From the end of August to mid-September we were able to visit our children and grandson to see with our own eyes how they are doing.

We also wanted to see more about the situation in Zambia and the problems that exist due to the enormous drought in the country.

The need is very high in the Nyawa area and Morris and Suzanne have been able to provide help there in collaboration with ‘Friends of Dorcas Woudenberg’.

Family visit
It was very good to experience what it is like to live in Zambia and how Suzanne and Morris try to face all challenges.
The transition from life in the Netherlands to life in Zambia is especially big for Suzanne.

We have seen how she handles it and how she remains brave and optimistic even when things are difficult.
We saw her enjoying motherhood and taking care of Jonathan.

We also see Morris working hard and doing everything he can to provide for his family. Building a business requires a lot of effort, which sometimes leaves little time to be with his family. Hopefully this is temporarily and as the business gets going things will become easier.

Zambia
The country is experiencing a severe drought because there was hardly any rain during the previous rainy season. This means that there is insufficient water to grow crops and therefore there is hunger.

The second major problem is that the water reservoirs are now (almost) empty and no more electricity can be generated. This means that if you live in the city there is no pressure on the water supply. Not to mention that it becomes impossible to do your job; Think, for example, of hairdressers, garage companies, etc.

All hopes are pinned on a good and plentiful rainy season this October-November.

Nyawa
In the Nyawa area, a 3-hour drive from where Morris and Suzanne live, the water shortage situation is even more severe.
What we saw and heard there made a big impact; the situation turned out to be much more serious than we had expected…

Women had to walk for 2 hours to find even a little bit of polluted water. This results in many diseases such as diarrhea, etc.

With the support of ‘Friends of Dorcas Woudenberg’ and in collaboration with ‘Dalitso Skills Centre’ of Morris and Suzanne, a borehole (water pump) could be established in May of this year.

Six villages, with more than 3,000 people, are now using this pump. To ensure that everyone had a turn, pumping continued during the night.

It is inspiring to see how this facility is being shared and no one is sent away.

The great thing is that a facility has now been built where water can be tapped from several taps at the same time.
During our visit we also saw the places where the women had to get their water until the arrival of the water pump and lately even had to dig to get to the water. These places were now all dry…

Gratitude and need
When the pump was handed over, we were addressed by several villagers. Their message was always the same: ‘We are so grateful for this borehole, it has been a life saver, and you are an answer to our prayers’.

The second message was: ‘Please give us more boreholes’.

The water that is now available for this group of people is enough for drinking, but there is still not enough to grow crops and feed the animals. This means that there is hunger…

And Nyawa is vast and many villages have not yet been reached.

It is clear; help, financial support and prayers are needed.

The fact that all parties, both ‘Friends of Dorcas Woudenberg’, Morris and Suzanne, and the contacts in the Nyawa area, know and trust each other personally, means that there are short lines of communication and the financial support reaches its destination in full.

We appeal to you to support their project from our own prosperity.

Peter and Henny