babu wes got in on sunday night, so we've been having all kinds of fun. (mom, he's kristen larsen's father-in-law)
yesterday, we spent the day running around visiting all the people he knows here and running errands. then we went out to yesuanaweza to talk with zachariah about the project we want to start this week.
we've decided that we are going to work on sanitation at the school/church building. right now, they have a squat toilet (it's enclosed like an outhouse), which is essentially a whole in the ground that looks almost like a bed pan with a hole in the bottom of it for waste to go down into the whole. it is a actual toilet system that many places use here. there is no plumbing on this one as far as pipes or water, but some in town have that. this one is just a very deep hole. get your mind out of the gutter. we will not be poo-diving!
considering the amount of kids through there everyday, you can imagine the rank smells and the absolute MESS inside. the walls are covered with bugs and it is just a breeding ground for disease, i'm sure. they have a 5 gallon bucket of water on the step that all the kids rinse their hands in. needless to say, IF they actually rinse which virtually does no good anyway, the water is just infected with everyone else's germs.
our plan is to pipe in water to a little outdoor kitchen area there. we hope to build a cement sink with a water nozzle to wash the huge pans that they cook the food for the kids in. their cooking area is very close there. they cook in huge pans set on cinder blocks over charcoal. next to that sink, we want to make a short sink for the kids to wash in. then we will start teaching them to enforce washing and cleanliness. this alone should cut down on a lot of the illness that they pass around. all the run off water from the sinks will be piped into the toilets to reduce the smell and have some type of sanitation. i'm mentally preparing myself for the possibility of lindsey and i having to wash down the insides of the bathrooms with bleach water. i can do it. i can do it.
so, this is our plan. we still have to put together a price list and see exactly what we can accomplish with our funds, but be praying that it ALL falls within our range. just this simple change will do so much.
- hi! i'm abbie.
- coeur d' alene, idaho, United States
- i like to travel. i like photography. i like tattoos. i like doing hair. i like art. i like music. i like airstream trailers. i like vintage pin-up girls. i like volleyball. i like all things urban. i like fashion. i like the feeling i get when i smell good mens cologne. i like proper grammar. i like writing in lower case letters. i like quarters...they're my favorite.
3 comments:
Oh my gosh Abbie! That's a GREAT idea! And something that is so needed! YAY! I'm excited. MAYBE I actually won't mind using the bathroom there next time I go...instead of holding it until we got back to the hostel. TAMU!!! (Sweet)! Well I'll be praying for that now. And yea for Wes being there now! He's a funny guy. How did everything in Burundi go when he was over there?
Abbie,
This is Tawnya from Thryve. I just found out about your blog since dave doesn't share these things so well, I'm so stoked for you, I think everyone should have to blog when they are over there. I'm so glad things have been going pretty good over there, give my love to all the peeps at yesu anaweza. I wanted to check to see if steve had talked to you guys about buying some things over there to bring back for the art on the green/ street fair booth we are having for the hope project the first week of august. i thought if you guys could maybe meet up with mohammed or someone to take you shopping and get some killer deals on things like paintings or sculptures or jewelry... anything you think you can get home to sell.. then we could sell it for more here and give that back for the project. plus we will need lots of help manning the booth so if you guys are around plan on coming down to hang out and tell people about your amazing experience. Let me know if you have questions or need ideas for what to get but mohammed is a great resource and always gets the best deals, we could even pay you back with some hope money if you guys are getting low.
way to go on the bathroom project babu wes is a great asset, tell him hi. you are all in our prayers!
Tawnya
All i can say is, you have come along way baby! Not so squeemish any more. The people will appreciate so much the plumbing. I'm sure it will cut down on illness. How are you feeling??better I hope. Sounds like you guys are making quite a difference in the life of these people. Which them or God will not soon forget. I love ya lots and am anxious for you to be home. Kisses and hugs, mom
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