Myra’s Wells Summer 2018 Newsletter

Dear Friends

Welcome to Myra’s Wells Summer 2018 Newsletter. Thank you for reading it – we hope you will enjoy reading it as much as we have enjoyed preparing it.

The headlines.

1. Project Ebenezer has come its conclusion. In the last newsletter, we reported that the number of wells on the wells list stood at 108. Over the last three months, this number has risen to 115.
2. At the moment, there is one which is planned. We pray that this will be completed before the rainy season starts.
3. There are some stories which give us much joy!
4. We are filling the “last” container ready to send to Burkina Faso
   
5. Eddie has received his British Empire Medal award

And so, here are the details …

Project Ebenezer update

This time last year.

In June 2017, we drilled a well at Noatenga. This was one that was arranged quickly when we decided, reluctantly, that we had to leave Sigra Bila with no well. There were 87 wells at that point. We knew that there was a good possibility of reaching 100 in the new drilling season that started in October. So one of our trustees, John, suggested the name Project Ebenezer for the new season. Then we decided that the scope would be changed to include the target of 20 wells in the one season.

The situation now

This target was 4 more than had ever been achieved before. So we knew that it would be challenging. But the Lord provided. We can say not only “Ebenezer” – but also “Jehovah Jireh” – the Lord has provided. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the work. With 7 more wells since the last newsletter, the well count is now 115 – 28 in the last drilling season. You can view the full list by clicking this link.

Number 114 is at Likinkelse. The drilling team had to go down to 95 metres to find water. That is close to the deepest well we have done. But it was worth the effort. It is a good supply – 2700 litres per hour. Christine tells us that this is a difficult place to find water. When we have pictures from here, there will be a fuller story on the web site. We will be putting a plaque on this well saying “Meg’s Well”

And just this week, number 115 was drilled at Yipaala. It took three attempts, but we found water at a depth of 55 metres on the third borehole. This well will also have a plaque – “Roger’s Well”.

Praise the Lord

There  is one more in progess

As this newsletter is being prepared, we are waiting to hear the results of drilling in one more village. But this village is a long way from Ouagadougou and we may have to wait until October before the drilling company will be able to go there. Christine will keep in touch with them in case that changes.

Stories from Wells

The Well at Gabou

About the village

Gabou is in the area near to Kaya. This is what Christine about the village:

It was an easy decision to make and in May 2017, we proceeded with the drilling. Here a small boy in the village sampling the water. He is not old enough to go to school, but when he is, he will be able to have time to study, rather than having to go for water.

The plaque on the well

The well is a sponsored one so it has a plaque on it. The sponsors wanted to call it “Redeemer’s Well”. We asked Christine for the wording in the local language and she suggested “Fãangre Koom” which translates as “Salvation Well”. We pray that will be the case.

And the water is valuable for many things, quite apart from drinking. It is needed for cooking, washing, drinking water for the livestock and also for ensuring that crops can be grown throughout the year. Healthy crops mean improved health for the people too.

The well blessing

With so many wells to arrange in the autumn, it wasn’t until March this year that the well blessing could be arranged. But when it did take place, several adults said they wanted to have the salvation advertised on the well. Christine also told us this little story, produced here with just minor modifications:

The pastor’s story

On Sunday morning at church, the pastor explained to us how he suffered with the water problem. His problem with the village people is that children/girls who joined the church grew up and now refused force marriage. He is now the village enemy. One day the children from the pastor house went to fetch water, a Muslim man told them never pass by his family again. They have to change their way to go to the well. When they arrived there people threw away their bottle of water. The children came back home without water. The pastor said he just walked away to weep. That day he could not sleep at night he and his wife went to church and cry to God. The same week he was at another village for a prayer meeting and the children called to say that someone came to do survey for a water well. He could not believe until the drilling – it was like a dream. Now he is in peace, and all the people respect him. For any decision the chief administrator in the department, contact him for advice.

He praised the Lord for answering his prayer. He served the Lord at this village for 27 years now. .

The Well at Toeg Yamba

In the last Spring Newsletter, we mentioned a village called Toeg Yamba where we had just heard that the first borehole had been dry. That was a real disappointment. The nearest water was 8km (5 miles) away.

We had received pictures of children having to take a donkey cart with huge empty drums to collect water and then return home with it. This had convinced us that a well was needed there. Quite apart from the people, there were many cattle there, too.

So, in the last newsletter we asked for prayer. “Well”, our requests were granted. A month further on, there was a nice new well at Toeg Yamba. The second borehole was successful. There is more detail and more pictures in the story on the web site. Click here to read it. The Lord is good!

