Love well. Give wells. | 2007 Projects | 2008 Projects

Project Chacocente:

This project works with families that desire to be relocated out of the dump in Managua, Nicaragua.  The story of these people can be read on www.outofthedump.org

you will read appeals like:

“Primary Prayer Request-A cup of cold water for a thirsty world”

“All I want for Christmas is a glass of water”

Families have been relocated to the project for years and water continued to be their primary need.  This community would often go as long as 3 weeks without any water at all.  This effected health, education and farming.  With part of the Christmas offering, LWI oversaw the drilling of a deep well for this community and the project is near completion.  For the first time ever, the people of Chacocente will have a safe, clean water source.  It is humbling to know that the church saw to the end of this community’s “years long” appeal for clean water!

All should be finished in the next few weeks.  Two 2500 gallon water tanks are being installed, along with a generator.  Chacocente should never have to worry about clean water again.  The community will be set for years to come-and our prayer is that it allows the project to expand to meet more and more needs of those wishing for a life outside of the dump in Managua.

Liberia:

6 wells have been completed with funds from the Christmas offering and 5 more are in process. (11 total).  Once complete, it is expected that over 8,000 Liberians will have access to safe, clean water thru the drilling of 11 wells.

Redhill Community

A well was drilled at the school that is also an orphanage.  There are no shortage of orphans, but the orphanage could not take any more children though they had open beds, because of the shortage of clean water.  The well they were using had run dry and they were having to walk 2 KM for unclean water, causing sickness.  It’s amazing to know what this will mean for the orphanage, the children and the future children cared for by them.  The well will also serve the surrounding community of 1200 people.

Prefab

This community of 1000 had only one well that would run dry during the dry season.  LWI Liberia worked with a Christian man in the community that was believing God for clean water for his neighbors.  This well will provide a steady stream of clean water through all seasons.  As the gospel was presented by the LWI Liberia team and through the local church there, many people responded to Jesus, in whose name the well had been drilled.

WillieTown

This community in near/in Jawajah, a mostly Muslim area of Liberia.  LWI worked with local Christians who have made neighbors of those Muslims in Jawajah.  Water was previously gathered from run-off from a nearby creek.  During the dry seasons these run-offs run dry, so the community would walk 2 miles to gather unclean water.  350 people in this community now have access to safe, clean water in the name of Jesus.  We have accounts of Christians and non-Christians crying and singing by just seeing the drilling equipment.  When water was reached, dancing began!

Jawajah

This community, previously displaced by the civil war, returned to find their village in ashes.  309 people live in mud huts and gather water from creeks during the dry season.  Again, this area is in the center of the Jawajah region, mostly Muslim.  We worked through a local Christian pastor and provided health/hygiene and medical work as well.  This well represents hope to this community and will continue to empower the church in the Jawajah area.

Satjilum

Also in the same area, this rural community of 350 people had no access to safe, clean water.  The local church was partnered with in this project.

Lorah

Also in the Jawajah region, this community numbers 450.  The nearby creek was used for drinking water.  A man in the village spoke of having to move leaves and debris from the surface of the water to gather it.  He demonstrated how he would do this and shared that he and the community felt like animals when gathering water from this source.  The community battled water born sickness, as they found it difficult to boil their water consistently.  This community now has a 142 foot well that will provide a consistent and self-sustainable clean water source.  LWI continues to work in this area, partnering with the local church to give a cup of water in the name of Jesus.

MORE WELLS THAT WERE COMPLETED IN 2007

From Windsor Crossing

Gokallah: 

700 people served.  The community previously gathered water from a nearby creek.  As the drilling occurred, the Liberian crew formed a close relationship with the chief of the village.  After watching the drill crew pray around the new well, the chief asked more about Jesus and the reason for their prayer.  After sharing more about what it meant to follow Christ, the chief made a decision to follow Jesus.  LWI Liberia worked in Gokallah alongside a national church planting team.

Underwear Town:

770 people served.  The community previously gathered water from a swampy area.  Underwear town gets its name from a man who was instrumental in building homes and expanding the size of the village. Apparently, he worked all day long during the dry season, so he would work in only his underwear.  So, as people passed by they would refer to the village as Underwear Town.  When LWI arrived, the chief of the village told our crew that they have not been helped like this since the days of the man wearing underwear.  The chief recognized that it was God who was looking after their lives to provide clean water.

Yeanlla:

100 people served.  Yeanlla sits on the edge of a creek.  Children and mommas would gather water from this creek, and showed signs of water-borne illness.  During drilling an elder took one of our LWI crew down a small path to the creek where the children would gather water for the day.  He pulled back a plant covering to show the specific area that water was gathered from.  He then smiled very large, pointed at the LWI crew member and then pointed to the sky.  This same elder hugged the LWI crew after the well was installed, repeating his thanks over and over again.

James Kenneh:

276 people served.  Before the civil war, this village was once a large thriving village.  It has since been reduced to lower than a third of its original population.  Those that have remained in the village travel to a creek for water.  The village chief, Chief Plumber, told the LWI team that he had been praying for years that God would begin rebuilding his village… and that this well was an answer to that prayer.  Every time the LWI drill crew met for prayer, the chief would join.  A national church planting team was partnered with on this project.  It is encouraging to note that several people have moved to James Kenneh after the well was put in - and because the village has clean water.

Jallah Lone:

250 people served.  The village is named after one of the oldest living chiefs in Liberia. Villagers would walk 5 km to a creek for water.  This village borders an open-air market, and the well will serve all who go to market each day. Initially, this was a tough village for LWI to work in.  This village, like many others, had been promised many things by many people in the past. Due to broken promises, the village was not hopeful in seeing the LWI team.  After the well was drilled and pump installed, everything changed.  The LWI team has since returned to visit the community, and they are treated like family now.  LWI partnered with a local church planting team when working with this community.

From Ecclesia

Gbenneh Hill Town:

150 people served.  Gbenneh Hill Town is a small village just outside the Monrovia area in Brewerville. The men of the town had begun to dig a hand dug well without much success and the arrival of the drill truck was a direct answer to prayer.  The people in the village were anticipating another hard dry season.  The last dry season had them walking great distances to another village to be able to get drinking water.  Even the creek was very far away- and in the dry season the creek water receded too far back to be able to draw water from it. The community responded beautifully to the LWI health and hygiene team, and continued to tell the LWI crew that this well was an answer to prayer.

Neekon Town:

200 people served.  Neekon Town is a small village in the Brewerville area.  The village used a nearby stream for collecting water, which turns to a mudhole in the dry season.  Drilling this well was a challenge, and at the most difficult moment of drilling - the entire village gathered with the LWI drill crew to pray.  The LWI health and hygiene team worked with the community.  There is need of basic latrines for this community.

ADVENT 2007

Most of you have heard about the Mount Barklay area of Liberia. Each photo/film of “need” that has come from Liberia is from Mount Barklay. We desperately want to give this entire region a break.  There are at least 28 villages and a clinic in desperate need of wells. In addition, we have the ability to build latrines in this area.

LWI has also recently received a $250,000 matching grant for 350 well rehabilitations in Liberia. We are looking for a match and we are excited for what this will mean for so many communities in Liberia. Liberia has just entered the dry season, the best time to implement this work. During the dry season streams, ponds, swamps, hand dug wells, etc dry up. This makes bad water even worse, travel distances for water longer…