MUTABALI VILLAGE, MALAWI

FUNDED JULY 27, 2022

This is a very large and complex project with two complex wells and a diesel pump for irrigation.  And it would not be possible without an equally large level of extravagant generosity.  A pair of World Changers made a challenge to friends in the Ingomar Living Waters community.  That if they could collectively contribute $20,000 towards projects that would bring clean water to many in need, that it would be matched 1:1, dollar for dollar.  This project is funded by the generosity of that pair of World Changers who offered the matching $20,000 and all of the other World Changers that responded to the challenge.  Thank you!  You have given hope to 7,000 people in desperate need of clean water in Mutabali Village, Malawi.

INTERIM UPDATE November 2, 2022

To provide enough water for approximately 7,000 people in the Mutabali area in Malawi, it’s an extensive project.  It includes two borehole wells, two submersible electric pumps, and two tanks on towers.  And on top, it also includes the purchase of a diesel-powered portable pump to support irrigation along the river.

We have good news!  The two boreholes have been successfully drilled.  You’ve not witnessed true joy until you see the video above of children celebrating the water strike at the 2nd borehole.  They are ecstatic for the clean water that will change everyones’ lives in the area.  And they’re just having fun getting the first clean water shower in their lives.

Construction of tank stands is underway.  Thanks to the extravagant generosity of a couple who matched other World Changer contributions in order to provide the $20,000 to make all of this possible!  And thank you to the friends and family members who participated in the match!

COMPLETED FEBRUARY 20, 2023

Completion Report: Mutabali Village, Malawi

Project: 2 Complex Wells with Solar Pump & irrigation project $20,000

Muheku Well: GPS: Lat: -15.90439223, Lng: 35.18645949
https://gps-coordinates.org/my-location.php?lat=-15.90439223&lng=35.18645949

Chipiriro Well: GPS: Lat: -15.98518759, Lng: 35.20077958
https://gps-coordinates.org/my-location.php?lat=-15.98518759&lng=35.20077958

The Mutabali Village, Malawi Thyolo District, southern region well project is successfully completed. This is a large community. 7000 people live in the service area, served daily from 2 well locations. The taps fill a 20 liter container in approximately 2 minutes time.

It is notable to say that your gift has come to the people of Mutabali at a critical time, which further amplifies the importance of this project and the gift of clean water. When the project was completed, a cholera outbreak was threatening these very communities, but by the grace of God they had clean water, and so, avoided illness and potential death from the cholera outbreak. May the Lord bless you for this life-saving investment you have made into the lives of those who benefit in the name of Jesus. You are laying up treasure in Heaven.

Previous to the completion of this project the people of the community had no trusted water source. Life was very difficult and full of health problems from drinking polluted water. They travelled far distances, 1 or 2 hours just to reach water sources such as surface ponds, dambos, the river, hand-dug wells near the local river, and streams. In dry-season the people had to travel even farther to bring water home water to their families. Cholera, dysentery, opening of bowels, & parasites were water-related diseases which they were constantly exposed to. 

Here are photos from the two well sites. Both have a tap for people to draw water and the solar panels are fitted onto the top of the guard shelters where the solar pump control box is located.  

CHIPIRIRO WELL SITE, Mutabali, Malawi

Video Testimony Translation:  Chipiriro Well Location, Mutabali (Male speaker)

We here in this area we are so grateful because of this development we have here. This was a very needy village for water, but because of this development God has showed us mercy. We are so thankful because of Bishop Charles and our donors out there. In this land we are now experiencing cholera outbreak. Many people are dying every day because the lack of cleanness…people are lacking good safe water and in this area. This area is one of the villages who lacked water. People were traveling so many km to reach the river and draw water there. But we are thankful to God because of this water from the tank. Other areas are so desperate. But we here we are so glad.

Covid 19 also reminded us that we should be clean and demanded we should wash our hands regularly. But, because of this development our women are now glad.

