Travel day is typically spent just relaxing in the morning and then heading to the airport a few hours before the flights. Today though we had to get to Adziwa and see if we had water pumping! I was up early trying to pack and organize. We all had breakfast together and then gathered our bags and prepared to say goodbye to the Kumbali staff. Everyone gathered in the driveway in front if the reception area and began giving hugs and thank yous. Once we were all seated it was time to bump down the long dirt driveway one last time.
I’m sure everyone was feeling a bit sad. I know we all are anxious to get back to our families, but goodbyes are hard no matter which side of the trip your on. At the end of the driveway we made the turn knowing all of our little friends would be there in the village waiting for us to walk through. Not today though…today we would only be able to wave from the bus. Sure enough a whole bunch of kids and mamas were standing near the road. When they saw it was our bus they started waving and cheering….I started to cry…I had held it all morning, but the sight of those people just did me in. I knew I was really going to miss this place.
The ride to Adziwa isn’t far, but everyone was quiet. I don’t think I was only one crying. We arrived and I couldn’t wait to get to the back field and see if there was actually a finished pump there!!! We were asked to go into the main hall first, but I asked if we could all go around back instead. James obliged and we all were happy when we turned the corner and saw the pump had been completed!!! It was beautiful, even more beautiful because I knew what that sight looked like 5 weeks ago. I wouldn’t even walk back in that part of the property because it was so over grown. Now it was so pretty! There were rows and rows of organized garden beds, a well and all the brush had been cleared and bricks had been stacked. It didn’t even look like the same spot. All of us walked to the well and I said “well who wants to turn the crank and see what happens?” Right away Dena said “I will!!” She began to turn the handle faster and faster and then we heard the sound….and then we saw water start to gush out of the spout and our into the concrete catch that had also been made this week. It was awesome! Soon after that all the women from the village came and began filling buckets and singing. It was a sight to see. Without this group these 3 projects would have never been completed. We now have two improved stoves in the kitchen we built two years ago, we have a great start to the garden that will grow food to help feed this village and WATER!! Water that is free and can be used for drinking and for irrigating the gardens. Right before this group arrived I told Scott that if on the last day I had two stoves done and water pumping from a proper well it would be a miracle….I guess miracles do happen. We had accomplished more than we had anticipated…it was a good day and a great feeling.
We had to have a proper ceremony so we gathered with some members of the community back in the main building. There was a speech by James who manages the CBO (community based organization) as well as a speech from me ( never am comfortable but I know it must be done). I think Lynn got the whole thing on tape so ill be interested to see it back 🙂 the women from the village all sang to us and many many tears were shed. They all hugged us and shook hands and thanked us and then we had to go 🙁 Tionana as they say….see you again…
We arrived in plenty of time to the airport. We all said our goodbyes to Sai who had rode on the bus with us. He is always such a special part of our trips. He thanked me for trusting him with my visitors…so sweet. He really is always everyone’s favorite (sorry Scotty).
We all got checked in and went upstairs to the outdoor balcony where we could watch the planes come in. The group was flying on South African and I was on Ethiopian, but both flights left at almost the exact same time. We had a few hours so we had drinks and chips. Man am I going to miss Malawi chips!! I need to find a way to recreate them at home. Yum!
We all got on our flights with no problems. I was sitting in my seat on the plane watching the group walk up the stairs into their plane ( a few more tears) and then it was wheels up for us all.
Time for the long journey home.
I will be posting another wrap up in the next few days. I want to share more about our plans for the future with Adziwa (exciting things) and also some plans for another 2 teacher groups next year. Can’t wait to start planning!!!
Erin