa at lunch.
Yesterday we had bought new spigots for the water taps on the property. We discovered that both leaky taps and inattention when people are filling buckets were contributing to the water run-off problem. We purchased spigots that require someone to hold them down in order to dispense water. It is a good design—attention wanders from the task of filling your bucket, spigot goes off. If only more things in life could follow this example!
When we arrived in Kantolomba, Friday had already finished installing the spigots and they were in use (yes, we managed to contract with him for this job—yea!). Very satisfying to get little, yet significant, items like this taken care of.
The new taps in use.
However, life not wanting us to be bored, just after Friday left, a pipe burst and water came pouring out from underground. It was in that moment that we discovered there is no cut-off valve for the whole water system!
Water quickly bubbling up.
We called Friday back and he generously put other plans aside to come rescue us.
Nothing is ever wasted—the women catch the leaking water to use for the garden.
Friday arrives to save the day.
Soon after Friday arrived Muyunda, without being asked, jumped in to assist. Funny, just about everyone, on either side of the Atlantic, who ends up being a part of the Living Compassion team is someone who enjoys helping where help is needed—which points at a recent peace quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson: “The world belongs to the enthusiastic.” So true.
Muyunda assisting with the repair.
They unearth the break.
One of the beautiful things about monastic training is that everyone is taught to do everything. Perhaps we do not all reach the same level of expertise, but we have a sense of all the workings of running the Monastery. Mama Cheri having gone home, Jen’s basic knowledge of plumbing came in very handy in negotiating with Friday about the next steps.
Consulting on the fix.
Meanwhile, over at the hammermill building, things were cruising along. The men estimate they will be finished with the brickwork by tomorrow. Now that is satisfying!
The hammermill construction site.
And things were equally productive in the sewing room. They are shooting to complete 70 baby blankets before Jasmine leaves next week.
Josephine helping Gertrude with the Juki machine.
Piles of completed blankets.
Here is one of those stop-to-take-it-in moments. A year ago we did not know Jasmine existed; we did not have industrial sewing machines; we did not have any idea how we would ever go from the cooperative making a little money off small orders we place from time-to-time to being a fully functioning business. There are still many steps to take, but this has been a huge leap!
Later in the afternoon we had a board meeting to look at some details of the items we discussed in our whole cooperative meeting on Monday before Cheri left. First, Jen demonstrated an English lesson she created on a digital recorder we will leave with them. Technology is providing us with endless possibilities for new programs. We have recorded simple English words and phrases, and both the students and adults will take time each day to listen to the recordings and practice.
Jen demonstrates the English lesson.
Everyone is very game to jump right in.
After the meeting all went back to work. By the end of the day the men had completed the first trial window and we are all thrilled with the results! People are very excited about having proper windows in their homes. A wonderful side benefit that we had not thought of is, now that people will have some good ventilation, they are talking about mudding over the small spaces between the walls and the rafters that used to be sources of precious air but also invitations to mosquitoes. We are doing our calculations to see how much it will cost to put two windows in each house (cross ventilation) and will let you know—an excellent funding opportunity.
The first completed window.
The leak was fixed as well AND just before leaving for the day we got to greet some of the young women who will be part of the girls’ program that starts tomorrow. Wow, some days things just all come together.
The fixed pipe.
Beatrice and Jen with the young women.