And the sun shone brightly in the west... by Melody Rockwell
Swaziland Safe Water Project -- sponsored by substantial grants from the Episcopal Church United Thank Offering Gifts and Trust Fund and the Episcopal Waters of Hope with generous gifts from the Iowa Safe Water International Ministries and the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa, parishes and individuals...
On Wednesday, September 30, the Swaziland Safe Water Ministry team headed once again into cold misty weather. White clouds shrouded the hilltops. We arrived a 
little early at Ekupheleni, one of Orma Mavimbela's feeding places for orphans, a Neighborhood Care Point. We were greeted warmly by the woman who was preparing food for the children in large iron kettles over an open fire in a wood shed with a dirt floor. Her little girl regarded us shyly while clutching her toy lion. [When I showed her the photo I had taken of her, she didn't realize she was in the picture, but smiled brightly when she recognized her beloved lion.] Only two other people were present, so the team strolled across the makeshift soccer field noting the garden with large cabbages and the water system; well, water tank, tap.
Gradually, people began to arrive and within half an hour, a circle of 11 women and two men congregated around the demonstration table. Following introductions, the trainees began to involve the local community members in a discussion of their water situation. The people noted that diarrhea is a chronic, pervasive problem in their community, particularly for the children. Although the nearby school has water, one of its bore holes (wells) has gone dry, and most of the students and their families do not have water available at their homesteads. The children are often delayed in getting to class, because they have to walk quite a distance to fetch water for their families first. Rural water taps are available, but cost 10 Rand a month to use. That is more than many people can afford, so they rely on river water. They also expressed their awareness of how safe water and health are related; many use bleach to treat their water when they have the money, and when they don't, they use untreated water.
The trainees noted that there was real excitement and interest among the people of Ekupheleni in learning more about the chlorinator. The health maintenance worker, a vigorous and energetic older woman, was particularly vocal about the difference a chlorinator could make f
or their community. She suggested using the Neighborhood Care Point as a dispensing station for the chlorine. Many people in the circle related that they had heard about the chlorinator and wanted to see how it worked. After the SSWM team demonstrated the chlorinator, one large man leaped to his feet and volunteered to be first in his community to make chlorine. He was delighted and the women were impressed that his first attempt was successful: a warm chlorine solution with a strong bleach aroma. Two women were also triumphant in making chlorine.
Then a setback occurred when the health maintenance worker and a young woman teamed up to make chlorine. The battery failed to generate current. I asked later if that dissuaded those present from wanting a chlorinator. No, the trainees reported. The people had seen what the chlorinator could do and everyone understood that sometimes batteries go flat. The women also knew right away when the process wasn't working and had pointed the problem out to the trainees.
The Ekupheleni gathering expressed excitement about letting everyone in their area know about chlori
nator benefits, including demonstrating it to the chief in their area. One woman brought a large bucket of water to be chlorinated. The session ended with the Swazis in the circle singing a beautiful song and trainee Dumsane offering an impassioned prayer of thanks and praise to God in Siswati. One didn't need to understand the language to feel the presence of the Holy Spirit in our midst and the strength of the little community gathered there as the clouds lifted and the sun shone brightly in Ekupheleni.
On Wednesday, September 30, the Swaziland Safe Water Ministry team headed once again into cold misty weather. White clouds shrouded the hilltops. We arrived a 
little early at Ekupheleni, one of Orma Mavimbela's feeding places for orphans, a Neighborhood Care Point. We were greeted warmly by the woman who was preparing food for the children in large iron kettles over an open fire in a wood shed with a dirt floor. Her little girl regarded us shyly while clutching her toy lion. [When I showed her the photo I had taken of her, she didn't realize she was in the picture, but smiled brightly when she recognized her beloved lion.] Only two other people were present, so the team strolled across the makeshift soccer field noting the garden with large cabbages and the water system; well, water tank, tap.
Gradually, people began to arrive and within half an hour, a circle of 11 women and two men congregated around the demonstration table. Following introductions, the trainees began to involve the local community members in a discussion of their water situation. The people noted that diarrhea is a chronic, pervasive problem in their community, particularly for the children. Although the nearby school has water, one of its bore holes (wells) has gone dry, and most of the students and their families do not have water available at their homesteads. The children are often delayed in getting to class, because they have to walk quite a distance to fetch water for their families first. Rural water taps are available, but cost 10 Rand a month to use. That is more than many people can afford, so they rely on river water. They also expressed their awareness of how safe water and health are related; many use bleach to treat their water when they have the money, and when they don't, they use untreated water.
The trainees noted that there was real excitement and interest among the people of Ekupheleni in learning more about the chlorinator. The health maintenance worker, a vigorous and energetic older woman, was particularly vocal about the difference a chlorinator could make f
or their community. She suggested using the Neighborhood Care Point as a dispensing station for the chlorine. Many people in the circle related that they had heard about the chlorinator and wanted to see how it worked. After the SSWM team demonstrated the chlorinator, one large man leaped to his feet and volunteered to be first in his community to make chlorine. He was delighted and the women were impressed that his first attempt was successful: a warm chlorine solution with a strong bleach aroma. Two women were also triumphant in making chlorine.
Then a setback occurred when the health maintenance worker and a young woman teamed up to make chlorine. The battery failed to generate current. I asked later if that dissuaded those present from wanting a chlorinator. No, the trainees reported. The people had seen what the chlorinator could do and everyone understood that sometimes batteries go flat. The women also knew right away when the process wasn't working and had pointed the problem out to the trainees.
The Ekupheleni gathering expressed excitement about letting everyone in their area know about chlori
nator benefits, including demonstrating it to the chief in their area. One woman brought a large bucket of water to be chlorinated. The session ended with the Swazis in the circle singing a beautiful song and trainee Dumsane offering an impassioned prayer of thanks and praise to God in Siswati. One didn't need to understand the language to feel the presence of the Holy Spirit in our midst and the strength of the little community gathered there as the clouds lifted and the sun shone brightly in Ekupheleni.
posted by Mission Team ~ Iowa at
7:56 AM
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