Fence Project

The Gate

Here's a bit of progress in case you had trouble imagining what the project was going to look like.  We'll run a water line across the road and put a trough by the fence so we can keep a few cows in there.  It needs some brush clearing, so grab your gloves and come on down (or know to stay away until it's finished--depends on your attitude about fence work).

Fenceline

Wide Spot

Since Amy has so much trouble backing the trailer into the alley into the barn pens, I'm building a wide spot in the road/turnaround which will include a gate into Nettie's pasture.  You still have to use your imagination a little, but this picture is taken standing in the barn looking down the alley and across the lane.  The 2 middle posts will have a 12-foot gate about 50 feet into the pasture, and the fence will go back to the original fence line along the lane at about a 45-degree angle.  The shorter posts are just braces for the gateposts.  Note the mud from a 2.5-inch rain Monday and Tuesday.

MAJI!

Holly and I returned to Angel House in Tanzania in early March for the purpose of completing the water project begun in December 2012.  On the March trip a solar-powered submersible pump was installed in the orphanage well, finally replacing the daily “bucket brigade” which had required each child to carry 3 buckets of water from the hand pump-equipped well.  

Pumping

Maji

First we filled every available bucket (and a pan for the cow) then technicians removed the hand pump, installed the submersible and hooked up the solar panels.  Connections were made to the pipeline laid by the volunteer team in December to fill the 5000-liter storage tank, and we, along with the orphanage staff and younger children, ran around back and listened excitedly as the first water gurgled through the pipes and splashed into the tank.  A solar-powered UV filtration/purification system was installed at the orphanage kitchen, providing water for cooking and drinking that no longer needs to be boiled.  

...and its replacement

The kitchen water boiling pot...

Pipes were installed from the tank to the boys’ and girls’ bathrooms, bringing running water to replace the bucket-filled storage tanks there.  A future water project could easily install sinks for hand washing and showers if desired.  A line was run from the tank to the girls’ hostel bathroom, eliminating the need for the girls to carry buckets to the storage tank there, and a line was run to the school kitchen to provide water during the dry season when no rainwater is available.  The hand pump that was removed from the orphanage well was installed on the farm well, which had previously been accessed by means of a bucket lowered on a rope.

The rainwater harvesting system installed at the school by the volunteer team in December was completed by the installation of a solar-powered UV filtration/purification system at the school kitchen, along with non-purified spigots for non-drinking purposes.  I got to address 2 science classes to explain the various parts of the systems, and worked with some of the students and the principal on repairing some minor damage to the buried pipe that had occurred.  I think the rainwater system serves as a model for future such projects, illustrating how simply one can be implemented by untrained volunteers.

 

Rainwater downspout

Purification system

The children and staff of Angel House and Angel Secondary join Holly and me in thanking all who supported the water project with prayers, contributions and volunteer labor.  God clearly acted through you to improve the lives of these future leaders of Tanzania.