Water Anyone?

As I alluded to in my earlier posts, our water situation at Maforga still has a few leaks in the system.

Metaphorically speaking, of course.

Last fall after almost a year of no and/or very poor water supply, we were able to reconnect the water for the orphans. This dearly improved the quality of life on a whole. But if memory serves me right, that fix appeared to be electrical, resulting from a faulty pump.

If you recall, that was also around the time I was pushing for the water tank at the clinic to be completed. After months of delays, a wonderful short-term team of construction workers in connection with local workers finished the water tower and installed the tank.

However due to continued water shortages, I was not able to test out the tank until I returned from furlough in January. Only then did I learn that the water supply was not good enough to fill it as well as provide for the orphans.

Fortunately, God had foreseen this problem and had already provided through some very generous donors enough money to dig another well.

However after some months of unforeseeable delays, Roy (the director of Maforga Mission) was finally able to contract the well digging company to come out last February.

I’m told the first place they dug was no good. They hit granite. We didn’t have enough money to pay them to dig again and again, so Roy asked them to re-dig an unused well instead.

Though they did re-dig it, they then did not have the right casing or pipes or even a pump to fit it and so it sits waiting.

The un-used well, I’m told by Roy, was abandoned after having to repeatedly repair the pump due to sand clogging the system. He expressed a hope that with new casings and a better pump it could be much better and the water would be diverted directly to the clinic. This would avoid having to share the water with the orphans.

The problem is... no one seems to have the right size of pump for this kind of casing. He must look for it in S. Africa. He tells me he intends to get it next time he goes.

I’m sorry I don’t have better information than that. Please pray that the parts come together for the well to be useful or for us to find another way to resolve the water issue.
Currently, there is no water at all to the clinic and I cannot open it without it.

Thank you for your prayers.

A Roof-to-be

A Roof-to-be

Last year I planned to put a new roof on the clinic. But before I could arrange the details, my car engine exploded. Resolving my engine problems took precedence and then I had to leave for furlough.

By the time I had returned, the rainy season had made getting a new roof on impracticable as the rain rarely let up long enough to give me hope.

Well, now the rainy season is passed. Mostly.

In anticipation of this drier season, I got the funds together, checked around for the best prices, and ordered the materials. I was informed, at that time, that it would take 10 days at the most.

It has been almost a month.

I went in to the roofing supplier with questions and was told the equipment that cuts the metal roofing tiles is broken. All their orders are backlogged.

They could not promise or even estimate how long it would take to get the roofing.

Foolishly, I pushed and prodded for a time frame. They hedged and made empty promises.

So I wait.

Please pray that the supplies will arrive soon and that I can arrange to get the roof on in the next month or so.

I’m told it’s a week long process.

Only time will tell.

Please pray.

Radio Tower.

Aid Sudan, an organization with a large focus on health education and evangelism, came to visit us last year to discuss the possibility of building a radio tower on the compound. The tower would broadcast the gospel and public health messages to small hand-held radios that would be distributed within the community.

Well, I'm happy to announce that two weeks ago, the first part of the tower was dug.

Yes, dug.

Two engineers, loaned out from a German NGO named Diguna, came to plan out the project and lay the foundation.

It took them longer than expected to dig the necessary holes (as the ground was more marble than dirt), but eventually they finished. Then they re-enforced the holes with rebar, and poured the concrete. I’m told it must settle for three weeks before the tower can be erected.

Sam and Daniel, the diligent Diguna staff.

It’s an exciting project, with a potential for much fruit. I can’t wait to see what God does with it.

Building for the future ~

Abraham the Ugandan

Compressed Bricks

The land is cleared. The metal frame is up. The footers are dug. Yet to look at it now, you wouldn’t see much -- except potential.

But when I see it... I see running water, tile floors and electricity in every room. I see a beautiful open room of row upon row of birthing beds. I see women coming for births and getting the best care possible. It’s really exciting!

Right now sand is being quarried for concrete. We are digging a hole on our property. I’m told it will be mixed with the concrete shipped in from Uganda then pressed into tight little bricks.

The Ugandan (Abraham) who came in to teach us how to make them, says that we are making about 400-500 bricks a day. That progress! If all goes to plan, we should have enough bricks in a few months!

Please keep this building project in prayer. We desperately need the space!

Thanks.

The brick making machine

Sifting the sand

Digging a sand pit