Our day of rest…?

Our day of rest – not so much.

This cold I've caught is annoying and apparently a single dadgum mosquito maneuvered the creases of my mosquito net and annoyed me every little while, but I managed to avoid a bite. Whew! Thank goodness we weren't in a hurry to get anywhere.

After breakfast Casey and I psyched up and set off on our quest to contribute to the compound's water supply. Ray and Grace walked with us as we rolled the empty water barrels to the water pump. We were quite the spectacle – a black guy and three white women, two of whom are working. Grace suggested we had raised Ray's status in the community by this appearance.

Taking our barrels up the road to the well.

Ray, ever the diplomat, making friends with  the locals.

Casey filling her baarrel.

When we got to the well, there were several women and children waiting their turn at the pump. Were they surprised! We waited our turn politely and as we moved our barrel to start filling it, the crowd gradually grew, especially the crowd of kids who giggled incessantly as we took turns pumping the water. I gotta tell ya, that was work. Pushing the barrels back was not too bad at first, but then the road became sandy, and uphill. I did have to rest a few times, but by gosh, we got the barrels to the cistern.

Me, filling my barrel.

Resting n the way back to the cistern.

The tank in the ground holds 5000 liters, and each of our barrels held 50. A pump moves the water from the cistern up to the tank that supplies the compound. To give you an idea of the economy here, two men are paid 1000MK(Malawi Kwacha) per month to keep the tank filled and maintain the pump. The exchange rate is about 390MK/1USD.

The tank on top of the tower is where the water
from the green cistern in the ground is pumped.

Mission accomplished.

Preparing to add water to the cistern.

Timeyo, adding the water.

We have given James, our cook, the day off and have invited him for a fajita dinner. Timeyo, who can fix or build anything, has taken a metal barrel and fashioned a wonderful BBQ grill.  There are lots of fresh vegetables right now so I made some roasted tomato salsa. I had also brought some spices, fresh jalapenos, and tortillas for Luke and Araceli that we are using. No cilantro, but it is Africa. I was a bit startled when I started cutting up the chicken Father Levinus had brought as a gift. When I reached in for the giblets, I also pulled out the head and feet (no photo). It is Africa.

So a feast of beef and chicken fajitas, then homemade cookies for dessert, courtesy of Araceli.  The lap of luxury in Africa.

Sunset from our porch.