At Last, the Water Pipes are Laid!

2004 - Fifth Pilgrimage

After spending the early summer on Cape Cod - staring at sea, stars and an occasional book - in late July [2004] I joined 21 First Parish pilgrims to commemorate the 10th anniversary of our partnership with the Unitarian Church in Abásfalva, Transylvania. We returned home last week, a little tired but filled with strong and beautiful memories. Both here and in Abásfalva there is shared conviction that this enduring relationship transforms all our lives.

A new generation from Bedford was introduced to the gorgeous panoramic langscape, to the cows, horses, goats and geese (each of which knows the way to its own home gate), to the muddy roads, to the pained but proud Hungarian history, and to the warm hearts and hospitality of our Unitarian sisters and brothers.

Most importantly, we gathered to celebrate the successful completion of the two-year project that has replaced the entire water system of this 300-person village. Clean dependable water now reaches every home, including for the first time ever, those homes of the Roma (gypsy) residents. Altogether 4,150 meters of plastic pipe was laid at a total cost of $21,000. $9,000 was provided by the fund-raising of our Partner Church Committee, including support from our Social Responsibility Council. Remaining costs were shared by the Abásfalva Unitarian Church, the village Landowner's Association, and by businessman János László (who visited Bedford last fall for the dedication of the wooden kopjafák poles in our Memorial Garden.)

A sidebar to this story: When we arrived, a few-thousand-dollar deficit remained in the water project. Some who had hand-dug the trenches had not yet been paid, and it was a dilemma. During our visit, however, the county “commissioner” joined us for a church service. He was so impressed by the enthusiasm and cooperation among the water project's participants that he agreed for the county to supply all the needed funds. Bedford's participation, thus, was an essential catalyst to everyone's cooperation.

A further sidebar: One afternoon, several Bedfordians hiked up the pine-forested hill to the four springs that feed the water system. There we put our hands to shovels and pick-ax, helping to cover the new-laid pipe. The earth was dense like clay; it was slow muddy hard work. It gave us just a taste of the labor this project required. And when later we visited the homes of Roma and heard their joy at indoor water, there was a shared satisfaction at what, working together, we all did accomplish. No longer was it necessary to wash clothes in the river nor to raise buckets from a well.

    

All at First Parish may justly feel proud. Somebody say amen.

John Gibbons

from the Parishioner,  August 18, 2004

The 2004 travelers: John Gibbons, Joan Petros, Roger Peltier, Nancy & Rich Daugherty, Cathy & Ron Cordes, Donna & Chuck Cole, Sharon McDonald, Pat, Ben, Kirsten, & Jennifer Leiby, Sarah Dorer, Peggy Potter-Smith, Natalie Brierly, Paul Vears, Nina Wampler, Dean McKennon (Swampscott-partnered with Kemenyfalva), and Liam Gallagher (New Buffalo, MI).

         

A “garden party” or perhaps a “barbeque” at László Szigmond's house in Kemenyfalva.(His wife is Margit; his daughters are Eva and Gyöngyi.)