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SUCCESS!!
The first well begins to pump water |
We’ve
hit water!!!! We have so much to be grateful for this week. The
Lord has helped us to accomplish so much in such a short time. The
first well is a success!
We only had to drill 350 feet in order to secure water. We put apump
down the well and ran a generator in order to temporarily supply
the electricity needed for the pump. The pump ran all day in an
attempt to measure the capacity of the well. The well supplied a
minimum of 30 gallons per minute with the potential of doing much
more. With our preliminary calculations completed, it looks as if
this well can supply three of the neighbouring communities with
life giving water! We must now begin phase two of this well and
that is to get a permanent power line to the well from some overhead
wires that are reasonably close. Bob is moving forward to finalize
the plans for the construction of a concrete water tank that would
distribute the water to the three fortunate villages.
The second drilling rig has also hit water but the ground formation
is very tricky and is not allowing us to drill into the aquifer.
We are at the top of a water-bearing zone but the well continues
to fill with a fine gravel/sand as soon as the drill stem is lifted
out. With the limited drilling supplies that we have available to
us, this well has become a challenge to complete successfully. Keep
us in your prayers for the patience and wisdom that are needed for
this one. The thought of abandoning the well location is a difficult
one as we have already spent two weeks of drilling it thus far.
Yet, how much more time do we invest on this location before possibly
having to give up. Some difficult decisions will have to be made
in the next few days.
In the meantime, we have moved the first rig to begin drilling in
another community. The drilling is
going very fast but that causes some concern. If the ground formation
is too soft, there is a high risk of the well collapsing at a later
date. It would be a disaster for that to happen, especially if a
pump were already to be installed.
Needless to say, the people are overjoyed with the results thus
far. Word is spreading and representatives from further communities
are bringing letters to our camp requesting the assistance of a
water well. It is so difficult to flat out say no. At this time
our agenda is so full that it is impossible to entertain the thought
of committing to other communities. We will be very fortunate to
complete the program that is already in existence before the new
rainy season begins and makes drilling impossible.
Speaking of rains, our little camp has had some challenges to overcome
this week. The final rain storms are still passing through before
the dry season takes a firm hold. Our tents were put to the test
to keep us dry during the night. With some minor adjustments, leaky
areas in the tents were dealt with but the ground outside is more
of a challenge. With the confined area that we are living in, the
ground around the tents soon turned into mud pits. It is a real
test to keep the inside of the tent mud free as layers of mud cling
to the bottom and sides of your shoes with each step.
As frustrating as the mud may be, it opens our eyes to the difficulties
that the Guatemalans face
year after year. The evenings get very cold as soon as the sun goes
down. We are challenged to stay comfortably warm even with all the
clothing and extras that we possess. We then look at our neighbours
who live to the right and left of our camp. They live in mud adobe
dwellings with dirt floors. Most families sleep on the cold floor
around their cooking fire. In the morning, the children are all
sporting severely running noses and are shivering from the cold.
It is very humbling when I see what these children go through at
such a young age. I look at my own comfortable life as an adult,
born into a life of luxury living in the Niagara region. These children
have already faced and overcome more physical challenges in their
few short years than I have in the 43 years that God has blessed
me with. I stand humbled before these children.
Please continue to keep us in your prayers as we deal with the hurdles
and frustrations that lay before us. Next week we plan to get Mark
started on the construction of the elementary schools that we have
promised a few of the communities. We will send photos and updates
as the project continues.
This weekend we said goodbye to George Hodgekinson. He spent two
weeks with us to help us get the drilling rigs operating. He has
already booked a return with his wife Margaret and daughter Chantel
for December 5th and will take over the operation of one of the
drilling rigs.
We also welcomed the return of David Mole this week. He was one
of the volunteers who helped to drive the equipment to Guatemala.
After having returned home for only one week in Niagara, his heart
called him back to the Wells of Hope team.
We now have a P.O. Box to receive mail. If you would like to write
us please send the mail to:
Wells
of Hope
P.O. Box 11
Jalapa
Guatemala
Thanks
again for all of your prayers and support!
Your servants in Christ…Peter Mernagh
The Wells of Hope Team.
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