Jim & I have made it to Accra.
Met with Rev Kofi and Rev Daniel this evening to re-confirm itinerary and objectives for the visit.
Tomorrow we head out to Awisa and Nsaba where we will be meeting with their Water Boards.
Overnight we are in Nsaba.
So tomorrow we are off and running, hope to get some good insights and pics as we travel and meet.
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Herd on the Move
I traded texts with Jim last night about 9:30 and he had made it to LaGuardia and already hailed a taxi and transferred to JFK and was on the plane - bags and all - which is good because he is carrying extra filters. I must say when Jim told me his plan I thought he had a 50/50 chance at best of making the connection - he's good!
For me, I have made it to Amsterdam - a little more than half way. Have a flight to Accra in about 3 hours. So if all goes as planned, should only be running about 7 hours behind the original schedule.
This is my first trip out of the US where I am not taking my laptop - this is a first in 20+ years. I have my iPad and phone to stay in contact with everyone and capture Jim and my trip.
For me, I have made it to Amsterdam - a little more than half way. Have a flight to Accra in about 3 hours. So if all goes as planned, should only be running about 7 hours behind the original schedule.
This is my first trip out of the US where I am not taking my laptop - this is a first in 20+ years. I have my iPad and phone to stay in contact with everyone and capture Jim and my trip.
Monday, April 22, 2013
Delays
Well Jim and I are first hand participants in the effects of the air traffic controller furloughs that began today. JFK airport has had to cancel a bunch of flights today.
Jim's flight to JFK was cancelled or delayed and now he is in route to New York's LaGuardia airport where he will land, grab his bag, and take a taxi to JFK - hopefully all in time make tonight's flight to Accra. If he misses tonight's flight, then he will have to take tomorrow night's flight.
My flight to JFK from Detroit was cancelled. So Delta re-routed me to Amsterdam and then Amsterdam to Accra, getting in tomorrow (Tuesday) evening. So hanging in Detroit for a few more hours and then off to Amsterdam. Hope the bag follows all these changes!
Jim's flight to JFK was cancelled or delayed and now he is in route to New York's LaGuardia airport where he will land, grab his bag, and take a taxi to JFK - hopefully all in time make tonight's flight to Accra. If he misses tonight's flight, then he will have to take tomorrow night's flight.
My flight to JFK from Detroit was cancelled. So Delta re-routed me to Amsterdam and then Amsterdam to Accra, getting in tomorrow (Tuesday) evening. So hanging in Detroit for a few more hours and then off to Amsterdam. Hope the bag follows all these changes!
Day in Memphis
Spent yesterday (Sunday) in Memphis getting everything together and attending church.
Idlewild did a nice commissioning deal during the service Sunday for Jim Levernier and myself.
Took a while to get everything together for the trip so the afternoon was quite busy.
Weather in Accra looks pretty good, 90s and some chance of rain.
A few pictures of the class at CWU & church.
Ready to head out (I think Chalmers was ready too for me head out). We had a great debate on the difference between disinfectant wipes and baby wipes (I think I lost, but won't admit it)!
Idlewild did a nice commissioning deal during the service Sunday for Jim Levernier and myself.
Took a while to get everything together for the trip so the afternoon was quite busy.
Weather in Accra looks pretty good, 90s and some chance of rain.
A few pictures of the class at CWU & church.
Ready to head out (I think Chalmers was ready too for me head out). We had a great debate on the difference between disinfectant wipes and baby wipes (I think I lost, but won't admit it)!
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Day 4 at CWU
Today is Saturday and my last day at CWU. I have to leave 1 day early because I an headed out for Ghana on Monday. I will miss a couple of things, but the good news is that I was able to attend all my class sessions.
I have included a few pictures of the group at breakfast, the aftermath of the Friday camp fire, and the lodge I stayed in - just so no one thought I was actually "camping" at Camp Hopewell.
I also included a picture of a fact card for those of us who don's always think about the impacts and implications of clean water.
Lastly, I included a picture of the map of Kenya (I am not going to Kenya), but there was a presbyterian minister (David) in the class from Kenya and David is from basically where Kenya meets Uganda and Tanzania. David was in the class as they is a trip in July to install a clean water unit in Kenya.
CWU was great for me. It gave me a foundation of what LWW is trying to accomplish through provisioning and sustaining of clean water systems throughout the world. The physical things I got were a certificate and a small clear stone. So, I think I am as equipped as the scarecrow and the tin man and now I just have to have the courage to follow through - stay tuned.
I have included a few pictures of the group at breakfast, the aftermath of the Friday camp fire, and the lodge I stayed in - just so no one thought I was actually "camping" at Camp Hopewell.
I also included a picture of a fact card for those of us who don's always think about the impacts and implications of clean water.
