Ato Markos reported from rural Maji District this week. At the end of May, work actually began, and this week the crew unspooled pipe and ran it down the hillside to waiting communities. Markos texted, “The people cheered with joy!”
I’m going to give you a photo-rich report of the wonderful and shocking progress that the construction crew, led by Ato Markos (MDC Program Manager) and Wzt Helen (District Water Engineer), accomplished in the last three months. But first, let me say that this only happened because Ato Markos pushed and pushed thanklessly behind the scenes for two years, without any real evidence of progress. Finally, in late May the blockages broke.
Let me also add that the last time I talked with Ato Markos he asked me to give his own special thanks to the individuals and churches that made this project possible. He is deeply grateful for the chance he has had, through your generosity and prayers, to change the lives of his people. They have been climbing the steep hillsides and carrying home water for generations. Now we have brought the water to them. Priceless!
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- Getting a washed-out bridge replaced in a poor, rural corner of Ethiopia took all of Ato Markos’s skill, credibility, and persistence. When it got done, finally, trucks could carry supplies to the construction site!
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- The Maji District officials arranged for other road repair as well, but heavy rains were sometimes too much on a road that was graded, but not graveled.
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- Wzt Helen inspected the water pipes, trucked in from Addis Ababa, 500 miles away.
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- The spring was bubbling up at the base of this ancient tree. The tree, the soil and the water are all part of the hydrolic environment of this spring. Community members helped trim back one piece of root.
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- This is the spring! It hardly looks like a spring, but our Ethiopian water engineers, Ato Feteheign and Wzt Helen promised it could supply water for 2000 people!
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- The construction team was proud of the job they did to protect the spring from contamination.
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- Next, the reservoir site was chosen, and Ato Markos (in the cap) worked with the crew to dig its base.
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- Helen inspected the reservoir as the walls were built up. (Community members collected and delivered the stones.)
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- Skilled Ethiopian cement workers plastered the reservoir so it would hold water.
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- The reservoir had to be plastered inside, as well.
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- The water will be delivered by pipes running from the reservoir to eight “water points” like this one. Women can wash clothes here, on the table, and only carry drinking and cooking water home.
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- Pushing sunset, the crew is still working on building a lid for the reservoir. Ato Markos, wearing the cap, is first to arrive, last to leave, like a good leader!
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- The crew unspooled the pipe along the road so people could enjoy “first fruits” of the project.
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- It’s hooked up to the reservoir!
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- This is the first day in these children’s lives that water has come to them—they do not have to climb into the forest with their mothers to find the water and carry it home!
With Ato Markos, the MDC board also thanks you for your generous giving that made it possible to buy materials and hire skilled Ethiopians to bring development to these rural communities in Maji District!
