A big Hallelujah! She did it!!

Everytime I come, I am forewarned this project in particular has fallen down. This year was no exception, but once again I got a welcome surprise and Hallelujah!  Last year I wrote the following:
"Last but not least". "A big Hallelujah!  She did it. She hooked up the drip lines and the pump is connected and working!  She really did it!! Hallelujah!" Thank you God!  It is so common to end up with failed projects in Africa. And any of us who travel and do work there frequently are often seeing and commenting on the "not another shell of a failed project - left to rot away".  Hope 2 One Life is very cognizant of the purpose the sustainability and researches potential projects and areas - sometimes for years as funding budgeting planning and God's call comes into fruition.  This rain water collection system was actually our attempt to salvage a peace corps project that failed the in ground cement water collection system to pump water to a UNICEF greenhouse system (since ruined by weather) for drip irrigation in dry season and income generation garden in all seasons. Something that could be sustainable for income generation for a deaf school. There has been a lot of struggle to get this up and going even after 3 larger tanks were installed undergound, new rain water roof collection system with gutters pipes and pump. Oh how this was "stalled" far too long for our comfort!  I stress immensely about any projects with problems as i am cognizant of our faithful generous donors and I never want to let anyone down. We all discussed with Paul our mentor as well as CFD, had a potential game plan going forward with hiring and training a farmworker for 6 months in farming gods way to get this on its feet. The ultimate goal is that there is nutrition for the deaf children and income generation esp in dry season. Disabled children are literally thrown away in this culture esp during the war time. Sr Teddy is passionate about these children even if she is a poor manager of some of the resources. The children are resilient beyond what you can imagine. They dance by the vibration of the ground and drums when playing even if they can't hear it. They win country wide competitions even. Seeing them sign is a joy.  This visit was not exception and they came running out of their classroom to great me. This visit was no less of a surprise as after we blessed her with an additional fence around the vegetable garden to keep animals out, we heard she was unhappy with the farmworker hired, the cement floor the peace core worker placed was sinking. Yet she persevered and managed to fix it!  Now she relays and we see "It is working very well".  The vegetables grown this past season fed all of the deaf children in school this year and some Sudan refugees staying at the school, as well as provided some income from sale of tomatoes. Onions are in the field now as they are also scarce in dry season, store well and will generate income. Of course she has more requests but at least we can praise God, sing Hallelujah! Maggie is "clapping" happily with the kids -  for deaf children clapping is waving hands in the air!  Music to my soul.


Nadine