Water from the Well

We had originally planned to show up and commission the well that was to have been finished before we arrived.  But as you know plans have a way of changing.  We didn't know what God had in store but we did know we were ready to do whatever was needed.  We knew from working at the mission the day before that there was some work to be done to finish the well.  The main projects to finish were installing the reserve tank, installing the pump, running the PVC, and finishing the out building that would house the electricity for the pump and store other items.

While some of the men associated with the missions were finishing the PVC pipe work, our team began filling the floor of the out building with rocks to prepare it for concrete.  And did we ever fill it with rocks!  Each team member grabbed a bucket and picked up rocks by hand from the surrounding area (some from larger piles, some just laying around to make use of all we could).  What happened next amazed all of us.  We needed a lot of rocks and gravel to get the base layer ready for the cement mixture.  The kids from the project - whom we had played with the day before - slowly showed up just to see what was going on.  A few of them saw what we were attempting to do and began to help gather rocks with us - picking them up and placing them in our buckets.  Before we knew it (and against all child labor laws in the States) about 20 kids were helping contribute to this well that would bring them clean water.  They filled our buckets - and our hearts - and helped carry them to the out building.

Pastor Nate found himself working with a 6 year old machine who never let him take a break or slow down.  As soon as they emptied a bucket the child grabbed the empty one from Pastor Nate and just started walking back to the rock pile.  As Pastor Nate stopped for water the child very impatiently looked at him until he was ready to get back to work.  At one point Pastor Nate was told to go help with something closer to the missions building for a few min.  His "boss" followed him over, took his work gloves from him, and went back to work by himself.

What was amazing to see was how the community of kids saw what was going to be and wanted to be part of helping bring clean water to the village.  After the cement was poured, reserve tank arrived, and electric pump was placed down in the well we saw water start flowing out from it!  There are still a few pieces missing to make it an automated system that will allow people from the village come and get water any time they want but even so the water is flowing and people are able to fill their containers!

WATER!!!