Children at the school where the well was drilled in Yei, Sudan. To see more pictures, check out our flickr page.
Exciting news from Water is Basic! This past week our two drilling crews in Sudan received their final training from PAT-DRILL, the company that supplies drilling rigs to NGOs just like us. During this training, they drilled the first well that has been done solely with Water is Basic equipment and manpower. Praise God!
Much has happened in the last few months. Our Rig Manager, John Olendo, was beaten and robbed. Another crew member passed away due to illness while visiting his family. Shipping lines from Thailand to Africa were slowed by the earthquake in China which delayed not only our second rig but also some necessary supplies needed to begin drilling. Not only is any work in Africa difficult due to the lack of infrastructure, the work to bring clean water to the Sudanese has proven difficult at every turn.
Despite these challenges, our team in Sudan has continued to persevere in the name of Christ. Bishop Elias Taban and John have faithfully been working for this day. But without your support, this never could have happened. A local school in Yei, Sudan (picture attached) has been given the gift of clean water through your generous gifts. Thank you so much, and we look forward to showing you more pictures of the incredible work that has been completed and the monumental task that is now being undertaken. Today marks a clear transition between simply dreaming about drilling wells with our own equipment and Sudanese labor and actually doing it. God is good, god is good!
Please continue your support by spreading the word and by giving. The high price of fuel and cement has driven the cost of well construction to just over 11,000 Sudanese pounds. All cement factories in sub-Sahara Africa are having to send their cement to South Africa in preparation for the World Cup. It seems those with the least have to fight the hardest and we continue to stand with them.
steven harrell
