Beautiful People

Tuesday, June 24th, 2014

Wrapping things up! Two weeks ago we feared that we might not finish the first phase of construction, but today all the columns have been poured and the tank foundations are almost complete. We are happy to report that the first phase of implementation will finish on time.

It will be hard to say goodbye at the end of the week. Our names are no longer muzungus. Everyone is greeted by name when we walk on site in the morning. 

Nyrotosho 

Yesterday during lunch time at Nyrotosho, Florida gave Steve, Christian, and me a bundle of avocados and tomato fruits in her most precious basket usually reserved for weddings and special occasions. 

Florida (Irreho in the background (best dancer in Cyanika))

She lives in the house next to the site and has graciously hosted us for the past three weeks. She and her husband Wilson have worked on the site everyday and continued to amaze me with their strength and kindness. They have four adorable girls. Their youngest, Rebecca, insists on being on site at all times and cries every day when she has to go to school. She says she wants to stay with the muzungus. She quietly watched everyone work the first two weeks and would barely say a word even though she followed us everywhere.

Rebecca

Wilson is security chief of Nyrotosho and will help facilitate the water system when it is finished. We have spent many a morning talking and signing at one another trying to communicate. One of our first mornings on site, we were leveling the footers. Wilson and I worked right alongside one another leveling with the transit. He spoke in Kinyarwanda and we talked back in English. Having no idea what the other had said. Mezack, our wonderful translator, walked on site around noon and I was eager to explain to Wilson what I had been trying to sign for the past couple hours. Mezack told me Wilson already knew. It is amazing how little we need words to communicate.

Wilson and me