Well, we have decided to try one more thing to try to stop the leak in the cistern. The leaking slowed down after we poured cement walls last year but we need it to stop leaking all together. Dawda the mason stopped by for a visit this morning and he thinks that the leaking is now coming from where the various layers in the wall met when they poured the cement. The cement had to be poured in stages. He thinks we need to plaster the walls with a rich cement mixture. We are going to give it a try. There was still about 2 inches of water in the bottom of the cistern so we assume the floor is not leaking. Dawda said that we have to bail out the water before he can plaster the walls. Bailing did not sound like fun to us so Steve modified the foot on the pipe of the pump that we use to pull water up to the big poly tanks; we got the pipe to sit on the floor of the cistern. It did a good job of getting most of the water out. We then put 2 fans inside the cistern to try to dry up the floor. I love it when a plan comes together. We plugged the inlets to the cistern just in case it rains.
Divine started hauling cement blocks for us today. Divine is an evangelist as well as a farmer. He also has a motor king. Red was in need of money to buy a commission for his son to become a customs officer; he had cement blocks that he was willing to sell. We will use them for the next building project. Have I ever mentioned how much we dislike building projects? Divine was happy to get the job hauling the block. Red had a man that wanted to haul the block but we decided to give the job to Divine and keep the money in the family. Ha!
When we walked to the back of the property today we noticed that there was lots and lots of cow poop. More cow poop than just the gate was open and a stray cow came in. We asked Iddrisu and he said that Nazo thought it was a good idea to let one of the herdsmen bring his cattle into the property to eat the dry grass and poop so that the land would get some “free” fertilizer. I don’t appreciate dodging cow poop when I walk down the lane. There are so many things wrong with that plan that I don’t even know where to begin.
We passed out the rest of the onions today; everyone enjoyed the gift. The lady with the hydrocephalic baby came this morning to pick up the money; she was so grateful. Her brother is going to go to Tamale with her for the baby’s surgery. They were leaving this afternoon; they will sleep in the queue with the other people that need to be seen by the doctors tomorrow. We don’t know how lucky we have it to be able to call the doctor and make an appointment. The doctor might be running behind but we would never have to sleep there to be seen.
Thanks again for helping us help this mother. Thanks for your prayers.
In His Service,
Steve and Kandie
