Welcome
“My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:2
Contents
Scroll down to read the full newsletter, or use the links below to read it section by section. A printable A4 version is also available to download using this link (although it contains a little less than this web version!).
- Hills and Valleys – Eddie’s thought.
- A time of testing of our faith! – Not all projects are successful!
- What a difference a well makes – Testimonies from pastors.
- The security situation in Burkina Faso.
- Planning for drilling in the autumn.
- Diary 2025.
- Donating through shopping.
- Administrative matters.
- Prayer requests.
Hills and Valleys
Welcome to another Myra’s Wells Newsletter. We want to thank you again for your generosity – and your prayers. By God’s grace, we have been able to provide Physical and Living water for the people of Burkina Faso. This newsletter gives more detail of how the Lord has blessed us in both these areas.
The fact that our reports are almost always ‘upbeat’ is because of the great blessing we have consistently enjoyed. That is still true and increasingly so, but right now there are also significant difficulties that we face. Two of these stand out.
Firstly, recently we have seen an increase of the number of negative boreholes. In five locations recently, we have not found water YET. We need wisdom to know if we should try again, as each borehole will cost a minimum of £800-£1,000.
Secondly, the security situation is becoming more uncertain with jihadist groups active in many areas, and one of our wells has been lost. Pray for the Burkina Faso Government as they seek to counteract this evil.
I was struck by this verse which I read recently ‘The man of God came up and told the king of Israel, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Because the Arameans think the LORD is a god of the hills and not a god of the valleys, I will deliver … and you will know that I am the LORD.’”’ (1Kings 20:28).
We like success and everything to be plain sailing, but it isn’t always like that. But the Lord is our God and in control in the “valley” times as well as on the mountain top. We trust Him as we look forward with renewed faith to our next drilling season in the Autumn.
Eddie
A time of testing of our faith!
Since April, we have been unable to try to provide wells at five locations. At each location, the drilling has been unsuccessful. This is most unusual. In fact, there has never been a time in Myra’s Wells history where five locations have all failed to produce water – so far!
Three of these locations are in an area north of Ouagadougou where it is known that water can be hard to find. Perhaps because of this, there is an exceptional need for water! In each of these locations, there has also been an increase in the population because of people arriving, fleeing from the insurgency further north and east. In each of these locations, both the first and second boreholes have been dry.
These photos show people waiting at existing sources of water. The application tells us that people wait for up to 14 hours. Effectively, this means queuing all day or all night just to have water for the next day or two.
At another location, it has emerged that there is some doubt about the ownership of the ground where we want to try to second borehole. One of the reasons that many wells (although by no means all) are near to churches is that there is no real expectation that the land might be sold. If land is privately owned, then the owner might claim the well as “his” well, not allowing anyone else to use it. Or if he sells that land, the next owner might claim the well for himself. So, clarification of land ownership is essential. And that can often be difficult as ownership can be somewhat informal.
A fourth location which is proving very difficult is in a village called Boulsin. A kind supporter in USA has helped with funds for this well. The existing sources of water are three open wells. Here is a quick peep into two of them:
One has dried up completely; the other is open to the elements. If you are able to scan QR codes, you might like to see a short video (low resolution) of two ladies using the third well. This is also open to the elements so the water is not clean. You can also use this link https://tinyurl.com/Boulsin
Please pray!
What a difference a well makes!
As Eddie has mentioned in his opening thoughts, please pray that the trustees will have wisdom from God. For all of these locations, we will shortly be making decisions about trying more boreholes. At some, we also need prayer that contractors will be willing to go to the sites as security is not guaranteed. Some sites will need larger drills that we can go deeper than is usually required – and that makes drilling more expensive!
We have recently received feedback from some pastors who have received wells. They tell us what a difference the wells have made in their villages. There are clearly improvements in the lives of the people, and, very often, there are spiritual blessings as well with more opportunities for the pastors and evangelists to share the Good News.
Sabtenga
Here is the well as Sabtenga. Even with a water tower there are still queues at the taps. Imagine what it was like before the well was drilled with these ladies having to walk to over crowded wells further away.
Christine reporting what the pastor at Sabtenga told her:
The Pastor at Saabtenga said how life was difficult before the well, but the well has changed the village life and the church too.
There was 39 people in the church before the well. Today he has almost 90 people.
It was not easy for some ladies to come at church but after the well they are now free no one does not stop them. They are free to attend the Sunday service or any other activities in the church.
He is now free to preach or evangelize at the government school just next to the church because they share the water with the school. There is a pipe to a tap that the children can use.
He was able to grow vegetable and got money to buy some land in Ouagadougou and he also build 2 small houses. He stays there if he comes in Ouagadougou.(Editor’s note: Pastors in Burkina Faso are not often full-time paid pastors. They have to earn their living in other ways.)
Another village where it was difficult to get a place for a church came and called the pastor to come and open a church. All these are because of the well.
The first borehole here was negative. From this borehole, there was a large amount of sand left from the drilling. They used this to create a render to plaster the church building. It serves as a reminder that God has been good in providing the water.
Manessa
We have a one minute video clip of people waiting patiently to use this well after the Sunday morning service. As always, it is very low resolution, but it shows how long the queue is, even with the water tower to help.
