Awassa, Ethiopia July 1, 2006

I have very limited time today to send this email and hope to be able to send another soon. After sending the email from Jack Williams house, of ENF, last Sunday, I discussed with the group the need to hire a backhoe if the alternate project is ever to be a reality. The siphon installation would involve about 1 km of 1-inch PVC pipe, an intake structure, and a headwall at the Haluka R. There was absolutely no way this could be accomplished with even the whole community digging a trench. Well, as we were leaving the house in Arsi Negelle and approaching the highway, a backhoe drove by in front of us. I said, Did you see that?, and we chased it down. After a brief negotiation conducted by our driver, Isaiah, the operator agreed to follow us to the campsite. For the next two days, he dug the trench needed for the pipe and thereby made it possible for the group to complete the project. The operator, Tashomo, was a hard worker, and I named him Wayne, which was much easier for all of us to pronounce. More later.....