DAY 8 (March 31st, 2009)

Another update: 

1. Moshi had a conference with the community to keep them up date about the water project and what to expect 

2. The engineers continued to set up the rig
3. They had to check the rig because there was a problem with the gearbox.
4. They spent most of the day testing the equipment and fixing the gearbox.
5. Right now testing has been finished and drilling is expected to happen tomorrow

Hello

Hoping everyone is fine this moment. I am fine and everything still going fine. Only yesterday I had sick that happened due to the heavy-downpour occurred the time we have been at the water project site. Right now I am very fine.

Hydro Tech.

Mr. Wilson and the drilling team arrived yesterday-on 30th March’2009. Around at 02:28p.m. Kelema village along the Great North Road, from Kelema village to the water project site- Cheku village it’s just 6/7 km.

I and Mr. Bago we met the drilling team at Kelema village, since we have been contact the time they left in Dodoma town, we left Kondoa town to Kelema village in order to wait for them.

The Road to Cheku village after main Road, I mean the 6/7 km was not very good especial this time during the rain season. Took us several times to discuss and final we decided to check a road both of us, Mr. Wilson used a his Land Rover 4x4 ,I and Mr. by Suzuki Vitara 4x4, before the Rig going there. We didn’t find the Road good enough for the Rig to pass through. We asked Cheku local community to work for the Road especial at the very bad places; the exercises went as we planed and final the Rig didn’t stuck any where.

Water project site.

The Rig directed to the actual site for the drilling, Mr. Bago and I we proved the drilling point is the real written in the survey report, as well the Cheku village water committee and elders proved too.

Mr. Wilson and drilling team tested mechanical staff from the Rig. Since they had had problem from the Gear Box, all of us we agree that today, on 31thMarch’2009 they have do final services from the previous problem and make sure the time we start drilling we don’t going to face the same problem.

The Rig operated by transmission from the gear box, there noises when the Rig is on, technician confirmed to us is going to fix the problem before we start to drill.

Cheku villagers.

Women, Men, Children and elders was at site to witnesses what was happening, here everyone was so much exiting, happy and cheerful only for seeing the rig arrived, everyone talking and wish the water to be found. As well they was asking so many questions when people from Canada will arrival in the village, they didn’t if real things going to happen.

Transportation

The contract with car owner started on 23rd March’2009 ending on 31st March’2009. Both we agreed the vehicle will be used daily from 06:00a.m till at 08:00p.m. Car not hired to any person during our contract, if a case happens automatically the contract wont work and money refunded to a client (Mr.Moshi.) Simple case with a car such as flat tire will be dealt a big problem avoiding delay to the site must the rescue vehicle sent not more that 2 hour from the accident happen.

Friendly and honest car owner agreed to give us an extra 3 days. This start on 1st April’2009 ending 3rd April. This it out of the contract, his doing so since the matter is helping local community, himself doing at as volunteering.

KICHECO.

It took me not more 40min, expressing about the water project, reminding them how did it start, was not easy to collect the fund, the way Canadian contributed(donate) the whole project, talked special about Scholl children of the Queen Victoria Annex and their parents how hard working to make sure the water project happen. Explain to them the value of the water project, so far much care will be needed from themselves by any means to protect (maximum caring) the water project.

The time I was talking, I saw everyone eyes were agree what I was telling them.

Cheku village leaders talked very nice words to the community concerning the water project.


The drilling.

Tomorrow on 1st April’2009 we expect to start drilling as an early as possible. We are worrying from rain, right now I writing this email it’s raining here.

If the sky will be clear the exercise will be better. Hoping to update you.

Much love…….

Moshi.

DAY 7 (March 30th ,2009)

Finally in Chekku, the project area:

1. Drilling team arrived in Kalema (close to site) around 2PM

2. Moshi, Mr Bago and Mr. Wilson drove with their driver to Cheku to alert the villagers and ask for help clearing the roads.
3. 100 of the village men cleared the road so the drilling truck could pass through.
4. They arrived in Cheku village around 5PM
5. The engineers started setting up the rig

DAY 6 (March 29th ,2009)

The drilling team is 20KM from Dodoma, about 3 hours away from the project area.

