Today was unbelievable. Last night I fervently prayed that God open hearts and the way to get potable water to these people. We went back to Brondal Settlement to see their water source. What we found was unconscionable.
To get water, the people must walk across the road and down a deep incline. So they walk down with empty containers and climb up with heavy containers of water.
This man had 2 large containers and had to stop for a rest before climbing the rest of the way out.
Next they must cut through the dense sugar cane field which is wet, uneven and slippery.
They finally get to the source of water where they draw it up to wash clothes and to take home for cooking and drinking.
This is not a spring. It is water run off the road down hill through the cane fields. Many people get sick from it. But it is all they have.
They carry it in back of the cane,
back up the hill to their settlement.
We stopped by to visit "Given" who wrote, "Never give up," on his door and
asked to see the inside of his dwelling. It was clean and orderly. We
let him know we were inspired by his message of determination.
And his bedroom. Though the floor is dirt, he has covered it with
plastic. It stormed last night
which sent water streaming through all
these little dwellings. Given had already cleaned his up before going off
to work in the forest.
I heard wrong about their pay. Their minimum wage is 80 Rands a day which is not quite $7.00 a day in USD. And they do not get food.
Zanele's "house" is somewhat larger as she has 2 children and mother who live with her.
Her kitchen area. Again with dirt floors.
It is a amazing how they manage to keep it as neat and clean as they do with water being such a problem.
We took 3 community leaders into Nelspruit in search of a well & pump company to inquire about a hand pump being installed on their bore head so they could have water IN the settlement and it be a healthy and drinkable water source.
A man named Peter answered his cell and I explained what we needed. He said he was on holiday 1 1/2 hours away in Hazy View. I told him it was urgent that we meet with him today as a water pump needed to be installed immediately. He reluctantly said he would come meet us in 2 hours. We took the committee for a McDonald's which was a rare treat for them, while we waited for Peter, and discussed other survival needs.
Finally Peter showed and we met over bottled water. I plead with him to do the pump at a price we could afford and needed it installed within 2 days as we were leaving the area. We also showed him these photos. God touched his heart. Peter knew the well and said it was a strong and good well. He needed to go call to see if he could get the necessary parts and if so he would come tomorrow and have it running in 3 hours. I told him to please take his water and go. He would call me soon.
Meanwhile, we went to a store to get 15 solar lights to give the most needy. I asked the store manager for a discount and told him what we we were doing. He granted us almost 10 percent.
Peter called. The parts had to be ordered, but on faith and his wish to help, he went ahead and ordered them without money from us. And, he said to meet him at Brondal Settlement at 8:30 am tomorrow and he would bring enough fresh water to fill their 1 or 2 5,000 liter tanks. I was overwhelmed by his generosity. Then, he also said he would not charge labor. The water he delivers tomorrow will get them by until he gets the bore head fixed. God answered all my prayers from the night before "pressed down and spilling over."
But that is not the end of the story yet! When we came back to our lodge, the owners wanted to know how it went. After describing God's chain of events, Stephanie said to her husband Ian, "I Was going to speak to you about this, but I'm just going to say it." She turned to me and said,"you, CJ and Wayne have come here and opened our eyes to what we have become too complacent to see. We
are going to give you this week's lodging as our contribution. Your work has shown me what I as a Christian should be doing." I was overcome! God cannot be underestimated... He cannot be out given.
The 3 of us went to bed and fell into exhausted sleep. Stephanie also will be go in the morning to witness the people getting the water. And, knowing how important photos are to our work, she offered to take photos for us. I am still in a spin of wonderment.
Brondal Settlement does not have water OR electricity. We got 15 solar lights and took to them to the people.
I explained how to set them in the sun during the day and they would have at least 4 hours of light at night. They clapped their hands in amazement. The 15 most needy were chosen. One will go to Given to reward his determination not to give up. Afterwards, we told them about repairing the bore hole. They couldn't believe it, as this has not been functional since 2012! I also mentioned that they needed to clean up around the bore hole because it was overgrown with debris. Immediately, several got to work and cleaned it all out.
As a Mother, I am so very proud because helping these people with water and other urgent needs was CJ's idea. And donors to HHTH makes this all possible. The mark of American's generosity is flourishing here.
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