Boreholes, buildings, and songs

We are enjoying general conference!  Our mission president was called as an Area 70. 

 We spent much of the week checking on existing and potential projects. 

 Progress is going well.  

Borehole drilling at Nchute School.  Went 65 meters in one location and 95 meters in another but never found water!  We hope to get a neighbor to allow the school to pump from their borehole if we put in a solar powered pump and water tank.

Every 5 meters they bring a shovel of dirt coming out of the borehole to see if any is moist and if it is changing.  If water would have been there it would have shown up in the two gravely looking layers.  Mostly solid granite. 

Lupani School nearly finished.  We were inspecting before final payment to contractor.
 Community members installing window panes.  

Mulenje Teacher house progressing along.  Up to the roof line. 

While checking on progress at Chainda clinic, we heard this group of kids practicing for church.

 We love their lively songs.  

At Mpango School drilling a borehole.  Discussing how deep they should go.

At this school, they found water at 85 meters.  Can you see the mud?  Everyone was very happy!

We visited a new school.  Drove 70 km on a bumpy dirt road each way. 
This is the shelter they are using for classes while they build a new 3 classroom block. 

This is the new 3 classroom block they have been working on.  They made their own bricks using a small brick mold.  We were very impressed with the community's hard work and initiative.

Some of the children at the school in the outside classroom.  We tried to talk with them but they didn't understand much English but when we asked if they knew a song, they lit up and sang for us. 

A new project at Nyabombwe school.  The day before this we met them in Lusaka and paid for their materials. The next day they were hard at work building a teachers house.  They made their own blocks. 

The community gets involved.  They are carrying crushed stone to the construction site.