When we were coming from the garden, and children from school we were desperate to find water to drink.

But now, when we come home from work, from school, they are drinking water without any problem. Very good water and clean. You who have done this we want to appreciate you and congratulate you. And we ask God that you should continue what you have done here to do this in more areas, also. And God bless you accordingly. And more than this, we thank Bishop Mithowa because without him this grace would not be here [have come]. We are thankful because of him. May God bless you.

MUHEKU WELL SITE, Mutabali, Malawi

Video testimony translation:  Muheku Well Location, Mutabali (Lady speaker)

We in the village of Mukoko are very thankful because of this clean water you have provided to us. We were in big problems for water. For us to get water from the dambo, for us to travel for good water we have to travel long distances. We are very thankful for this water tank here. We see it as a grace from God. Due to the cholera outbreak which is now and going. Because of this grace we are thankful because the waters we were using was very dirty.

We are very thankful, especially we women, because of this grace. We are very thankful to the providers of this tank. You have saved our lives here because of the water related diseases. This water will never produce those problems at all. But the waters we were using, we were at the danger zone. This outbreak which has come. it would have been a big problem because of dirty water.

And here now we are very thankful. Now, our children will be healthy, our bodies will be healthy because of grace. We thank God very greatly because of this gift.

 The benefits of clean water [for these two communities] go beyond the physical, the spirit is lifted, too. You have provided clean water and hope! They now have peace of mind for the safety of their children;  they have immediate improvement in their heath;  they no longer are spending so much time fetching water, and can now focus on other work.  Kids are able to go to school vs. fetching water.  The communities will prosper to a greater degree. And, the people know this is a gift from the Lord and are grateful.

There was a delay between when the two two borehole wells were completed in November 2022 (reported in the Interim report above) and final completion of the project.  As stated in the funding report (above), the initial plan was to buy a portable diesel pump for irrigation and feed it off of river water.  However, a number of things changed which took the irrigation portion of this project in a different direction.  (1) The cost of the diesel pump was higher than expected.  (2) The weight and difficulties transporting a diesel pump, digging out small temporary irrigation ponds, and using those temporary ponds to provide water to fields would be too difficult and would have to be repeated every year.  And (3), the output capacity of our two water wells ended up being higher than expected…high enough to directly provide irrigation water to our Farming God’s Way community farm plot.  Therefore, instead of buying a diesel pump and other related equipment, we instead bought piping and two electric pumps to be able to irrigate a central Farming God’s Way farm plot directly from our two new borehole wells.  The electric pumps source water from the two borehole holding tanks and pump that water through piping to our central farm plot.  This eliminates all of the issues with our original approach and means we can have a large centrally-located Farming God’s Way plot, thanks to the generosity of Ingomar Living Waters donors.  And while all of this was completed in late February 2023, it took a while to collect testimonial videos and pictures and relay it to our generous Ingomar Living Waters donors.  Sorry for the delays.

But note that this means you have also provided a means to grow food for the needy in the community through irrigation. A Farming God’s Way community farm plot is already planted between both wells and the food that is being grown there will be used to feed the needy such as orphans and widows. Some of the crop will be sold to benefit the same. What is FGW?  Farming God’s Way is an effective no till farming method. Teams educate the people with FGW, so they may learn to grow more abundant and quality crops. Importantly, the program involves discipleship groups who meet  regularly called GLGs (God’s Love Groups). They discuss FGW, encourage one another, disciple one another, and discuss and practice living by biblical principles. The irrigation provided will allow for bountiful harvest and the people will share in it.  So not only did you provide clean water to 7,000 people in the Mutabali area, but you have also established a Farming God’s Way irrigation plot used to school people around Mutabali and from surrounding areas on how to farm much more productively.  So you are providing us a growing source of food in addition to giving the people of Mutabali clean water.

 Thank you so much!!  May God bless you as you have blessed others!