Water well dedication and school supplies

Water well dedication and school supplies 

What a glorious day this has been. We are all praising God for his goodness and faithfulness. All

praises and glory are to him who is above all else.

The day started early as we loaded the car with our school supplies we purchased yesterday and headed out to Nakivale Refugee Settlement and the Emmaus Global Outreach Primary school. When we arrived we unloaded a car load of much needed supplies for the teachers and students. I wish you could have seen the teachers faces as we unloaded boxes of textbooks, readers, Bibles, world maps for each classroom, a case of chalk and paint and sealer for the woodwork. 

These teachers are very dedicated to the students and the school. Many months they are not receiving their full salary of $100.00. Add to that they have very limited resources to teach from. Their classrooms consist of a dim room, as there are only a couple of windows (no glass), dirt floors, chipped plaster walls with a painted blackboard on one wall. The students sit in rows on short wooden benches, 6 to 10 students per bench.

A student representative from each class gave thanks to all of you who have given to make this project possible. I was able to visit each class to take a few photos and video. It is interesting to see them in class as they have no textbooks or writing implement; pens, pencils, paper, or notebooks. The teachers asked questions and the students answer. It is all done by memory. At least the teachers will have access to a textbook for each subject. One of the biggest hits was a large dictionary, the school has never had a dictionary before. All the subjects are taught in English, which will be good for the students down the line but think about trying to do all your school work from memory and in a language that is not your native language. These children are amazing.

There was a number of students missing today as this is the day for their sector to receive the U.N food distribution. Which means they have to walk a couple miles to the distribution area for their sector than carry the food back to their homes. These are very heavy loads and it takes most of the day to complete the task.

We were just finishing up with the school supplies when the three member team from Living Water International, Uganda arrived at the school. They came with a team to teach the people who will be using the well how to operate it and maintain it. They also did a health class that was very interesting and they had a pastor to give glory to God. Pastor Lewi also thanked God and all the sponsors who have given to this project. You just cannot imagine what a blessing it is for these people to have access to a near by clean water supply. When the speeches and teaching ended everyone walk down to the well.

The Living Water team reactivated the pump and the first water was pumped. It was a very exciting time for the people. There was a crowd of maybe 500 people who were there to witness the first of the water to come from the well. The Living Water personnel gave more instructions on caring for the well pump and for securing it with a fence to keep animals away. The people elected a team of representatives that would oversee the well was maintained and secured. An added expense item will be a watchman that will live near the well. 

After the details were worked out with the oversight committee the people started to bring there jerrycans to fill with water. Again there was a lot of ceremony that took place with prayers of thanksgiving and singing of hymns. The gratitude shown by the people was nearly overwhelmingly. This clean water this close to their homes with greatly impact their daily lives in such a positive way. Getting clean water in the past could be an all day affair as they had to walk a couple miles to wait in a very long queue and then haul the jerrycans full of water back to their homes. The alternative was to get the dirty water from the lake, which was much quicker and often could be deadly as it is ridden with disease and parasites.

This project is far from being completed. This is the first phase and we are thanking God for the provision of this water. But we need to continue the project in order to get the water up the hill to the school and clinic. That will require a solar pump, piping and a water storage tower. Please continue to pray for this project and consider what your part may be in helping to bring this project to completion.

I have given information on how you can help below, but you can also further designate your gift to specifically helping the water project. On your check or in the comments for Palpal or Egiving, write in Send It Ahead Project - Water. That way your funds will go totally in support of the the water project.

Remember that you cannot take it with you, but you can “SEND IT AHEAD”.

If you can help we have a way for you to donate to these children’s needs. Go to www.watchtherefore.tv click on the donate button at the top of the page and please make sure you designate your tax deductible donation to the “Send It Ahead” program. While you’re at the web site please click on the Send It Ahead button at the top of the page to look for more updates and photos from the school.