July
2005, Daryl and Mary Jo Oft, owners of Diversified Solutions
traveled to Kaswanga, Kenya to participate in a global
evangelism effort. This became a life changing experience
for them, and they have shared their many experiences
with hundreds of people in Arizona, California, Oregon
and Washington.
This
is the experience of Daryl Oft and Shawn Simmons, owner
of Simmons Landscaping, who returned to Kaswanga in April
to assist in bringing fresh drinking water to a community
that had never experienced a drink of fresh, clean pure
water and to install drip irrigation systems for family
size garden plats to assist in alleviating the famine
that is sweeping across Africa. Here is their story.
On
April 9th, a very dear friend Shawn Simmons and I departed
Phoenix to travel to Kaswanga to assess what it would
take initiate and implement a fresh water system for the
villagers of Kaswanga and Wanyama communities. It was
my understanding that they had not had fresh water for
over 3 years because the water system they had in place
was no longer functional due to all of the water technicians
dying of AIDS. Well, in a sense that was true, however,
not completely correct.
We
were prepared to install a water filtration system that
had been donated by the non-profit organization H.E.L.P.
(Humanitarian Emergency Logistic Preparedness). The system
works by means of breaking down salt molecules and in
the process produces three byproducts; chlorine gas which
purifies the water as the gas is introduced into the flow
of water; bleach which is used to disinfect the water
containers used by the villagers; and lye which is used
to disinfect the very primitive latrines.
Our
plan was to install this system and draw contaminated
water from a 50 gallon container and transfer fresh water
into a clean 50 gallon container, thus providing at least
some clean water.
Our
second objective was to educate and provide four families
with garden plot size drip irrigation systems to enhance
their edible vegetable intake. Most of the local food
source is fish, maze, sorghum and a small variety of vegetables.
We were donated four systems by New Directions International,
a non-profit organization from North Carolina that provides
these services to drought stricken areas of Africa and
India. This system is able to grow enough vegetables in
a garden plot 20’ X 20’ to sustain an entire
family with only 5 gallons of water a week.
Our
third objective was to deliver donated medical supplies
to the local medical clinic. Physician Sales and Services
donated approximately $4000. worth of equipment and supplies
to Tom Mboya Medical Clinic. We were surprised to find
out that medical clinics in Kenya are funded by local
taxes only; therefore, in an area of such poverty, a clinic
receives only the most essential of medical needs. Typhoid,
malaria and AIDS medications are about the only thing
that is available at the clinic. The supplies that were
taken over were a real God send. It was quite an extra
expense to take the supplies as they all had to be paid
as extra luggage with the airlines.
So
this was our objective; provide some means of clean water;
start a pilot program of garden plots to help alleviate
the starvation of the African people; and deliver much
needed medical supplies.
We
pre-organized our arrival with ADRA (Adventist Development
and Relief Agency), a non-profit international relief
agency, which provided us with technical assistance for
the assessment for water needs and provided us with a
4 wheel drive vehicle and driver of national origin. They
arranged a water engineer to study the project and to
provide project phasing, equipment needs, and ADRA provided
material cost for phase 2 of this water project.
We
arrived in Nairobi and spent the first day meeting with
the appropriate representatives and completing our shopping
list of items that would be needed for the project. We
met with the local Rotary club to introduce our project
to them as a potential funding source for the continuation
of this project.
The
next day we started on a very dangerous and long trip
across Kenya to the western border. The roads are very
rough and the driving is something out of; well , out
of Africa. Traffic and pedestrian fatalities are very
high and we were most grateful for a safe trip.
Our
first day on the island consisted of a variety of meetings
and overall assessment of the condition of the water infrastructure.
