I previously posted concerning our sister state in Africa. Here is an update.
The committee has decided that I am not the best qualified to go to Mali to help with the water mains. I can't argue... the guy they found to 'replace' me is willing the transport his donated back-hoe worth about 30 thousand dollars to Mali and donate it to future use. The Utah Air National Guard will be doing the transport. Cudo's to them and the governor for ok'ing it. What I was told as 30 miles of 48 inch water main has turned out to be 3 miles of 16 inch main... but that is good. It will support a civic center,school, a mosque, a central park with water pond and fountain... and allowance for future expansion into over 500 homes... Aside... I actually know the guy who is replacing me on the November trip.... he and I worked side by side for years... he as an excavator... me as a framer. I told him about it as we gabbed over insulation at Home Depot on a Sunday morning, and upon learning that he had a machine that was not going to sell, encouraged him to contact the mali alliance. ... Anyway, I gave my money that I would have spent on going to Mali to the committee for use as they see fit. It is a relief in one sense... and a disappointment in another.
Mike