by Barbara Joye | Mar 4, 2014 | AFRICA 2014-JANUARY-MARCH
In all my life I could never have imagined that a water cistern would become a ‘beautiful sight’. But in ways that are nothing short of God given and mysterious, I am now moved to tears by the Grandfather Cistern taking form in Kyaseni Village. Mr. Antony Ngowi donated a piece of his precious land where the cistern is taking form, to ‘honor his father and his father’s father and their fathers’. He is deeply happy to be an important part of gifting the Uru community with clean water. He is also providing a watchful eye during construction, as well as a wide smile and a warm embrace, to all who come to visit and marvel at the cistern taking form. The circular cistern has become a symbol of hope and an affirmation of perseverance for not only the surrounding community, but for recent visitors, too. Our friends and partners in a new water borehole project being developed in Kikatiti stood quietly with us during a recent tour, imagining such a reality for the families and school kids challenged by drought and high fluoride in their Meru mountain area. Long time partners Rev. Sandy and Jean from Eau Claire Wisconsin came a long way too, to stand at the cistern. They were reminded once again that the part they and their church community have played over the years through prayer and fundraising, has created health and hope for Uru people. On completion of the cistern, the amount of available clean water will double and be made available to twice as many people. So Jim and I come to watch...
by Barbara Joye | Feb 5, 2014 | AFRICA 2014-JANUARY-MARCH
On a recent visit to Alphonse’s Kyaseni village home, we were alerted to ‘something happening’ by the insistent barking of Simba, the watch dog. Simba is Swahili for ‘lion’, and Simba was living up to his name quite nobly, barking fiercely and straining at his leash. As Alphonse investigated further, he announced that ‘one of the pigs has escaped and is now free-range’. So we all rushed outside to congratulate Simba for his successful watch dogging, as well as to contemplate the situation of the runaway and now happily roaming pig. Alphonse was followed by Jean towards the pig, and I was amazed to see Jean take a position that looked like a linebacker’s stance getting ready to make a tackle. I grabbed a camera, since I was pretty certain my pig catching skills would be inadequate, and Rev. Sandy took up a safe position on the porch. First efforts to drive the pig towards the pen were fruitless, with the pig easily maintaining a safe distance from Alphonse and Jean. More aggressive efforts to corral the pig worked up a sweat (for the people, not the pig) but no progress was made until a group of school boys came along. Seeing the problem, the young men eagerly joined in the chase. With everyone working together, the pig was driven toward the pen but remained elusive, by running underneath the corral. Now cornered, the pig began squealing loudly and indignantly at his predicament. One young man saw his chance, went down on his belly and grabbed the pig’s hind legs. The pig was pulled into the open and the...
by Barbara Joye | Jan 28, 2014 | AFRICA 2014-JANUARY-MARCH
On arriving in Tanzania every year for our work trips, the first thought that comes to mind is “the mountain”. Our first glimpse of Mt. Kilimanjaro and it’s glaciered peak rising above the clouds is an anchoring image for us. It is Africa, it is our work, it is ‘home’. Kilimanjaro’s image has even greater impact for the people who live here. Ever present, she looms as a daily reminder, defining everyone who lives nearby or on her slopes as those who belong to the mountain. And she in turn provides for them, with countless fruits from the forests… with earth to grow vegetables in … and water from the glaciers. Children sing songs about this beautiful mountain, men tell stories of heroic adventures and women may know her best as the giver of water and life. But in recent years, the mountain has been struggling to provide for her children. Climate shifts have created rapid melting of the glaciers that have supplied water for a millienium to those who live here. It is a melting of such speed as to create a catastrophic loss of surface water and impairment to life. Struggling to keep up with the receding water, the walks for water became longer and longer, leaving the women and children exhausted, ill and impoverished. But the mountain has a long reach. In 2006 a story of Kilimanjaro’s people and their struggles for water reached a small group of friends in the USA and from their story… It Can Be Done was born. Working in partnership with the Uru East community, a grass roots beginning based on...
