December 2023 Newsletter
Dear Water 4 Haiti Friends,
Recording in log book of location and repairs made to pump
In Psalms 37 King David tells us not to fret because of those who are evil, they are like green plants that will soon wither away. It is very hard to trust in David’s promises as there has been so much violence, disorder, and chaos in Haiti this past year to cause much “fretting” on my part. Mostly to blame are the gangs which are roaming freely over the country causing havoc with the peoples’ lives. Schools have closed, orphanages shut down without support, food shortages, killings, great fearfulness of even leaving one’s home.
For W4H the gang interference caused weeks of lost time for receiving a much needed pipe order. Getting it through customs and transporting the load to our compound took a lot of patience. The control of the gangs has extremely hampered the effectiveness of the police and government. The gangs have even caused problems at this end as we have been trying to get a container sent for a year. Nancy and I have been gone for 18 months, the longest in 40 yrs. With that being said, we will continue with Ps. 37 and be patient and fret not.
Pump heads and handles from new shipment
The broken pump is across the river, so carry everything needed
Yes, a man digging a 30” hole, going even to 90’ to find water
During the past 2 years I have been accumulating supplies to be sent to Haiti. Ninety percent of the material was donated or irrigation pumps pulled out of weeds and rebuilt to be set in rivers. Some of the items include truck and car tires, sheeting for roofs, a table saw, three 8” irrigation pumps and 6 smaller, 500’ of 1.25” steel pipes, 1000’ of 2” hose, 2 generators, 1000’ of 2” pipe, 8 sewing machines, 150’ of 2” suction hose, three 15 hp diesel engines, 800-1000(?) prs. of shoes, 100’of 4” PVC, belts for the pumps and much, much more.
At the other end in Haiti we had waited for 2 yrs. for the load of pipe and pumps. Delivering the pipe was quite a process. Five hours on first truck, loaded on another truck and travelled 3 hours, next loaded on a sailboat and on to an island port, then reloaded on another boat which brought it to our nearest port. Loaded again onto our truck and finally arriving at our compound after traveling 14,000 miles from the manufacture in India.
A blower delivering fresh air to a digger
A finished pour of a pump stand and manhole lid
During this time our repair crew has been able to work, despite the possible interruption of gangs coming to our community. In the last 3 months they were able to clean 18 wells, dig 4 new wells, repair 48 pumps, bringing water to 27,000 people and haul many truck loads of water. While waiting for pipe to come our workers went to the used pipe pile, cut out the bad spot, rethreaded it and attached it to another cut pipe to make the correct length and never missed a beat!
Evil has a hold on Haiti now, but as it says in Psalms that someday “The wicked will fall upon their own sword.” Ten million people are waiting for a reprieve of this wickedness the devil and his gangs now hold. We praise the Lord that no harm has come to our workers and we pray for their continued safety.
Thank you people for sticking with us and for your support to keep us going. If it is possible, would you prayerfully consider a year end gift as the new load of pumps, pipe, and shipping cost over $30,000.
Thank you again and a Merry Christmas from the Board and Haitian employees.
Sincerely,
Chuck