Even though the year has already begun and we are all used to it, please allow us to start with the usual greeting: Happy New Year! May God bless you and continue to use you to be a blessing for others.
2015 is now gone and, looking back, we cannot help but be amazed when we realize how fast the time flies. As if just yesterday was January 2015 and we making plans for the year. Minute by minute, hour by hour and day by day, the time flies and all that stays behind is what we have done. More importantly, the only thing with eternal value is what we have done for Christ.
Looking ahead, we are in a new year, full with new opportunities for the Lord. Every 2 years, usually in the month of January, we have to renew our missionaries' visa, something we have just done a couple weeks ago. New visa means 2 more years the Lord has entrusted us to continue to serve Him among the people of Malawi. And we have started it with full force!
The Lord listened to our prayers and desires and we have received all the money necessary to dig a water well (borehole) in the village of Muheriwa. Last year I prepared a short video where I had documented the problems these people go through every day, just to get food and water.
As you can see, people had to dig the dry river beds in search of a little bit of water, which was never clean and fit to drink. We strongly believe that NOBODY should live in these conditions and everybody has the God-given right to access clean water. We praise the Lord that we have people on our side that believe just like us and are ready to sacrifice so that others can live in better conditions.
Here in the village of Muheriwa, we have a church, Hope Baptist Church, and a camp ministry. Along the years, hundreds of adults and children have turn to Christ through Hope for the Future's work in this place. Last year, the Lord provided the funds necessary to build a brand new church and provide food for 6 months, and this year we are taking care of another important need: water!
The drilling started last week and we hope that by the end of this one we will be finished. We really look forward to being able to provide clean water for these people. We keep hearing about more and more cholera cases here in Malawi and this disease usually occurs when the water supply is contaminated with human waste.
At a depth of over 121 feet, this well will be deep enough to provide clean water and plenty of it throughout the year. The guys that are digging were telling me that they have dug through 2 underground rivers (veins of water), the first at 45 feet and the second at 82 feet. The digging had stopped at a bit over 121 and in the third underground river.
As of now, all that remains to be done is to flush the system of mud and stones, do a pump test to determine the volume of water available and install the hand pump and the inside system. I want to be the first one to drink out of this well to make sure it is clean and tasty. Yes, in this village, where water is muddy and salty, clean drinking water will be extremely tasty!
It is very hard for most of us, the Westerners, to understand what these people are going through. We have faucets and sinks and water is available all the time and we expect it to be there. Most of us have water in the kitchen, in the bathrooms, outside the house, in the garage, etc. For these people, though, water is scarce and inaccessible. Women and children have to walk for miles to look for water and the entire trip can cost them valuable hours away from the family. Women are forced to be away from the house chores while children have to drop out of school or, in the best case scenarios, miss classes.
Honestly, I don't know exactly how God will use this well for the Gospel, but I know it will be something great!
Thank you all for your prayers for us and for the ministry in Malawi!
