Praise the LORD! He sent the rain early. ASANTE MUNGU!!

It has been since the 1st week in May 2011 that Dodoma and it's surrounding semi-arid areas had experienced rainfall. Well, We want to say thanks to all our supporters and those who  were praying diligently for the LORD to send the rains. He did!! and we are thankful. The 1st rain came on November 7th, 2011. Even though it rained  for only 1 day, but the dams have already captured so much water ( Please see pictures below).   

Our newest village ( Chololo) is still waiting for the rain.

Note: Please double click pictures to enlarge

Clouds forming in Chololo (Nov.14th, 2011) still no rain here yet.

Water from the well pump at Kawawa, Zuzu

A young girl getting water from the Sejeseje well in Chididimo

Clear water (Maji Safi Sana!!) from the well at Soweto, Zuzu village

Water from the 1st rain (Nov.7th 2011) at Kawawa, Zuzu

Children getting water from the well  at Sejeseje, Chididimo

Ed Lloyd helping to install the well pump at Soweto, Zuzu

Water in the sand river at Soweto, Zuzu after 1st rain on Nov.7th, 2011

Woman smiling pricelessly as she gets water from the Soweto well

Our newest Sand Dam site: Chololo village

About Chololo village:

 This village is located about 46km out side of Dodoma town (15 km from the Dar el Salaam road)
Population: 4,000
Water sources: 2 sand rivers where water is collected by digging about 3 or 4 meters in the sand. The water from the sand rivers come in late November (beginning of the short raining season) and is usually dried up by  late June, leaving people to travel about 5-8 km to the nearest water source (a well pump) .

Problem with water:

• The only source of water, a well pump has been out of sorts for the past 4 years.

      · Insufficient water

· They have a bore hole but it is not working due to the old infrastructure.  It was  built in 1972 but has not been working since 2006. Need 11 million tsh (6,500 usd) to fix. Have a donor who will contribute 8 million and village needs to contribute 3 million (2,000 usd).

·Have a well at Jamhuri but it goes dry during the dry season.

·Working with other partners in water Ahamadia, Wana, and a Muslim organization.

Why do they want a sand dam?

·Because they need water throughout the year.  

Crops that are grown:

•  millet, maize, groundnuts, sunflower, mafuta.
• Average yields- 2-3 bags per acre.
  
  
  
  

  

  Surveying the Chololo Sand River

  

  

  The trench dug at about 10 ft deep

                                                       

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  Carts and containers used for carrying and storing water

  
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• Terracing the land at Chololo sand dam site to help protect the dam walls (10/4/2011)
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  Women working together

  
  
  

   SPECIAL THANKS!!!

  Special thanks to Ed and Debra LLoyd of Omega International who supported us in installing the well-pump at Chololo and also helping to service the broken pump at Chididimo, and Zuzu --at NO charge!! We know that this help came from the Lord because of their selfless attitude and their caring Spirit. What a blessing Ed and Debra has been.  We praise the Lord for them and we thank them so much for their demonstration of Jesus'  love to the people in the communities around Dodoma.

                        
  

  
• Ed and Debra Lloyd of Omega Int'l

 



Ed Lloyd supervising the installment of the afri-dev pump

 

LET THE CELEBRATION BEGIN!!!!!!!!!!!

Bishop Amos Celebrating with the people of Chololo

Celebration walk and Dance to the Site



And the celebreation continues in Chololo with traditional dancing