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.