22 Meters!!

We have finished digging the fourth well in Lassa Tchou.  After just two days of digging, the well team in Lassa Tchou arrived at a depth of 22 feet and have now begun the process of development.  This well is different from each of the other wells not only because of it’s increased depth, but also because of the challenges in development if brings.  With each of the previous three wells in Lassa Tchou, each about nine meters in depth, we dug through mainly sand and gravel with only a small amount of clay holding these substances together.  Because of this, the development was rapid as water passes easily through them.  However, with the fourth well the development has been challenging and will take some time because the primary substance we drilled through was a very sticky red clay.  This clay is great for drilling, but a sticky mess for actually working to free up the water table to release water.  Therefore, we are currently working not only to increase the amount of water being release but we also want to decrease the time necessary to recharge the well after use.  The water team that has been trained in Lassa Tchou is doing a good job and will soon begin a new well completely of their own initiative and training.  It is really exciting to see this happen as they are empowered to serve their community through the giving of good clean water sources.

Today in Ndjei we begin a new well and the training of a new water team.  Please be praying for the training of this new team and that God will bless us with a good first well in Ndjei.  We will be drilling very near to a well that was drilled by the UN and if you are wondering why we would do this please allow me to explain.  I asked Jerome Armana, one of the elders in the Ndjei church about the UN well and he informed me that the total cost for the well was nine million francs CFA (currently about $21,000).  Currently the cost of one of our well, at a comparable depth, is about 30,000 francs CFA (currently about $70).  Our desire is to show the difference not only in cost, but also help them see that they can be empowered to bring good, clean water to their friends and neighbors in a way that is cost effective and sustainable for years and years to come.  This is so exciting to me and I hope it excites you as well.  If you would like to help financially in the drilling of a well, then please see the previous blog entry for information on how you can make that happen.  Thanks to each of you and please continue praying for this project.   

More Water!!

Since my last post, and that has been some time, much has happened on the well drilling front.  Matthew Waller came and during his time here we not only drilled the well spoken of in my previous post but also drilled two other wells.  In Lassa Tchou there are now three good quality wells that are producing more water than the people can pump out.  It is very exciting to be involved in this project and see how people’s lives can be changed  with just a little bit of water.  We are currently drilling the fourth and final test well in Lassa Tchou and it has been great.  This is my first complete well without Matt Waller being here and things are progressing nicely.  We began the well on Saturday morning and by 4:00 that afternoon we had drilled to just under eighteen meters.  At times the drilling went so fast that we barely had time to get a new piece of pipe ready to add on to the drill stem.  It was crazy!  All we could do was look at each other and shrug our shoulders.  It was such a great blessing.  Monday morning we will continue drilling and who knows how deep we will be able to go?  Those who live nearby and have seen what we are doing and want wells dug in their area as well and it looks as if the Lassa Tchou drilling team will have plenty of work ahead of them.  I say team because from the beginning of the work our hope was to not only drill a few test wells, but train a group of people who could in turn go and drill many, many wells in their immediate area.  The fourth well that is currently being drilled is being done almost completely by the Lassa Tchou team.  I have simply been a consultant of sorts.  So please pray for this well drilling group that God will bless them and empower them to drill many wells but also do the work in the name of Jesus.

Following the drilling in Lassa Tchou, my plan is to move on to another location and begin the training all over again with a new group of folks.  Please pray for that process.  Also, we are continually in need of funds for the purchasing of materials.  If you would like to contribute you can send the funds to the Preston Road Church of Christ in Dallas, TX.  They have graciously agreed to act as our collection point for this great project.  The address there is:  Water For Togo, c/o PRCC, 6409 Preston Road, Dallas, TX 75205.  Your gift will be deposited into a special account and will be accessible here in Togo through our wonderful ATM.  Thanks to each of you who are involved in this project either through your prayers or financial support.  I believe this project is truly going to be a great blessing for the Kabiye people.