We met with the SUBA District Water Minister, who provided
valuable information concerning the dire need of the area
we were going to. The Kenya government recently completed
a national study called the “Kenyan Community Development
Fund Poverty Reduction Strategic Paper” which included
water priorities across Kenya. The SUBA District, specifically
Rusinga Island (our location) was ranked number 2 in priority
need. Unfortunately, this does not mean that the government
will financially address this need, it just documents
the need. We also met with the Lake Victoria South Water
Service Board, Administration teams of each of the following
schools; Tom Mboya Secondary School, Wanyama Primary School,
Kaswanga Primary School, Agiro Primary School, Tom Mboya
Medical Clinic Administration, Kaswanga/Wanyama Water
Committee, Kaswanga/Wanyama Irrigation Committee and then
a formal presentation to the entire communities of Kaswanga
and Wanyama. We just spent one of four days entirely in
meetings and we initially felt frustrated that no work
had been accomplished.
We
soon understood that this was just standard procedure
in getting anything done and soon realized how very important
all of this became. As we were ready to start work on
the project the second day, we found we had unlimited
resources of local labor to accomplish anything we needed.
On
Friday Shawn and I initially worked on planning the water
purification system implementation. This was helpful to
both of us but it also brought about 35 villagers to the
scene, each with their individual ideas of how to make
the project work. Their input at times was valuable but
every minor decision they would come to would first include
a discussion of 35 individual inputs on something as simple
as how to cut the wood for the water tank stand. It became
very evident that we needed strict focus so Shawn and
I divided the group in two. Shawn focused on the garden
and irrigation program and I focused on the water purification
system.
There
is a windmill that is about 500 feet from the shores of
Lake Victoria which in the past has supplied lake water
to the Tom Mboya secondary school and the Tom Mboya Medical
Clinic. The windmill drew water through a 2 inch galvanized
pipe that reached into the lake. However, Lake Victoria’s
water table has dropped so dramatically in the past 5
years from prolonged drought that the end of the water
line is 200 feet up on the shore. The windmill cistern
casing is cracked and the recharge rate is about 50 gallons
of water per hour. The pumping shaft has many small holes
in it so for each stroke of pumping a significant amount
of water is released back into the cistern.
The
water is pumped to a holding tank that provides a small
and insufficient amount of contaminated water to the Tom
Mboya secondary school that housed about 450 young men.
The water from Lake Victoria is highly contaminated with
bacteria and parasites. The school continually has outbreaks
of typhoid and other waterborne diseases due to the bad
water. For those who can download pictures I have attached
a picture of the water in a collection container that
was used in the kitchen that serves the school.
The
water is stored in a large mortar tank that seldom holds
more than a couple of hundred gallons but has the capacity
to hold 10,000 gallons of water. School had just let out
for their official one month break and this tank provided
us with a resource of collected water.
David
Rotich, (ADRA representative) and I were able to go to
Mbita and negotiate the purchase of a new 4000 liter water
tank and spent 4 hours getting a variety of fittings placed
in the tank. It was a real challenge to get something
as simple as a threaded pipe nipple and elbows for fittings
but eventually we pieced together what we needed and the
tank was delivered to Tom Mboya School. A platform for
the tank to be elevated had been erected and was soon
in place next to the large mortar tank.
After
a much-focused assembly of the purification equipment
we were ready to connect the power. There of course is
no electricity, so the system is operated off of a 12
volt motorcycle battery that is charged by a solar panel,
all of which was transported from the U.S. Prayer was
offered over the working of the system and with a few
modifications the system started pumping fresh clean water
into the new tank. Everyone, including ourselves was amazed.
The system ran for an hour and then we decided to check
the water for purity. The test kits showed perfectly clean
safe water.
We
had a charcoal filter and tap placed on the opposite end
of the tank and now for the first time ever, the residents
of Kaswanga and Wanyama were experiencing their very first
drink of pure clean water. You can not imaging the feeling
of joy that Shawn and I experienced as we saw what was
taking place.
We had the villagers refrain from using the water until
the next day as we wanted to retest the purity and supply.
At the church service the next day Shawn presented 5 liters
of pure clean water to the pastor, head elder, and 3 others
on the platform. They all took drinks and then passed
the bottles out to the congregation. We have pictures
and video of them passing drinks to the children and the
expressions on their faces of the first drink of clean
water. It was a moment that brought both joy and tears
to Shawn and myself.
