During their visit to Burkina Faso, three of our trustees – Eddie, Karen and John – visited two villages in the south west. They both had the same problem. There was no pump in either village and the people living there had to try to find water in the marshes about 2 km away.
The method of extracting water from marshland is almost unthinkable. People who do this dig a hole in the marsh and this fills with water. They can then fill their bowl or container. What may be in the water is something we cannot image. We are told that various chemicals are used in the marshes, presumably fertilisers. And there will be other, more natural, contaminants. During the dry season, it becomes very difficult to find enough water to drink.
Myra’s Wells wanted to help
Through one of our contacts, we heard about the situation. And at the end of October 2018 we arranged for wells to be drilled in these two villages – and another nearby village in a similar position. The trustees were unable to visit the third village, but here are some photos of the two.
Koumboura
There are about 600 people living here. There is a very small church with only 2 ladies and some children who belong to the church. The chief had asked the local authority to help to provide clean water, but this help was not forthcoming. It is a typical village with the small one-roomed houses. This picture shows the dryness of the area soon after the rainy season has finished.
Here is the new pump with the ladies waiting for their turns. The borehole is 65 metres deep and the flow rate is a very good 3000 litres per hour.
It is nearly always seen as the ladies’ job to fetch water and take it back home. In this area, they use large bowls which they carry on their heads. They use a piece of cloth as a small “platform” on which to balance the bowls. When they reach their house, they have help from another lady to lower the bowl to the ground.
This little girl is obviously very happy to have this new well. Clean water is available when she needs it. And on the well wall, there is a plaque – this well has been provided by John in memory of his wife Sylvia. 
To show their appreciation, one man gave John a 2,000 CFA note. The monetary value is £2.80 – not much to us, but a lot indeed to the man who gave it. And the thought behind it is invaluable.
Banamba
The second, of the two villages, is in the same area. There are about the same number of people living there and the story is very similar. Again, there is a small church with, maybe, a few more people. Because the security situation is somewhat doubtful in this area, the village was not expecting a visit. So, there are not so many pictures. But here are some.
Again, the people are now happy to have a nice new well. One of the pictures shows John testing the pump. The borehole here is 60 metres deep. And the flow rate is a magnificent 7200 litres per hour.
Going forwards
Our prayer, as always, is that the wells will not only provide physical water of life, but will also help others to see the love of God and come to know Jesus as their saviour
There are now 148 wells on the full wells list. But there are many other villages in this area with the same problem. As the Lord enables, we will endeavour to help them in the same way. And, as we often say, all the gifts we receive are passed 100% to well drilling. The trustees pay all other expenses personally, including travel costs.
