Back Home Safe and Sound

Aside from some travel weariness and jet lag we're back home safe and sound. It really is a long, long way from here to Africa...more or less 48 hours on the road to complete the journey one way. But, all of our flights were smooth and we made all of our connections easily, thanks to Marcus who looked after all of our travel arrangements. We stayed healthy for the most part in spite of all the potential for weird ailments including malaria, so we're thankful for that.

The well drilling is just beginning. The drill rig is in place and there is now an expert driller available to the Iris crew as they learn the ins and outs of drilling for water in Mozambique. This expert has volunteered his time and some of his manpower to help, so we're also very thankful for his generosity. Money, as always, is the big challenge now. The crew have already used almost $1000. in diesel fuel drilling the first few test holes. They have no money left now to purchase good quality casing, piping, pumps, fuel, and expense materials in order to continue drilling actual wells. I think this is where we, as wealthy North Americans, can help. This is a real opportunity for us to get involved in a real project, helping real people. This isn't some TV show pleading for money for some arbitrary project that most of us can't really connect with. The Iris team are hoping to meet the basic needs of thousands of people who don't even have clean water to drink. We, in North America, take this all for granted, seldom giving it a second thought unless we lose our water supply for a few hours once in a blue moon. Most of the world doesn't live in the luxury we do and that is not fair. It would take so little from each of us to make such a huge difference in Mozambique. We have this opportunity to channel resources directly into well drilling, even specific wells, without losing half of it as it filters through some huge multinational organization. You will definitely be hearing more from me on this subject!