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,
Anthony Gonzalez

March 14,2010 update. Last word is that all the materials have been purchased and a local plumber and electrician are waiting for the pump to arrive. Once the pump is there the drilling crew will do their job. I've been told that in Africa they don't have our sense of time. Things go slower there so we must be patient and pray for God's timing.

 

 March 16,2010 update:

Working in Unity to Bless the Children of Sudan with Living Water

In partnership with

 

                                       The Radler Foundation   

                                     Water Harvest International

 Water 4 Foundation

 Horse Tamer Ministry

 "Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life." - John 4:14

 

Living Water for the children of South Sudan

The Water Project at St. Bartholomew’s Orphanage began in January 2010 and is well underway for completion by May 2010. Thank you to all of the people and organizations that have come together, united by the common vision of bettering the quality of life of our children for the glory of God.

 

 After securing approval and funding from all the varying partner organizations, communication between CH Global representative and CH Global designated coordinator was already taking place. The initial start-up of the project was greatly aided by the expertise and cooperation of Stephen Huber, of Water Harvest International, who was instrumental in the design and distribution of the structure.  Based on favourable recommendations, a local plumber was hired to come on-site and assess the grounds and plumbing materials required for the desired seven water points throughout the orphanage compound.

 

 Acquisition of these materials would not have been possible without the generosity of Pastor David Kaya and the First Baptist Church of Kajo Keji, who allowed the use of their drivers and lorry to help purchase and gather the supplies – as indicated by the plumber - in Kampala, Uganda. Items such as a 5000-litre water tank, tubing, piping, fittings, water taps and sinks were purchased from Multiple Industries, Inc. and local hardware stores in Kampala. The lattus (the tower the water tank sits on) is currently being constructed locally, and will be finished at the end of March 2010.

 

Due to extended time dedicated to the purchase of materials in Kampala, complimented by the busy schedule of Water Harvest International, the drilling of the borehole and installation of the submersible pump will take place at the beginning of April 2010 by Water Harvest International. In accordance with their previous work, this process should take no more than three days. Following the set up of the lattus and water tank, the plumber has estimated one week for his labour.

Though solar power at the orphanage is already installed and in-use, a local electrician will visit the compound to ensure that the system is sufficient enough to power running water, and will make improvements as necessary.

 

 Education is crucial before the final implementation of the water project for the people of St. Bartholomew’s Orphanage. Despite the huge burden lifted with the gift of running water, it will be a strange adjustment for both children and staff to change from a life of pumping and carrying jerrycans of water, to having the convenience of any desired amount of water at one’s disposal at the turn of a tap. To encourage appropriate use of each water point and relying on people’s appreciation to sustain the system, instruction for proper use and care will cover:

The need for running water

The direct and indirect benefits of running water

How to use each water point

How to refill the water tank

What to do if there is a problem with the water system

What to do if there is a problem with the solar power

Providing knowledge of the running water yields comfort and empowerment to its users. This education is given in hopes of uniting for an even greater vision: Where do we go from here: How running water will encourage development and self-sustainment for the orphanage compound.

 

52 meters deep!

 

Missionary, Kelly Amsler, rejoicing about the new clean water source.