From the Pastor at Manessa.
At Manessa the well has been a blessing to all the village especially with the water tower. People said that the village is like Ouagadougou now! People who did not like Christians and those who did not want to come near the church spend their time there now because of the well. They are now friendly with me. especially on Sunday they sitting by the well listening to the preaching. We can easily evangelize the village through the well.
The sick people and their carers are happy because water is near.
Tampelga
Another busy well!
Christine reporting what the village chief said to her:
The chief of the village was happy with the well and he gave a land for the church. The half of the village is using the well. We have 9 people who became new born again.
Polesgo
The well here was finished early in this year. The Pastor has obtained tracts “Jesus is coming again soon!” which he gives to the ladies at the well. 5 have been converted.
The security situation in Burkina Faso
Insurgency
The first thing to say is that, despite the problems that certainly do exist in Burkina Faso, Myra’s Wells is able to operate in large parts of the country. Our team there, together with the organisations involved in the drilling process, is able to travel much more freely than we are ourselves when we visit. The worst problems are in a swathe of the country across the north and east. On this map, Djibo, Dori, Bogande, Fada N’Gourma and down to Togo and Benin is an area where we would not even consider asking anyone to go.
Other areas, mainly around the borders also have lesser problems.
Many of the reputable news agencies (including the BBC) have been banned from Burkina. However this is an article on the BBC web site which gives a very good analysis of the situation and how it has developed. It is worth reading. This is the link or you can use this QR code.
Persecution of Christians
In areas where the insurgents are operating, Christians are being forced to flee. We want to emphasise that, as a charity, Myra’s Wells will drill wells wherever they are needed, whatever the ethnic or religious background may be. The nature of the insurgents is such that any who do not follow their very strict form of religion will be persecuted or worse. This includes others who follow more moderate sects of their own religion.
Our trustee John has seen a report from the charity Open Doors (https://www.opendoorsuk.org/) that includes the following information which we bring to your attention for prayer:
Over the last few years, Burkina Faso has risen sharply on the World Watch List owing to a spike in violence against followers of Jesus.
The rise of violent Islamist extremists has forced Christians to flee, and even cities that used to be safe are now at risk of attack.
Currently, the government only controls about half the country. Christians living in areas controlled by Islamist militants are most likely to face violence and pressure for their faith in Jesus.
Believers living in areas where militant groups are active risk being kidnapped, displaced or worse. Christians have been targeted and killed and churches destroyed. Because of jihadist activity, hundreds of churches have been closed.
Large numbers of pastors and their families have been abducted and remain in captivity, and some have even been killed.
The violence has also caused severe displacement and food shortages, creating a significant humanitarian crisis in Burkina Faso that is affecting many followers of Jesus.
Saatenga
It is with sadness that we report that the village Saatenga, where we provided a 10,000 litre water tower about five years ago, has recently been attacked. The pastor is currently in Ouagadougou. Please pray that normality will return to this village quickly. Following the well, numbers in the church had increased dramatically. Saatenga is between Fada N’Gourma and Tenkodogo on the map.
Planning for drilling in the autumn
Your prayers are appreciated as we start to make plans, God willing, for drilling in the autumn. We will need wisdom, especially as some requests have come from places near to Tenkodogo.
Diary 2025
The Diary of Eddie, Jeremy and Josh’s visit to Burkina Faso in January 2025 is available. 46 pages with 4 cover pages of narrative and photos. Please contact Eddie (eddie@myraswells.org) if you would like a copy. Maybe you know other people or church groups who would be interested? If so, we let me know how many you can use. The production costs have been paid by the trustees but we would appreciate a contribution towards the postage costs if possible.
Donating through shopping
If you do online shopping …
… including insurance, travel, broadband, groceries, clothes – in fact anything – please sign up for easyfundraising. It costs you nothing – the retailers themselves have a charity budget from which they will donate up to 4% or even 5% of the purchase price to Myra’s Wells. Recent use of (for instance) Money Supermarket to change car insurer brought a donation of £19! 8,100 of the well known retailers are on board. Email mark@myraswells.org for more details or use this link to sign up.
Administrative matters
Thank you
Thank you to all who continue to support the work of Myra’s Wells, whether on a regular basis or with one-off gifts. We regard all funds “as from the Lord” and ask for prayer as we make decisions about where and how we spend the money.
Overseas donations
For donations from overseas, we have an account which can accept USD and EUR (and other currency) donations. Please ask for details if you are considering donating in these currencies.
Prayer requests
- Praise for the wells that have been drilled recently and all who have become Christians as a result of wells being drilled.
- Pray for peace to return to Burkina Faso and neighbouring countries, and an end to terrorism and violence
- Pray for wisdom as we decide how to proceed with suspended projects and selection of new sites for drilling.
- Pray for the local pastors as they seek to use the wells as a means of sharing the gospel.
- Pray for the safety for the drilling teams in areas where security is not guaranteed, and pray that the security situation will very soon improve.
- Pray that the well committees will take their responsibilities seriously.
- Pray for the safety of Christine and her helpers based in Ouagadougou.