January was packed with village life!

After a wonderful Christmas holiday and visitor from home I jumped right back into work in Konni. The Muslim holiday Tabaski brought some emotions and travel difficulties, but was a good opportunity to learn more about my host culture. My friends in Konni were excited to see me back and I had some good times catching up with them! 

This month I was in Konni as the only worker from our company. That was difficult as well, but the Father was great in supplying fellowship, encouragement and lots of fun! I attended two wedding celebrations, another festival and a baby naming celebration! I was able to spend 7 consecutive days in my village, something not usually attainable due to schedules and work in the town.

Going to the well is one of my favorite events of the day. It is the morning task of most of the women in the village. It is a social event as well as work to provide their families for water and is so much fun! It starts early as different people grab their buckets, plastic jugs and the rope to lower their rubber water bag into the well. They head out to the well in groups of two or more talking along the way. Once at the well they work in pairs, first throwing the rubber bag into the well, letting the rope slide along their hands until it hits water, lift it and drop it a few times to allow it to fill with water. 

The pairs then alternate pulling the rope up in an amazing rhythm that pulls the rubber bag out of the well in no time. They did not allow me to pull much water because they were afraid that I would fall into the well and the american government will be mad at them. The system continues with a third person who grabs the rubber bag when it is out of the well. They pour the water into whatever bucket is available. This is my job of choice. Then, with the bucket, the person pours the water into the plastic 25 liter jugs by using their hands to create a smaller water flow that goes easily into the mouth of the jug. It is an art that I have not mastered. They do let me try and only get onto me a little bit when I spill the water onto the ground. 

At any given time there are five or six bags of water going up and down the well. The women are going and coming with each full jug of water. Help is needed to get these amazingly heavy jugs and buckets on their heads. I am allowed to help with that too. They are amazed that I can even lift them up over their heads. 

We all leave half drenched with water (me more than others) which feels really great with the heat.