A couple of weeks ago, 3 engineers from EMI came out to help us determine the best plan for bringing water to Sepalau. This last week, a team from Trenton, Ohio, started the project. The first phase is the construction of a water reservoir.
The community of Sepalau has 200 families; and with an average of 6 people per family, that makes about 1200 people in the village. Currently they are walking 1.5km to a lagoon to draw water, wash clothes, or bathe. The men of the community, most of whom work in agriculture, have to help their women carry the water and clothes back and forth between their homes and the lagoon. It is difficult work and very time consuming.
When the group of community leaders came to us at Mission2Guatemala back in January to present the request for help, they shared with us how in the past they had a water system put in, but it wasn't done right and as a result, only worked for a short time. We were determined to do it right this time.
That is why we called on the Engineering Ministries International for their help. We have also made sure that every step along the way we are working together with the community - not telling them what we are going to do, but asking them what would work best for them and what their ideas are. Because of this, the community is very supportive of this work and it has, in fact, drawn them closer together, as they work towards the goal of accessible water for their people.
The Trenton team has a long standing relationship with the community of Sepalau. Before coming to Guatemala, they hosted a 5km walkathon in their home town to raise money for the project.
And, not only did they work on the reservoir, but they also did children's ministry and home visitation in the community. At the end of their children's ministry time, they gave out 400 shopping bags full of gifts for the children and young people.
Always our ultimate goal is to share the Gospel. Working along with the pastors and parishioners of both the Nazarene Church and the Church of God, we are showing the love of Christ in a very practical way. We are bringing them water in the physical realm, but we are also bringing the Living Water so their spiritual thirst can be satisfied. It doesn't get much better than that!
So, the water project in Sepalau is underway! There is a lot of work still to do, but the foundations have been laid. Please pray for the people of Sepalau and for us as we continue to work together.
Blessings,
Karren & Rocky
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