• July 1, 2023
• 1 Comment
• Rick Morro

Saying goodbye to water shortages with our new secure clean water system

Having access to water is something we all take for granted.  You turn on the tap and you expect water to come out: cold water, hot water, clean water.  The girls at MGRC are now getting a taste of that pure clean water! Thanks to the generosity of the Larson Financial Foundation out of St Louis MO, MGRC now has its own secure water system.   

Tanzania has had four dry rainy seasons since late 2020, causing the worst drought in 40 years.  Consequently, our government water supply was very intermittent and unreliable. Operating a farm without water is virtually impossible.  Feeding and caring for the girls without water is equally impossible. And while the government supplied water, it was unreliable and frequently the water and electricity were shut off for days at a time.  We were forced to have water trucked in at an overwhelming expense of up to $100 per day.  The grant from the Larson Financial Foundation was a true Godsend! 

With the help of Elisante, we were fortunate to find a competent and honest contractor to drill the bore hole. So, when we had problems (as all projects do) he dealt with them. As an example, when drilling we hit a problem at 160 meters. He had to pull the pipe out and start over. His persistence paid off and we hit water at 195 meters. The flow was good (12,000 liters per hour) and the quality of the water was fantastic. God is good! 

I periodically ask girls what they think they would miss most if they went back to the bush.  They are grateful for the nutritious food and the opportunity to go to school and learn new skills. They love the family environment and comfortable beds. But virtually every girl I ask says she would miss running water and electricity the most.   

And when electricity goes out, so does the water as Tanzania uses hydo-electic power.  But luckily, we have ample water. In fact, we can store about 130,000 liters of water. This is enough water to service the crops and animals, maintain daily showers for the girls and staff, and prepare three meals a day for 64 girls and 21 staff for four days. Even if we lose electricity, we will still have water. 

Our girls continue to thrive in their new school and new environment.  More to come next time on some of their recent accomplishments and achievements but I want to say that I am so proud of each of them.  Just like any family, we have our challenges, but the love they receive and feel for each other, is evident in their smiles, their growing confidence and their love for life.