We've Moved!

Hello Everyone,

I apologize for the delay in posting but could not get internet access last night in order to do an update. So, this one will be interesting. First, I must say that we have been on somewhat of a rollercoaster ride the last couple of days. When we started drilling on Wednesday, we very soon in the process, about 10 feet or so, we hit rock and not the positive kind of rock that our equipment can handle. We hit rocks that vary in size from pebbles to small boulders and what happens is the equipment can't break them up effectively or at all. So, Thursday morning, we made the decision to try and dig down to the rock level and hopefully dig through it by hand. Not an easy task. We had approximately 10 men there to help and they worked all day long and were able to reach a level of about 6 feet with a 6 foot diameter hole. This morning, they started again and reached a level of about 10 feet or so before we had to make a tough call knowing we had another well that needed to get started tomorrow. One of the toughest decisions I've had to help make because our objective was to come and drill two wells and return home with them functioning properly. It was tough to share our decision with Pastor Jack. What we agreed to do was have the two men from Water4, Kemp Ward and Caleb Holsey, return next week after we have hopefully completed the second well and possibly be able to finish the first one. We have asked them to continue digging as deep as possible and try and get past the rock layer. Please join us in praying for success there and that the guys can go back and complete the job. If it proves to be impossible, we will have to weigh out other options. I know the villagers were very disappointed as well as we are but we also know it's in God's hands and we trust that to be the case.

I, fortunately or unfortunately, was away from the first well site much of Thursday making contacts with other ministries in Kisumu that I have had contact with. It was one of the most highly emotional days I have ever experienced - on the positive side. I had a chance to visit one of the hospitals in Kisumu and visit with the medical director there along with seeing the laboratory's operation. We had a chance to pray over the patients. One of the patients was a young girl of about 12 years old suffering from an crisis phase of Sickle Cell anemia. Her mother is MaMa Chris and works at a orphanage started by a lady in Oklahoma City by the name of Beatrice Williamson and I had contacted the orphanage after talking with Chris Cotner with Water4 and he said if possible to go by and visit. It was way, way on the outskirts of Kisumu on some of the roughest roads I've ever experienced (until today). The visit to the orphanage was so touching and special, I couldn't help but get emotional as I talk about it. To see those precious children being cared for by very special people was overwhelming to say the least. It was an awesome opportunity.

I then had a chance to visit with Bishop Zephaniah Orao, a well known pastor in Kenya. Bishop Zephaniah has been working with a ministry based in McAlester called DeNike Ministries and I had a chance to visit with Frank Denike a week or so before I left to come to Kenya and he helped make arrangements for me to visit with Bishop Zephaniah. What a wonderful blessing that was.

Once returning to the first site, it was soon time for a good ole time of worship and praise and if you have never been to Africa, you have missed one of the most amazing times of worship. The Kenyans do know how to worship our Almight God!!! We felt as if we are in heaven already. It was a wonderful time sharing with the people of that village. We were all filled to overflowing.

As I mentioned above, today was a difficult day as we had to move to the new site. But, oh, what a need the second site has for fresh water. The site is located close to a church way out in the boonies where the road to the site was simply the wildest ride you can imagine, down cattle trails, washed out roads, crevices, thorn bushes. We were at the home of Pastor Joshua who has been our driver since arriving in Nairobi. As we pulled into the area close to where we would be drilling the well, Joshua showed us their current source of water which was simply a dirty, filthy pond with overgrowth and where the cattle and goats and sheep and many other animals, I'm sure, comes to water. It was worse than most ponds that I have ever been around. They continue to have problems with Typhoid which is no wonder. The soil is obviously better for doing the type of drilling we do. So, we are extremely optimistic as to our success with this well. But, we really need your continued prayers.

Well, it is very late on Friday night and will close by saying that our God is an Awesome God! The people of Kenya are the friendliest people you can imagine. And we have already been blessed so much by being here and fellowshipping with like believers many 1000's of miles away from our home.

I hope to be able to share more encouraging news tomorrow night so be sure and check in.

God Bless You.