Lastly, I included a picture of the map of Kenya (I am not going to Kenya), but there was a presbyterian minister (David) in the class from Kenya and David is from basically where Kenya meets Uganda and Tanzania. David was in the class as they is a trip in July to install a clean water unit in Kenya.
CWU was great for me. It gave me a foundation of what LWW is trying to accomplish through provisioning and sustaining of clean water systems throughout the world. The physical things I got were a certificate and a small clear stone. So, I think I am as equipped as the scarecrow and the tin man and now I just have to have the courage to follow through - stay tuned.
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Day 3 at CWU
Friday at CWU.
Spent more time learning and interacting with the other people here at CWU. Spent most of the day in the class room learning about the importance of having a covenant (document) between the group putting in a water system, i.e. Idlewild and the group that will be operating the water system, i.e. the group in say Ghana.
Met a guy by the name of David from Kenya in the afternoon. We talked about Kenya and the wildlife there. I told him I had seen on 60 Minutes where the teeth of crocodiles glow in darkest water of the river - he confirmed that - so no swimming in the rivers with crocodiles for me.
Got a free t-shirt yesterday so another shirt to get mixed up with the boys shirts. So if anyone sees David or John with a Living Waters t-shirt - you'll know they are just beneficiaries of bad laundry sorting.
Last night we had a session where groups presented what they had learned so far, I have attached a picture from that session.
We also had our evening devotional - see picture.
Good group of people here at CWU - I told you about the guy from Kenya, a couple of guys are from Haiti, and then people from all over the US - LA, VA, NY, KS, CA, MS, AL, TN, OH, TX, NJ, and so on.
Most everyone here has a plan to put in a water system. Places they are scheduled to go are: Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Kenya, Haiti, & Cuba.
Not sure I shared the economics of a clean water system, but it costs about $2,800. It's constructed from materials & parts we (in the US) can readily find at Lowe's or a plumbing supply or swimming pool supply house.
It's pretty simple technology and costs almost nothing for the in-country operating partner to run - they just have to be committed to operating the system. I am sure that's not an easy commitment and I will find out more why next week in Ghana.
Spent more time learning and interacting with the other people here at CWU. Spent most of the day in the class room learning about the importance of having a covenant (document) between the group putting in a water system, i.e. Idlewild and the group that will be operating the water system, i.e. the group in say Ghana.
Met a guy by the name of David from Kenya in the afternoon. We talked about Kenya and the wildlife there. I told him I had seen on 60 Minutes where the teeth of crocodiles glow in darkest water of the river - he confirmed that - so no swimming in the rivers with crocodiles for me.
Got a free t-shirt yesterday so another shirt to get mixed up with the boys shirts. So if anyone sees David or John with a Living Waters t-shirt - you'll know they are just beneficiaries of bad laundry sorting.
Last night we had a session where groups presented what they had learned so far, I have attached a picture from that session.
We also had our evening devotional - see picture.
Good group of people here at CWU - I told you about the guy from Kenya, a couple of guys are from Haiti, and then people from all over the US - LA, VA, NY, KS, CA, MS, AL, TN, OH, TX, NJ, and so on.
Most everyone here has a plan to put in a water system. Places they are scheduled to go are: Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Kenya, Haiti, & Cuba.
Not sure I shared the economics of a clean water system, but it costs about $2,800. It's constructed from materials & parts we (in the US) can readily find at Lowe's or a plumbing supply or swimming pool supply house.
It's pretty simple technology and costs almost nothing for the in-country operating partner to run - they just have to be committed to operating the system. I am sure that's not an easy commitment and I will find out more why next week in Ghana.
Friday, April 19, 2013
Day 2 at CWU
Day 2 here at Camp Hopewell. Storm came through last night, drop a bunch of rain and the temp.
Good day in class - we went through how to plan a clean water trip and the issues associated with getting the equipment into a country. The entire clean water system is basically from Lowes and a swimming pool supply house - so very common "stuff".
So the facts to share today are that there are over 1 billion people in the world that don't have access to clean water. Every year about 3M people die from illnesses that come out of not having access to clean water - the MAJORITY of these deaths are children - many under the age of 5.
A few pics from yesterday:
Camp before the rain
Evening devotional
Class room.
Good day in class - we went through how to plan a clean water trip and the issues associated with getting the equipment into a country. The entire clean water system is basically from Lowes and a swimming pool supply house - so very common "stuff".
So the facts to share today are that there are over 1 billion people in the world that don't have access to clean water. Every year about 3M people die from illnesses that come out of not having access to clean water - the MAJORITY of these deaths are children - many under the age of 5.
A few pics from yesterday:
Camp before the rain
Evening devotional
Class room.
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