What a warm and fuzzy feeling kind of day. We decided it would be best if we split up into two different teams and cover a little more ground. Team 1 arrived at the Borehole 4 sight around 8:00 am to start a water pump test with Mozagua Drilling Company, which yielded amazing results. After much frustration and decision making on this location, we were able to reach the Malawian government standard of 900 L/ hour. Borehole 4 gave us 17.6 gal/min or 4000 L/hour, which makes for a really productive and hopefully lasting well (same data as for borehole 1).
As all of this good news was going on, Team 2 had traveled to the market for lunch food and water. A few of us got some local, handmade baskets to bring back home, which were really beautifully braided together.
Around mid-morning, Team 2 traveled to the village of Mphero for a Project Close Out Meeting. This ceremony was a great experience to be a part of. We started with a warm welcome from the Chief of the village and then once we got through all introductions and minor details, the Water Committee of the village took us over to their main well to show that they knew how to assemble, clean and dissemble the well. Their knowledge on the maintenance of the hand pump well was quite impressive.
There was a magnitude of singing and dancing, and all around joy in the community, which was honestly so humbling. We were then submerged in the Mphero culture when preparing lunch. The women were taken into the kitchen to prepare the lunch as the men sat out front and watched the children dance.
This was by far one of the most festive days of the trip, all went as planned and there was much excitement for the future days.
-Mishell Sanchez