Day 6 - Maggie's Story

We toured a bit today (took a boat to an island in Lake Nicaragua - beautiful). Thought I'd not give you the Cook's tour - not too enlightening. I won't show you any photos either (Forgot the camera at the staff house). Thought I'd tell you about Maggie.

Maggie's a Poultry Science major at Texas A&M. She went to Honduras with her brother (Tex) a few years ago to drill a water well with Living Water. She and her brother had a wonderful time - enjoyed the people, especially the children. Tex had a special joy playing with the kids - they loved him, and he loved the children.

A little over 2 years ago, at age 15, Tex committed suicide.

Maggie came on this trip with Living Water to dedicate a well in his memory, because of his love for the children in Central America, and the joy he felt serving them.

Maggie's a strong young woman - we didn't realize the underlying purpose of her trip with us until Wednesday, when the plaque was placed in the wet cement pad at the well site. She played joyously with the kids, and taught hygiene, sanitation, and Bible lessons to them and the women of the community we served. She's not letting the sorrow of the loss of her brother overwhelm her but is addressing it with the love of the Lord. Maggie's a wonderful example to each of us.

Maggie's decided not to let Tex's memory be a negative one, but something that is dedicated to good, and to God's good purpose.

We love you Maggie.

Day 5 - Run tubing and the hand pump; dedicate the well

Installing Tubing and Pump

Assembling the surface equipment

Today went as planned - we installed the tubing and pump first. They've started using a new design PVC and pump in the last 2 years and it's so much easier and faster - we had run galvanized pipe; that's a lot heavier and more complicated  So, again, this has been an easy week - drilling went well, completion was quick, and tubing and pump installation was easy.

Ready for the Dedication

Dedication
 (and instructions on use of well and pump)

There were probably close to 200 people at the dedication - a full house. Even though the community has a well down the road, it's quite a distance to carry water. The pastor who lives next door to the church was also deepening his hand- dug well (unsafe water, but used for showers, washing, and watering the plants). It's been very dry in Nicaragua the past few years, and many of the normal sources of water have dried up.

Dedication Plaque below Pump Handle

We did a little touring after the well dedication, and will do more tomorrow before going to the Hotel Hex. (Not sure about that name...)

Dedication

Thanks again for your prayers - we are grateful to each of you for praying, and thinking of us

The kids are great!

Drilling and Hygiene Team

Lunch. Tastes like Chicken.
(Some of it is chicken!)

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Bye-Bye

Day 4 - Finish cleaning the well; pour cement pad

Making a 'Cement Vocano' for the well pad

Dedicated to Maggie's brother

The well work went routinely today - we finished cleaning the well (producing water until the water was clear of mud and sand). Moved the rig away from the well, and mixed cement for a pad around the well. That way when people pump the well it's not muddy, and contaminated surface water doesn't go down the well.

We placed a plaque in the concrete to mark who'd drilled the well, and who'd donated the funds for the well. Maggie's brother had passed away a while back; they'd been on a Living Water trip together. The well was donated in her brother's (Tex) name.

The hygiene team taught on Jesus' walking on water, and Jesus washing the disciples' feet - both morning (for the children) and afternoon (for the women). The hygiene team, and some of the men (including Woodie) joined in the foot washing.

Washing the Feet

..and Woodie's drying them

Just to prove I am here (not mailing it in..)

Kids in Bible Class in the morning

Hasta Manana!

Day 3 - Run Casing, gravel pack, clean the well

Gravel packing (pour gravel down the outside of the pipe)

Another very good day. When we got to the community, we found that the well was exactly the same as when we left it - nothing had fallen into the well and it was clean all the way to 85', So we decided not to drill any more, and ran the casing (PVC pipe) to 85'. Slots had been cut in the bottom 30' of pipe so water could flow through. And we gravel packed the well - poured gravel down the outside of the pipe to cover the slotted pipe.

Very dirty water - just starting to clean the well

Clean water!

We spent most of the rest of the day 'cleaning' the well - producing water at a fairly high rate until the water was clean Two of the pictures show the difference - the first was taken when we started to clean the well, the second about 3 hours later. I did drink some water from the well, but that's not recommended.

Soccer after the morning hygiene lesson

The hygiene team taught children this morning, and mothers this afternoon - hygiene, diet, and oral hygiene (tooth brushing). I was able to play some frisbee with the children - great fun. (Better than playing soccer - I'm too slow!) Do wish I knew some Spanish, but not enough to actually learn any.

Afternoon hygiene lesson with the ladies

Hasta Manana!

Thank you for your prayers - keep 'em coming!

Day 2 - Drill

A good day drilling today. Drilled with air to 85'; the top of the water table was approximately 65'. Apparently, most places around Rivas produce fairly low rate wells, but a nearby well produced over 100 GPM, and this one looks as if it will produce a lot too.

The name of the community is La Curba - meaning 'The Curve'. Must be taken from the highway right next to the well and church - the Pan American Highway. It's a straightaway through this area. 

Packing up to go to the community we're serving

Drilling right in front of a church

Expect to drill another 5' tomorrow, then run (PVC) pipe and gravel pack. OK, for those who haven't been on a trip, the hole we're drilling is about 8" in diameter; we run 4-1/2" PVC pipe from top to bottom - the bottom 20' is usually slotted with saw cuts in it. This allows water to flow through, but the pipe prevents the formation from coming into the well. We put gravel opposite the slots on bottom, to filter sand and form a bridge between the formation and the pipe. After placing the gravel, we'll fill the well (on the outside of the PVC pipe) with a mix of dirt, clay, and cement, to seal it so dirty water from the surface doesn't contaminate the clean water from below.

...and the dust is blowing right in

Then, when we hit water, the dust turns to mud
 (sorry, I'll try to turn sideways next time)

Please keep praying that we complete the well with clean, safe water for La Curba; that everyone is safe from accidents and disease, and that the people here see God's handiwork reflected in what we do.

Day 1 - Travel to Nicaragua

Made it to Granada, Nicaragua after an early wakeup and a few nervous moments. Got to the airport 1-1/2 hrs before flight time and the security line was an hour long. Then the check-in computer wouldn't take my checked bag - said it was too late to check anything. Finally got a human who puzzled over it and finally took my suitcase (it did show up in Managua). And my TSA precheck allowed me to bypass the long line and I was through security in 10 minutes. Guess I should've slept in another half hour ;-)

This is the middle of 'dry' season in Nicaragua, and things are really dry. Nothing is growing in the fields, and the trees are a pale, washed-out green. It normally starts raining in May, but El Nino has messed with that cycle. Jorge, the director of the area here, noted that during a drought we pay more for groceries. But the people in rural areas here go hungry.

We're not doing anything right now; will drive to our community tomorrow morning and start working. I think the name of the community is something like Corba; I'll correct that tomorrow.

2 days before travelling

Woodie Williams and I are headed back to Nicaragua to help drill a water well. We stay in a house near Granada (south of Managua) and drill somewhere between Granada and Rivas. We have a 6:30 AM flight so need to leave for the airport at 4:30 AM. That's not an hour I'm routinely familiar with... but to double up, it's the day we switch to Daylight Savings. So up at 3:30 AM. Yawn.


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This will be Woodie's 2nd well; I've been here several times. Phyllis won't be joining us this time.