Friday, September 13

Battery Containers Arrive

To my brothers and sisters following our work and praying for us...

Friday we got word that the batteries were in Burundi around noon but had to be cleared of tariffs or something.  That took about 3 hours.  Around three we got the heads up that they were on the way so we had about 15 minutes to clear out the classroom where they would be stored.  About 15 women jumped on that project, including the chicas!  In like five minutes, they had it cleared and clean.  Then the gates to HAU opened and behold, the truck carrying two 20’ containers!  And we had about 20 men ready to go at it.

We got word that the front container was ours and we had to unload from the front.  A bit tricky but the guys jumped right in and started unwrapping the boxes.

They came up with a plan.  About seven of them would hand them down one by one to a crew of four waiting on ground level.  A bit awkward at first since everyone wanted to carry it different, but after a couple runs we all had a method that worked!  The boxes are strapped to a small pallet about 200 lbs. each.  No big deal between four guys.  It was easy work.  As the student looked on, we were all singing and cheering each other on.  We unloaded about 15 of them and then the look on Nora’s face told me I was in for a surprise.  Those were only the battery cabinets.

The men were struggling to pull out the battery boxes and slowly muscling them to the next crew who would hand it down to us.  I knew it was buckle down time!  I reached out to receive the crate and I slowly felt the weight transfer from the second tier to us.  Whoah!

They were heavy.  Again we struggled to find a good carry position but figured it out fast. They were about 400lbs. and there were a total of 30 crates.  I wasn't the only one soaked in sweat and struggling to catch my breath and recover my composure.  At the perfect time, Nora came back with water for everyone and we took a couple minutes to recover and get pumped up again.  A lot of barking and then round two!  We went at it again and it was like, “tuck your chin and start swinging”.  We still had about half of a container to unload.  Groans!!!

Made it back from a trip in “zombie mode”.  Reached out for a box.  Braced for the weight. Started walking with it, but it felt different.  I looked at my partner and he looked at me and we both noticed at the same time.  It’s a cabinet box.  About half the weight!  Ha ha ha ha!  We shared a laugh while continuing our trek.  And the rest was downhill from there.

As usual we celebrated when we finished, drank some more water while Nora fixed up some scrapes and cuts.  Then we headed back to clean up, done for the day.  A good thing because I know I was drained.

So there are a total of 30 battery cabinets in boxes and 30 crates, holding two batteries each, sitting in a classroom locked and waiting for the next teams.  IMANA ishmwe! God be praised!