Life Without Water

As I sat in the back of a pickup truck, I could feel the wind blowing through my facial hair, I was on my way to change the lives of an African family. I sat and found myself wondering if I could even imagine living my entire life without running water in my house.

This is the case of my seventy-five year old friend Jacobi. His entire life has never included a water faucet in his residence. The tedious chore of carrying water in buckets has been a part of his every day routine since he was born in 1932.

To have to chance to lighten the burden as Jacobi and Mary raise their five grandchildren is a pleasure. I feel so fortunate to be able to be here in Mozambique and to be a part of something so simple, but yet is so appreciated.

We pulled into the small market area of grass huts that appeared to sell mostly hardware materials. As I climbed out of the back of the truck, a man greeted me ready to sell me anything and everything, and yes he even had a kitchen sink. I knew exactly what I was after, a water spigot, some pipe fittings, and 30 meters of rubber hose.

Nine hundred twenty Metical (about $35.00) later, we were loaded and on our way through the dirt roads to the grandparent’s house. We arrived and just a few hours later the trench had been dug, the pipe had been installed, cement mixed and laid, and the project was complete.

All we need to do now is have the water company install the water meter, and connect our pipe work to the main water line. I am hopefully that this will be a quick process and they will be out to the house by the end of the week.

(click picture for larger image)