LOTI Summer Projects 2007

Caption: Justin and Reed take coordinates of some of the local resources and the community center plot.

Another important activity that we are working on is mapping out he local water resources (including broken pumps that have potential to be fixed) and the community center itself using a geographic information system (GIS) and the coordinates determined using geographic positioning system (GPS).

While Justin and Reed worked on the site survey and mapping, Carissa took time to draw, interact, and help teach the surrounding children at the community center. The kids were so thankful for the creative interaction, and coveted paper to draw on!

Caption: Justin digs a maker for the potential well.

Under the hot African afternoon I swung the pick-ax into the adobe-like soil. There was a quick swish in the air followed by the clang as the pick struck the hard surface– yielding only inches of soil. We were digging markers for potential well locations after several days of site survey. With each swing of the axe my appreciation grew for what it takes to farm in this an unyielding environment where there is virtually no immediate water access. Each marker we placed in concrete to preserve the best locations to drill a well.

Caption: Reed helps with the survey

We always meet people and who face unimaginable challenges just to survive. One of the pastors we work with is in such a circumstance. He is weak from a recent battle with malaria and his wife has a broken wrist. They have nine children and all live in a humble mud-house just outside of Singida. I can’t see how they are surviving amidst this kind of struggle and yet they seem so very happy and thankful for our visit. They welcomed us into their house, giving us their very best seats.

Caption: Pictures of the hydrological survey in Itigi, Tanzania.

Caption: Reed and Justin test one collapsible solar cooker prototypes that was designed

After two long days of layovers and international airports, TEAM LOTI is en route in Tanzania to meet our partners in Singida. The drive is long and bumpy, but we are already able to get a taste of the hardships that many Tanzanian farmers face: hard soil, limited water access, and unpredictable rainy seasons. The lay of the land seems to change with every bend of the road: from lush, rich soil–to clay–to dry and rocky adobe.

For our projects in Tanzania, we will be focusing on two aspects: the first is effective and inexpensive solar cooking options, and the second is water access for two main areas (Singida and Itigi). For the solar cooking, we will be working with the community to “field test” four different designs. We are gathering a group of women to work on testing the solar ovens. For the water we will be doing a multi-day geologic and hydrological study of property where we are planning a small farm and technical training center. The study is necessary to drill a well on the property, which is needed for the center as irrigation and the community drinking water. We hope to have two outcomes of this part of the project – (1) this will alleviate the financial burden (up to a third of a families income) that purchasing a wood and charcoal for daily coking in a semi-arid region and (2) help to provide a source of income to the community workers and their families by training them how to make and sell the cookers to the communities.

Thanks for all your prayers and stay tuned for more updates to come!

TEAM LOTI

We depart for Tanzania tomorrow at mid-day. In Tanzania we will be providing technical assistance to a missions agency focused in serving rural communities in Tanzania. We are very excited about the possibilities that await us! Our focus will be in helping them in issues concerning irrigation, lighting, solar cookers, and water purification.

Please pray for us as we journey to Tanzania!

Blessings,

Team LOTI

For team LOTI, the past few days have been unforgettable. We just returned to Nairobi from an area called Mbeere, the 3^rd poorest district in Kenya. It’s a semi-arid region that is divided up by harsh, rocky, and dry terrain. The people’s ability to survive here is very impressive and humbling in comparison to the average life of an American. Our focus in these community were on lighting for a community hospital which services approximately 10,000 village people, and fixing some of the bore wholes which serve as critical water sources in an area that struggles to find drinking water.

We were able to successfully install a lighting system for the community hospital! It was exciting to see the people’s appreciation and excitement about how this light can transform their ability to help heal the sick of the community. The “doctor” (having no formal training), exclaimed how he can now stitch up people who come in at night with injurieries, and effective help women during labor at night. The community was able to be an intricate part of the installation process, and after the installation we held an educational session for a group around fifty.

The mbeere area is an incredibly dry area of Kenya. Women usually have to walk for several hours one way to simple be able to provide enough water for there family to drink. This water is usually from rivers or surface water which is generally unsafe to drink, carrying both disease and silt which harms the body. Ironically, there are over five bore holes, or wells, in the area. However, none the pumps are in working condition. Each well serves a population of roughly one to two thousand people, who have all been without for the last four years. Originally it was our goal to fix as many of the broken well systems as possible. However, after interacting with the people in Mbeere, we discovered that the real need for the community was to understand the system so that regular maintenance and troubleshooting could be done. The wells were installed by an NGO who had given little training to the members of the community and thus were not equipped to maintain the well. When the components of the well became worn down the community unsuccessfully attempted to fix the system several times. After failing in fixing all of the wells in the community the people returned to using the dangerous water from local streams. Our project switched focus, from “numbers” to sustainability through the empowerment of knowledge to the people of the community. We spent the majority of our time working with the community to repair one of the most central pumps, helping them through the process of fixing the well. It became a community effort, where all were involved in the process. We served to guide them in fixing the well, and educated them through hands on experience. At the end of the day, the well was in full, functioning order! Together with the community, we pulled out and repaired over 150 feet of PVC and rods, replaced foot valves and plunger, and O-rings and washers. We left the community with tools and supplies necessary for them to fix the remaining broken pumps. The chief and many of the community leaders were excited about the opportunity to fix the remaining community pumps. It was incredibly to see women of the village leave with clean, safe, drinking water, for the first time in four years.

Part of our team is returning the the U.S. this Friday, while the rest is heading to Tanzania to help assist in deforestation, solar cooking, and energy in needy communities. Please continue to pray for our safety and effectivness in ministry.

With Blessings,

Team LOTI