Clean Water Project

This is the sign that is hung anywhere they do a water project

By far my favorite thing about this entire experience, was the opportunity to see, first hand, the country and people of Myanmar in situations not catered for tourists. They day we flew into Yangon, we traveled to a nearby village. As we exited the van, we could hear music playing and not knowing what to expect, we simply followed our parents down a dirt road.

Only a little ways down, we saw this group assembling with a row of women holding flowers and several men videotaping our promenade. The three of us were kind of giggly, because we didn't know what was going on, but after seeing my parents graciously accept some flowers and do a little bow saying, "Mingala ba", which means Hello in Burmese, we did the same.

The band. They were having a good time.

The jester person. My parents say somebody dances like this at every ceremony. Tradition, I guess. The crowd liked him.

We were escorted into a small concrete covered area where a table and microphone were set up, as well as 30 or so chairs. In the front row on both sides were tables covered with fruit, soda and water. This would be a familiar sight everywhere we went with my parents. We were constantly treated as VIPs and given a generous refreshment, wanted or not. At first it felt rude not to eat and drink what they offered, but my parents told us that what we left, they were able to eat. It made it easier to say no to the sweet women bringing us a plate of sliced apples and oranges. And after having to use a squatter out in the public sector, I quickly learned the benefit of saying "no" to the beverages as well. It's best to be dehydrated when visiting poor villages getting clean water for the first time.

My parents...Guests of Honor

My view from my seat through a hole in the wall.

My dad giving a speach being translated by Dr. Win

Cutting the ribbon. The building contai the pump is behind them.


So you can hear the great tunes at the ceremony

The children were always and happy to be in pictures.

What my parents do, as humanitarian missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is act as country directors for LDS charities, which is the only official organization the church has in the country. There is a small branch, but there are no proselyting missionaries, and the building they use as a church is actually a home so they are unable to put up a church sign anywhere. LDS Charities is able to work with NGOs which stands for Non-Government Organizations which is why they work so closely with Dr. Win who stared Community Development Association, or CDA, which is an NGO.

Dr. Win and one of his assistants, Thandar, after taking us to one of several meals. He was a very gracious host, but my mom pointed out that he was basically paying with their money since he gets a cut of what the church gives to fund his projects. But he was a very educated man and we learned a lot through talking to him.

Dr. Win hires the engineers and builds the pump and sheltering building that is erected in these villages that have had no clean water to drink. The church insists on these ceremonies so that the people can put a face on where the support is coming from. So, the whole ceremonies really recognize LDS Charities, CDA and usually USDA which is a group whose function I never really understood, but they were always there, showing us around and videotaping us.

We were actually given a DVD of this day. I wish I could upload it but I'm sure it'd be too long.

After the ribbon cutting ceremony and taking pictures, we walked through the village to the school and were treated to some songs and flowers from the school children. Watching them was a delight and prominently displayed was the large water container with the LDS charities sticker on it. There was a blue cup for the boys to use and a pink cup for the girls. They are so grateful to have something that I have taken for granted my entire life.

A woman in the village doing her laundry.

A newborn baby on the front porch of a house. The baby was underneath mosquito netting but as I was taking a picture, the mother came and lifted it off so I could get a clearer picture.

Women selling fish. Click to enlarge. I bet you wouldn't buy these fish.

The children waiting for us at the school. The uniform for education is green and white, so teachers, as well as students, are required to wear these colors.

The clean water filter. You can see the pink cup for the girls.

We took a bunch of group photos afterwards and I have absolutely no idea why we had to be in them. Somebody has us up on their wall:)

My dad showing a classroom where we lived and how far we had come.

Them performing a song for us.

Eating their lunch. Everyone brings these tin containers of cold rice.

That is the bulk of what my parents do. They provide the means for water projects to happen throughout the entire country. They travel around and meet the people they are helping drink safe water(well...safer....you'll notice that most of the containers used to gather the water are old paint drums and diesel fuel containers).

Old paint drums to collect the "clean" water.

They have also been involved in a wheelchair distribution project and a neonatal intensive care training project. They both work hard and take the responsibility seriously, for they are the face of the church in Myanmar.

On our way to a rural village the next day. The cow wouldn't move.

Walking out to view the Andaman Sea which touches the Indian Ocean.

The hospital in the village.

A small crowd gathered at the pharmacy to watch my dad get a band-aid after he tripped and skinned his hand.

Getting first-aid.

My mom and I on the coast.

I don't think the church could have sent a better couple to make the decisions that have to be made and to represent it. It was an honor to be there.

Next up...teaching English to the Burmese.