Terry started his day by running (walking fast?) to the school to check the progress of the plumbing Fundi. Progress was not as anticipated because the drain pipes on order needed to come from Mwanza (5 hrs away), but they did arrive later in the afternoon. Then Terry met the diocese team for devotions to thank them for their hospitality and to bless them as they move forward with new leadership. The rest of the team met for a yummy breakfast of mandazi and boiled eggs. Instead of installing the two water tank/eave trough combos for the two mud huts, we realized that there were a lot of loose ends that needed to be completed before we left on Thursday morning. Most of these involved Fred but the three men returned to the Technical school to assist the electrical Fundi to bury a high voltage conduit underground to connect power to the washrooms. The water tank combos will be installed by the plumber Fundi in the next week or so.
While they were doing that, the plumber Fundi and helpers arrived to install urinals, showers and one new sink as well as an underground water line from the tank situated on the rocks adjacent to the washrooms. This tank will be filled with water from Lake Victoria pumped by the Shirati Hospital Solar powered water pump. Gravity will bring the water to the washrooms.
Meanwhile, Connie and Katie delivered a large sack of rice and another of beans to the Leper Community at the hospital. After introductions and hearing more about their specific challenges we shared sodas, cookies and bananas as a way to celebrate God’s love and new connections. We were moved by their generous and sincere gratitude through prayer and song. Connie and Katie then met Terry, Anson and Zach at the Technical School to meet the students, and give them each a backpack with notebook and pens. Teachers also received a backpack and with supplies including chalk.
Anson was in heaven as we all thoroughly enjoyed our lunch of mashed potatoes, ground beef and cooked cabbage with pineapple for dessert. After lunch, Katie, Anson and Zach began packing for home. Connie returned to the hospital to visit Sarah(Palliative Care patient). Terry and Katie presented the diocese staff with a small parting gift and blessing for the future. Before supper Steven arrived with friends to take Connie, Katie, Anson and Zach on piki pikis (motorcycle taxis) to Mt. Oboke for a wonderful sunset view of Shirati and Lake Victoria. Terry visited with Challo (our ping pong pal) to view his market gardens about 10 km from Shirati, irrigated by pump with water from nearby Lake Victoria.
Terry was able to remove a number of items from his To-Do list today, including signing the new MOU, getting Fred to confirm bank approval for the new Shantz/CACHA account, pay some outstanding Diocese laundry and Room and Board bills, and have several individual heart to heart conversations with some of the new leaders in the Diocese, and another two trips to the Tech School to see the progress made by the workers.
Photos today include some of the other things of interest in Shirati. Playing a game similar to Duck, Duck, Goose with kids in the neighbourhood, David and Leunida, our cooks, Zach with a beautiful huge moth on his hand, and Jane on a mission with Steven and his Piki Piki to pick up some items from the Guesthouse
Our last day of service was over, with meaningful interactions and assistance again being the highlights. Tomorrow at 8 AM Shirati time, we leave for Mwanza with some time to re-energize and debrief with Fred and Leisha.