How Many Cows

18 months ago, Hydromissions received an application to go to Papua New Guinea (PNG) to provide water in a very remote community. A project like this required extra funding because the location of the community was so remote and difficult to access (6 flights…each plane getting smaller and smaller until we land on the gravel strip in the village).

There is always a “risk” that we will not reach water when drilling with an auger. I have been part of many successes, but also failures. Making the call to go to a new community is always extra stressful because I just don’t know if we will reach water. I research as much as possible, gather information from the community members, talk to as many people as possible, but at the end of the day, only God knows if we will reach water. I have the men start the drilling process with prayer. I want it to be extremely clear to everyone involved that God is providing for their needs, not a “foreigner.” I want God to remain at the forefront during the whole process and gathering for prayer is a good way for people to be reminded that they are loved. Ideally water is reached, but, at minimum, I want the community to know that they are loved by an awesome God, as well as, respected by a hardworking (usually dirty) foreigner 😉

I am writing this quick post on my first flight (Dulles to LA). I’m already sleepy! I have five more flights and four nights before I will end up in the village. There are a lot of challenges en route; visas, connections, getting all the material and equipment on the smaller flights, and, most especially – getting through customs with the drill. Jim helped me scratch up the drill last week in New Jersey. We tried to make it look as “used” as possible by using a sander, rubbing it on asphalt and using rocks to scratch it up. If I can prove it is “used,” I have a more likely chance of bringing it into PNG without issues.

As I finish this post, I want to share briefly that our projects in Panama, India and Uganda are going great! We have 16 more wells in Panama! Hydromissions also has four more wells in India and Washington (in Uganda) has completed three more latrines and two rainwater catchment projects at schools!

Even when I am silent online (not posting on the blog or social media), I am working hard otherwise. If I’m not on a project abroad, I’m working here in the States to manage projects, prep, build, fundraise and cover admin. I’ll try to catch up on posts later, but I’m attaching a couple photos from Panama below.