Helping Hands--Mains Serviables

We have had a number of "Mormon Helping Hands" ("Mains Serviables") this past year.  Most of them have been simple activities like picking up trash along the streets.  That has been rather frustrating to us, because the people here don't hesitate to toss something on the ground.  As we cleaned, we'd look behind and see it was already being littered.

Today, we had an activity that was more meaningful.  We worked around the outside of a hospital, cleaning the entrance and getting rid of weeds, brush and trash along the street leading to the hospital.  At one point, one of the men came to me and said, "Don't work in this brush.  There is something in there that is very bad."  I'm not sure what was there, but I definitely followed his instructions!

Brother Bedi giving instructions at the hospital entrance.

Sisters ready to go to work.  They carry pretty much anything they need in those plastic bags.

Motos that have brought people to the marché.

The main project was to clear off the weeds and brush from this little incline along the road outside the hospital.

Machetes are the tool of choice for just about any job.  They really know how to use them!

In clearing the weeds, we found a lot of trash.  That was piled up along the side of the road along with the weeds.

Brother Bedi is using his machete to chop down that tree.  It only took a few whacks.  Notice the huge pile in the lower right corner.  This went on for several hundred yards.

Some of our missionaries at work.  For those who didn't have machetes, they used sticks to push the piles together.  Simple tools, but they make them work very efficiently.

Heading back to the hospital entrance, weeds chopped and piles left for the city to haul away.

How many hospitals have you been to where you were greeted by a rooster getting a drink on the sidewalk?

Most people don't have running water.  They're very grateful to have a pump in most neighborhoods so they can have clean (sort of) water.  

Washing up after a good morning's work.

Here's the crew.  We love these people!!!