DAY 3 - 5 (March 26th - 28th, 2009)

The truck was still in Morogoro and there was nothing the water committee could do but wait. Toni Swai, the mechanical engineer, spoke regularly with Moshi with updates that usually ended with: "Tomorrow we will be there and start the drilling".  

Moshi was able to get the bluetooth on his computer working and he sent an email with an update to the water committee.  Moshi's broken english has not been edited.  Please remember that english is his third language (Irangi and Swahili are his first) so ignore the grammatical errors.

Hello,

Real it was so much terrible and horrible for what happened, I mean on my side the way Hydro Tech escaped to give me the necessary information. At least now it’s better.

A man called Toni Swai, his mechanical for the truck and duty during the drilling talked to me through mobile phone. Down here is what he told me:-
(a) They received a spear part from Nairobi in Kenya for truck- Plate clutch.
(b) On the way to fix and tomorrow on 28th March’2009 will arrival and start the drilling. I told him that, first they should fix the truck not promising about the drilling. He agreed my advice.
(c) He told me that, he spoke to Mr. Dominik.
(d) Told him that I was very happy to hear from him, even though it would be better to hear direct from Mr. Wilson. Asked him that, he must call me when ever to give to me the necessary information. Toni confirmed that he will update me. Here took me several minutes to let him know the problem is not their only problem, all we are facing the problem occurred to them. We are team work. One way of solving a problem is communication rather than not to pick a mobile when someone call you, you have to pass the information for anything going on, either you in a very good position or good position.

He called me again late after 3 hours, told me they didn’t finish to fix the truck because it was raining much, so told me they will fix it for finalize tomorrow on 29th March’2009 starting at 5:00a.m.
I agree what he told me.

The drilling
The way I think, if real tomorrow might truck be fixed an early, they can manage to arrival even late night, the drilling may start the next day (hopeful)
All in all let us wait and see what will happen.

Cheku local community.

Everyone is so exiting, got information from the village from one person named KIMOLO, met him here in Kondoa town, he told me that, daily villagers assembly in the village waiting for us to arrival. Cheku village Executive Officer, n asking them to leave and wait until the day of our arrival, they don’t even to move from the place, shouting and shouting, no problem for us about waiting for our team. Big problem for them is water collecting, their big problem going to be solved. So why not for them to stay/standing and witnesses the drilling team arrival and the action of drilling.


Much of love……….
Moshi

DAY 2 (March 25th, 2009)

Lara spoke to Moshi in the morning (his evening) and at night (his morning).  Moshi was getting more and more frustrated because he could not get a hold of Wilson and it was making the Water Committee very nervous.  Moshi and Lara texted back and forth. 

LARA: Did the water team come yet?

LARA: I'm getting worried

MOSHI:  The team has not yet arrived

LARA: Did you call again?

MOSHI: At 5Am I talked to him, he promised to call me until now not yet called.  

MOSHI:  Can you try to call him from there?

LARA: At leaset you talked earlier.  I'll try calling.

MOSHI: Ok call him.  I need to know if the drilling is happening today.

LARA: I just tried and no answer.  I'll talk to Dominik and see if he can get through.

DAY 1 (March 24th, 2009)

The project was supposed to have started today but the Hydro Tech truck broke down east of the project area in Morogoro.  It was very stressful for Moshi because he could not get a hold of Wilson, the team leader.  He sent a short email to Dominik later that day explaining what happened.

hi dominik,
We acknowledge receipt of money paid which we received on monday 23-3-2009.
We started the journey to CHEKU on tesday morning and got as breakdown at morogoro .Today we are on way to cheku .We are sorry to theincoveniences caused .We expect to be at cheku today

best regards
Wilson