The
community named the water project after us, but after
discussion with them they agreed that by our request the
project would be called “Living Waters”. This
has both a physical and spiritual application and after
all, it was not about what we did, but about what God
has done.
We
expected Sunday to be relatively easy as we thought we
would just provide training to the elected water technicians
and fine tune the system and help with a couple of more
garden plots. Well, never go to Africa on a mission project
and expect anything like relaxation. Our day ended up
very full with having to remove the elevated tank and
establish a secure foundation for the tank to sit on.
Additional adjustments to the purification system and
training were required and Shawn spent his day with garden
and drip irrigation development.
When
the day was over we were able to experience the joy of
villagers lining up to get water in their containers,
see the excellent gardens that had been tilled, planted
and the irrigation working and said tearful goodbyes to
old and new friends. We were informed by a USAID/Kenya
representative that arrived to see our project, that this
was the very first time that the people of Rushinga had
every experienced a drink of fresh, clean pure water.
I
was able to connect with most of the friends I made 10
months earlier as well as some new ones. Shawn made friends
with so many people and told me that this had been a life
changing experience for him.
We
returned to Nairobi, along a very treacherous route and
with many bumps and bruises. God worked mightily with
us and we accomplished 5 days of work in two even with
both of us having bouts of dysentery and a miserable respiratory
infection that I developed.
Our
trip back was as eventful as our experience at Kaswanga.
Our plane was delayed for mechanical problems while we
sat on the tarmac for 4 ½ hours late Tuesday night.
This caused a cascade of missed flights at every connection
so we arrived somewhat late. We were totally exhausted,
but we had a satisfaction and joy in our heart that can
not be expressed in any terms other than to experience
this for oneself.
I
would be amiss if I stopped our story here, but I cannot.
We were able to make a very small yet significant difference
in the local community with fresh water, drip irrigation
garden plots and medical supplies. This phase will only
provide for a very few villagers, as there are approximately
10,000 residents on Rusinga.
Lake
Victoria’s Lighthouse of H2OPE has 5 identified
priorities.
·
Clean sustainable water
· Appropriate medical services
· Agricultural garden plots
· Educational support for the 4 local schools
· Orphan support with food and education
We have completed Phase One. Phase 2 will include repairs
to the wind mill cistern, extending the water line 300
feet into Lake Victoria, placing water lines to the Medical
Clinic and adding a new water tank and purification system
there, and 2 water kiosks in the local village center.
We also want to return with 50 (eventually 1500 drip systems
to provide for the approximate 1500 families in the 2
communities) additional garden drip irrigation systems
and additional water purification systems and spare parts.
Phase
2 has been engineered, and material cost established by
ADRA. It is my passion to complete Phase 2 before the
summer droughts hit hard again. I must raise $30,000 to
complete Phase 2.
ADRA has accepted oversight of this project, yet the funding
must be provided. I ask each of you to prayerfully consider
what you can do to help this project. Our goal is to raise
the money by June so the project can start early June
and be completed by late July. I am returning to help
with the completion of this phase of the project if the
money can be raised. One hundred percent of your tax deductible
donation is directly applied to this project. There are
no administrative fees associated with this and the labor
is a labor of love and donated.
Your
contributions may be made out to Living Waters International
and mailed to Living Waters International, 1107 S. Beeline
# 4 Payson, AZ 85541
One
time gifts are needed to immediately raise the needed
amount to complete Phase 2; however, continuing support
is even more important. Your contribution will defiantly
contribute to save lives and improve the quality of the
lives of many children. The average lifespan in Rusinga
is 38 years old and this is unacceptable. Won’t
you please consider helping this worthy cause both now
and on a continuing basis?
I
could write this kind of report on each of these needs
but for now I am focusing on water because this must come
first. My vision is to assist this area in such a manner
that it does become a “lighthouse of hope”
in the lake area, and other communities will see what
can happen when people work together and lifestyle changes
are made.
