Horse Tamer Ministry

In mid September 2009 a good friend, Anthony Gonsalez, left on a missionary trip to help 200 orphans in Sudan. Conditions there are very rustic. The orphanage shares a hand pumped well with the community . They stand in line to fill buckets and walk them to 55 gallon drums for their daily supply of water. There is no plumbing or electricity.

In an effort to make life more bearable for the orphans and staff, Horse Tamer Ministry has joined hands with them by starting a fund to drill a well (they call it a bore hole) in the  orphanage compound and install a water storage tank. A solar powered pump will keep the elevated water tank full. The water tower will provide enough pressure and simple plumbing will carry water to key locations. Nothing fancy but it's better than carrying buckets.

Sounds simple? It's not! The remoteness and rough roads make this, apparently easy concept, difficult and expensive. So, we're setting a goal of $20,000.00 by this Christmas.

Mail tax deductible contribution checks payable to Horse Tamer Ministry Water Project  

1172 S. Dixie Hwy. #400  Coral Gables, Florida 33146

Below will be posted an accounting of every cent contributed for this endeavor. Horse Tamer Ministry will spend100% of the contributions for this project. The kids are worth the effort.

9/3/09 Anonymous donor-$500.00

9/14/09 Anonymous donor-$100.00

1/12/2010 PRAISE GOD!!!!! WE HAVE REACHED OUR GOAL BY COLLECTING $10,000.00 AND RECEIVING A MATCHING GRANT. SEVERAL DONORS CAPTURED THE VISION AND OPENED THEIR HEARTS TO HELP THESE ORPHANS.

NOW WE WILL SCHEDULE THE DRILLING. WE WILL KEEP YOU INFORMED OF THE PROGRESS.

 Week 3: Fighting an Outbreak
Friday, September 11, 2009
Kajo Keji, Sudan
    The team is still adjusting to life here at the orphanage, especially
since our team leader, Jose, has finished his time with us and is on
his way out of Africa now. The great thing is that I’m feeling a lot
closer to the adults (possibly because some of them confuse me for
Jose), and I’m getting more comfortable with Kuku (the native
dialect). Probably the coolest thing that has happened this week is
that we have been studying the Bible as a team. We studied the book of
Colossians, and we started studying the book of Acts today. Prayer and
bible study have been immense anchors for me in Sudan.
    The most difficult thing this week has been the war that we have been
waging against illness here. As the team and I are settling into the
orphanage we are quickly realizing how poor the hygiene is among the
children. The leaders of the orphanage do their best to maintain the
children, but there are so many of them that some things get
overlooked. Certain kids skip bathing for a day or two. Bed sheets and
clothes are not put in to wash. And even the simple act of washing
one’s hands is ignored by most of the kids.
    As a result, there has been an outbreak of fungal infections and
scabies among the majority of the children. Fortunately, we have the
meds to treat both illnesses, but some cases are very advanced. One
poor child, Wara, has the most severe case of fungal infection in the
scalp. Because of lack of treatment it has covered her entire head and
even became a bacterial infection with open sores. It’s not a pretty
sight at all. I’ll spare you the details, but just know that it’s so
gross there are always flies on her head.
    Treating these children has been a long and exhausting process.
Normally, you would treat both infections at least three times a day.
But, with over 60 children with fungal infections and/or scabies and a
handful of available adults to help we can barely do it twice a day.
It’s a good thing that school doesn’t start until Monday for the
children. We hope that some of them will be cured by then.
    Being here makes me realize how important health education is.
Thoroughly cleaning oneself and maintaining one’s living area is huge.
Fortunately, the infections haven’t spread to the team because we
maintain ourselves very well. But, pray that we would continue to be
wise as we treat these illnesses, maintain our own health, and equip
the children with health education.
    On a side note, I want to thank all of you who have made an
investment into this trip, whether medical, financial, or spiritual.
Since leaving the States, I haven’t had much time to personally thank
everyone who has helped out. But, I’ll do my best to personally show
my appreciation. With that said, if anyone is interested in helping
out (especially if you couldn’t before), you still can! We are still
short on some supplies here. So if you’re willing to make a financial
contribution, or are willing to send some supplies over to us, send me
a message and I can give more details.

May God's grace abound in your life!
In Him,
Ant
Anthony Gonzalez