This past week we had the opportunity to visit a very remote village and LDS Charities had drilled several wells in the area and they had a celebration for the handover of these wells (they call them BOREHOLES here. There is no power here, so they put a very large hand pump that they have to use to pump water into buckets. Then the women put the buckets on their heads and carry them that way for up to 5 miles. The men don't do this, just the women. Elder and Sister Bean from the Seattle area was in charge and it was a wonderful event. The people there do not have any idea what the LDS Church is, but they love it now!!!!.
They had a big wig there from their Council, and they wanted to donate some land for a Church there if the Church would build.
While we were there school was in session and we visited a couple class rooms. Sister Heck loved it, and she jumped in and started correcting their math. They were also learning English, and writing skills. They had excellent penmanship. They were all so cute and they loved our white skin. The building was so worn down and dilapidated, but they were making do with what they had.
Notice the one kid in the front row that had they white skin. Albinos are quite common here, but the sun is so intense that they really struggle.
We took their picture on our camera and showed it to them and they were all giggling and carrying on. It was the first time that most of them had seen themselves in picture form.
This is the outside of the school building, and as you can see it is in very poor condition, but they have nothing whatsoever, so it is better than nothing.
We used the building to store some of the staples that they were handing out to the graduates of the hygiene classes.
We recruited 4 missionaries to help us unload all the the stuff that was being donated. There was an entire truck load of stuff that was donated. After they unloaded this stuff they had to stand guard by each door and make sure that they were not raided by various individual. I believe that happened at other celebrations.
Dancing was a big thing at this celebration, and every village had their own group. It was just like National Geographic Magazine, only everyone had their clothes on. The singing and dancing was terrific.
The school kids were so excited to have us there, and couldn't wait to get their pictures taken. We looked at their school work and it was excellent. Their hand printing was excellent and they were working on math, addition, subtraction, multiplication, it was all good and correct. Very primitive class room with little or no supplies.
These were the matriarch women from various villages and they were so attentive to us and wanted to shake our hands. If you passed by one of them without shaking their hand they would get upset and made motions that you should come back and shake their hand. They all sat on the ground with their feet straight out for 3 hours straight. Some of these women were very very old, but did not show their age. Many of them walked for several miles and were barefooted.
We handed out to each graduate that took the hygiene class a several gift items that include 2 long bars of laundry soap, a wash cloth, comb, tooth past, toothbrush, and other items that tickled each one of them to receive. The also received cookies, and juice.Man, what a day!!
More of our new found friends.
MORE DANCING, SINGING AND FUN SKITS!!!!
Margie Phiefer would have been so proud of the dance that she did at our farewell because they made noise with their mouth just like Margie. We thought of home and the good time we had there.
