Day 4. 2-24-2014

We have been waiting for today for a longggg time. It was very special to me being in this moment, when a year and a half ago we began brainstorming. We are starting the well we dreamed and thought of so much. All the times on the bike trip that we told people what we were doing, we were talking about today. Wow. So as one could expect....Today was a great day. 

In sequential order....

We ate breakfast at 5 am, left for the village at 6, arrived at 7. 

We were intriduced to the community, and it was quite amazing to meet the leaders, the men, the teachers, a few women, and many students of the community. Soon we began digging trenches to rotate and filter slimy mud through the drill to help it break through the ground. 

The circulation of the muddy mix. 

Drinking from a coconut. If only we had an unlimited supply of these on the bike trip...

After the digging was finished we began drilling the exploring hole, we drilled until early afternoon when we reached 150 ft. The best aquifer we found was at 120 ft, so eventually that's where our pipes will go to. We all rotated through the four driller positions; driller, assistant driller, tool pusher, and helper. In the middle of the work day we had lunch at Jaime's casa. I learned to make tortillas with Juana, Jaime's wife. After lunch we finished the exploring hole and pulled up all the pipes while getting mud all over ourselves. 

    At lunch time, and after the drilling was done for the day we played a bunch of barefoot soccer with the kids. We met a bunch of amazingly beautiful boys and girls. Instantly we knew it would be very hard to leave in a few days.  

     On our way back to the hotel we checked out the other well that the generous donors of lifecycle sposored at Trocha 7, Calle 10. As we were there talking to the leader of the village Marbe, a family pulled up in their small car and began filling a bunch of water jugs with the pump. It was amazing to just sit there and watch the well bringing life to a wide expanse of people in the village. 

First glance. 

Realizing the awesomeness....

Thanks lifecycle supporters!

With Marbe, the village leader. 

    When we finally arrived at the hotel there was no power or water after a very hot and dirty day. I guess that was something we were a little used to after the bike trip. Eventually the power did turn back on and the team celebrated the thought of a clean shower before bed. 

It was my turn to share a devotional and I shared on 1 Cor 2:1-6, my verses for the week (at least!) with the theme of "I am nothing, God is everything."

After the devotional a few of us sat down with Blanca to learn how to teach the hygene lessons for the next few days. It was awesome to see the detail and intricacy of the lessons. We would be the teacher essentially, and Blanca would then translate and add tidbits of helpful information. I ended up teaching on worms, parasites, a water mixture to aid with dehydration associated with diarrhea, and a photo by photo review of the overall hygeine lessons. Then it was time to call it a night. 

Tailwinds,

Dios le bendiga,

Marcos y Josue'