The Well at Naf-Banka

The need …

Naf-Banka is another large village – about 9000 people. There was already a well there, but because it is spread out, like many villages, some people were having to walk over 3km to fetch water. It is difficult in places like this to make a living – there is not enough water to be able to grow crops. Here is a story from Christine, in her own words again:

A man said that young people left the village to go to other areas to look for Gold parents are not happy because it is dangerous when you dig a hole about 50 meter of deep to enter there and try to look for gold. Some lost dear life there. But if there is a well they can grow vegetable and do breeding.

The pastor there was finding it difficult to hold meetings. The only water was at a Catholic church and he had to fit in with their schedules. So it was good, again, to hear in April that drilling had been successful. They had found water at 51 metres. In due course, it will have a plaque saying “Pamela’s Well”. Again, you can see more pictures and more details on the web site by clicking this link.

The well blessing

The well blessing took place recently. A number of adults and, especially children, responded to the message, including this little boy called Sayidou. We need to pray that they will fully understand and truly trust the Lord.

Other wells stories

We try to keep the web site up to date with news. When we hear about a new well, or have pictures of one, there is usually a story on the web site. You can take a look at the news section by clicking this link.

Here are four that you may want to read – all of them published since the last newsletter:

An exciting week in March Read how three wells were drilled in the last week of March.

The well at Yerganga Eddie’s employer helped us to provide this well.

The story of the 100th well – Where is Ebenezer Well? There is no church in this village. By providing clean water, the way will be opened up for the gospel to be brought to this village.

The well at Kioura Why were people not allowed to use the existing pump here?

The “LAST” container that will be done .. ever .. or is it?

What is going in this time?

A new container is being loaded. Just a reminder that the containers are financed without using any of the money donated for wells.

The new container is already half filled with a minibus which has been loaded with many household items. A local Christian man had to move to be with his family as he had health problems. He very kindly donated almost the entire contents of his house to go to Burkina Faso. Since then, we have heard that he has passed into the presence of the Lord.

So the minibus contains a bed, cupboards, tables, chairs, crockery, cutlery – everything you need in a house.

Another local Christian lady is a retired sewing teacher. She is giving large quantities of fabric together with a number of sewing machines. There will be more school furniture and equipment from the Local Education Authority.

Houston – we have a problem!

Then, there is the second minibus. Andy, who finds these and gets them into first class order before they are sent, brought this second minibus to be filled before it is put into the container. He asked the question, “Will it actually fit in the container?” We thought it would be good just to try it before loading it with more items. Driving a minibus into a 40′ container is quite a skilled operation. Andy is skilled. But when Eddie finally said “Whoa!”, there was about 18 inches of minibus outside the container. It seems both these minibuses are longer than ones we have had before. No amount of jiggery-pokery will fit the two in. We will be buying Eddie a tape measure for Christmas and will write out idiot-proof instructions on how to use it.

So ..

Eddie has just bought another “last” container. We have been promised a large number of chairs from a school. It gives new meaning to the word “last”. As we mentioned in the last newsletter, changing circumstances mean that this second “last” container might be the actual last one.

In the next newsletter, we will give some details of how the tools sent in November have benefitted people who can now attend training schools.

Eddie’s British Empire Medal!

The trustees would like to congratulate Eddie on his British Empire Medal! This was announced in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list this year. The nomination was submitted by Eddie’s employers, Cross Country Trains. It takes into account the work that he has done in the past with prison visiting, work he still does now with Gideons and his work record with Cross Country Trains, including being awarded “Employee of the Year” twice.

But what really spurred them on to nominate him was the work he has done with Myra’s Wells.

So, on 10th May, we all attended the presentation ceremony which took place at County Hall, Dorchester. “All” included family, Myra’s Wells trustees and other friends who have helped Myra’s Wells over the years. Eddie was there in full highland regalia. We didn’t recognise him – nobody had seen him looking that smart.

Other news

Mark’s Memories 2018

Following the visit to Burkina Faso in January, our trustee, Mark, has written an account of his week there. We have produced this in a book which contains 72 pages of stories and photos. If you would like a copy, please just ask. It is available free – although if you want to help with the cost of postage, that would be appreciated. All we would ask is that you share it with friends and family who may be interested in what Myra’s Wells is doing. Trustees have covered the cost of its production.

Data Protection Policy

A reminder of something we mentioned last time. In line with changes of law, we have produced a statement about Data Protection. The major part of our stored data is the list of email addresses that we use for these quarterly newsletters. This list is stored at a secure service provider called MailChimp. We also have to retain records for GiftAid purposes. If you would like to see our full policy, please ask and it can be sent to you by email or post.

Finally

Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter. We value your support very much and continue to look to God to be able to drill more wells in the coming months after the rainy season comes to an end.

May you know the Lord’s blessing.

Myra’s Wells Trustees

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