Yesterday, after finishing the intake works for our water system, I asked if it was likely to rain that afternoon. My friend said that it was more sure that it would rain than that I would eat lunch that day (I always eat lunch). Over the past three weeks we have struggled with unpredictable rain that makes the muddy trails up to the water source difficult for animals carrying materials. It also makes working with concrete challenging as rain damages dry cement and can wash away recently placed work. Fortunately we completed the job without any big problems. It just took a little patience. We decided to use a mason from the community to build the intake works (along with me and the rest of the work crew), rather than paying a Dominican friend who regularly helps out volunteers with masonry related to water systems. It was a bit of a hassle bringing the community mason along to see other constructions in other communities to train him, but it saved us money and leaves the community with better trained masons and more ownership and pride in the project.
We took a risk by starting construction with very limited funding, but it has worked out well as this week we learned that we will receive funding from a Dominican donor next week and also that the Peace Corps Partnership Program grant was filled. We should receive that money in a couple weeks. Thanks if you helped by donating to the PCPP!
This funding means that committee members and I will be able to order a good portion of the 1000+ pvc pipes we need within a week. Once those get here, we expect about 4 or 5 months digging pipeline trenches (hopefully 4 rather than 5). I'm pretty excited as digging with a pick and shovel all week long will hopefully turn all those rice and beans I eat into muscles far stronger than a Bowflex could ever gain me.
Once again, thanks for your support if you donated to the project! I need to get back to work today taking advantage of internet in the capital while I can. I hope to leave tomorrow morning so I can get back to my community before a tropical storm or hurricane strands me here. (We have a merengue party on saturday that I don't want to miss.) I'll try to send a more creative blog soon. Check out the link to pictures below.
Vaya con Dios!
-Ryan
