Our Pointe Noire Well is Flowing!

It is always fun to hear that our efforts have made a difference.  We have not been back to Pointe Noire for 2 years, but we have received 2 reports that have made us happy.

When we were in Pointe Noire, one of our big projects was to develop a well.  Because of the experience that we had at Clear Creek Ranch drilling a huge well, the church approved the building of a big well that was to provide water to 50,000 homes in Pointe Noire in the Republic of the Congo.  (Ed was considered an experienced water man… and I was a certified Utah water operator.)

The photos in this blog entry are from 2 years ago, when we were serving in Pointe Noire.

The church paid a fortune to drill and finish the well.  The Pointe Noire city water department was supposed to provide the huge generator to run the well.  They promised us that the money was earmarked for the generator and could not be spent on anything else.  However, when the well was completed, there was no money for the generator.  Therefore, the well has sat there for 2 years, not producing water for anyone.  The 50,000 homes have continued to encounter challenging problems without water.  Not the least of these problems is that the women had to go very early, while it was still dark, to wait in lines to get their water.  Rape of these girls and women was a common occurrence.  Many women had to carry the water long, long distances.  It would take them hours everyday.  They would take 3 or 4 “bidos” (big water containers) which are unbelievably heavy.  I can’t lift one.  The women would fill them up and then take the first one about 50-100 feet.  Because of theft, they had to be able to see the bidos at all times.  Then she would go back and get the other bidos, one at a time, and keep repeating this process until she reached home. 

A couple of months ago, we received word that there was a new generator in place and that the well was finally working and providing water. 

They have now encountered some problems with the old distribution system that was put in by the French before the emancipation of the Congos over 50 years ago.  However, supposedly water is flowing throughout the area.  This means that there is a tap and distribution “hut” in each of the 6 neighborhoods. 

(This is one of the huts)  

The women can now go get their water and carry it a much, much shorter distance than before, at any time of the day. 

We love to see the progress being made!