Written by Brad Otto:

Day 2: A Joint Effort

The day began with both teams joining up to do the same project. We drove out to the project site through this big open filed, filled with holes and other obstacles. It made for an interesting ride. Once we got to the site, we found a hole with most of the workers standing around it looking down into the hole. As we approached the hole we began to figure out that there was actually someone down in that hole, 25 ft deep. Sure enough, one of the teenagers was down in the hole digging away, putting the, what was now mud, into the bucket to be lifted up by a rope. Surely they wouldn’t send us down there? Nope, our job was to gather rocks. And there were many rocks to be gathered. The field was full of rocks. No wheelbarrow anywhere in sight, just two sticks with several smaller sticks to make a makeshift platform. Back and forth we went. What were the rocks to be used for. Actually we were blessed on this trip to see what would become of those rocks. After lunch, we got to see the large cylinders placed into the hole. Just in the short time we took lunch the water had already risen about 3 ft. We helped to lower the cylinders into the hole, one by one. Lowering it ever so steadily, making sure we were lowering both sides evenly. Now the rocks come into play. The rocks are then thrown between the cylinders and the earth for support. It was absolutely amazing watching all of this take place. All one could think about is how all we have to do is go to a faucet and turn the water on. But one thing really stood out and that was the pride and joy that these people of this village had in helping to build the well. One of the elders of the village, with a soulful smile, said, through a translator, how exciting this moment was for him. He was 72, and probably for the first time in his life, he would have access to clean drinking water. Asked if he thought this day would come, he said he always had faith that it would come. Faith. The definition of the word according to scripture is this: hope for things not yet seen.

Day 3- Celebration

Today was a day of celebration, as the water well sponsored by Messiah Lutheran Church was to be finished. After waiting around for a little over an hour due to some difficulties, the well was finished. Words cannot describe the feeling of seeing the water come out of that well for the first time, and I really wasn’t the beneficiary of that water. I can’t imagine what was going through their minds as they saw that water. When the first bit came out there was clapping and yelling. Pure happiness. I myself, couldn’t help but tear up. As the pastor of Messiah Lutheran, I got to say a few words and I said a prayer over the well. Then it was the turn of the villagers. All gave thanks for the well and for those who donated for the well. My favorite moment and one of the most enlightening moments came when one man talked about the kids going to school. What would you think the link is between school and water? It is something you don’t think about probably at all. Today it was made real for me. As he spoke he talked about how the kids could now go to school. The parents were happy about this. Before the kids would spend too much of the day having to go get water for their households and couldn’t go to school. Now they could. We often think about the connection of water to life, but in this moment I was reminded that life is much bigger and wider than one could possibly imagine.

There was food and drink. The locals got out some of the local whiskey. It literally burned just to smell it! Others said words of thanksgiving and then we got to mingle with the villagers. Before we left, we gave the village children a soccer ball so that they could play with it. I presented it to one of the leaders, and got an equally enthusiastic response for that soccer ball. Something so simple. But wasn’t it Mother Teresa who once said, “None of us can do great acts, but we can all do small acts with great love.” That’s what kept ringing in my ear as I left. It was hard to leave. The waves from the people and the excitement on the kids who were already kicking that ball around was difficult to leave. But this is only a beginning in the relationship between Messiah and this village. I believe God has great things in store for us all!

We left there and then went to a local market. The market was busy with people. I instantly felt like a movie star. Everyone starring and kids coming up to us wanting to hold our hands. One is hesitant at first and then you are reminded of Jesus’ words, “Let the little children come to me.” Jesus goes on to say that one must have faith as one of these. I know what he means now. There they are and they don’t know us at all and yet grab our hands as if we were their brothers or their best friends. Faith I guess has a little audacity to it. I get that now.

We finished the day back at the well we were at the previous day. They began to lay the foundation. The relationships we had established the day before picked up right where they left off and grew more. We left them with some water in water bottles and headed back to the city.

 

 

Written by Brad Otto:

Day 2: A Joint Effort

The day began with both teams joining up to do the same project. We drove out to the project site through this big open filed, filled with holes and other obstacles. It made for an interesting ride. Once we got to the site, we found a hole with most of the workers standing around it looking down into the hole. As we approached the hole we began to figure out that there was actually someone down in that hole, 25 ft deep. Sure enough, one of the teenagers was down in the hole digging away, putting the, what was now mud, into the bucket to be lifted up by a rope. Surely they wouldn’t send us down there? Nope, our job was to gather rocks. And there were many rocks to be gathered. The field was full of rocks. No wheelbarrow anywhere in sight, just two sticks with several smaller sticks to make a makeshift platform. Back and forth we went. What were the rocks to be used for. Actually we were blessed on this trip to see what would become of those rocks. After lunch, we got to see the large cylinders placed into the hole. Just in the short time we took lunch the water had already risen about 3 ft. We helped to lower the cylinders into the hole, one by one. Lowering it ever so steadily, making sure we were lowering both sides evenly. Now the rocks come into play. The rocks are then thrown between the cylinders and the earth for support. It was absolutely amazing watching all of this take place. All one could think about is how all we have to do is go to a faucet and turn the water on. But one thing really stood out and that was the pride and joy that these people of this village had in helping to build the well. One of the elders of the village, with a soulful smile, said, through a translator, how exciting this moment was for him. He was 72, and probably for the first time in his life, he would have access to clean drinking water. Asked if he thought this day would come, he said he always had faith that it would come. Faith. The definition of the word according to scripture is this: hope for things not yet seen.

Day 3- Celebration

Today was a day of celebration, as the water well sponsored by Messiah Lutheran Church was to be finished. After waiting around for a little over an hour due to some difficulties, the well was finished. Words cannot describe the feeling of seeing the water come out of that well for the first time, and I really wasn’t the beneficiary of that water. I can’t imagine what was going through their minds as they saw that water. When the first bit came out there was clapping and yelling. Pure happiness. I myself, couldn’t help but tear up. As the pastor of Messiah Lutheran, I got to say a few words and I said a prayer over the well. Then it was the turn of the villagers. All gave thanks for the well and for those who donated for the well. My favorite moment and one of the most enlightening moments came when one man talked about the kids going to school. What would you think the link is between school and water? It is something you don’t think about probably at all. Today it was made real for me. As he spoke he talked about how the kids could now go to school. The parents were happy about this. Before the kids would spend too much of the day having to go get water for their households and couldn’t go to school. Now they could. We often think about the connection of water to life, but in this moment I was reminded that life is much bigger and wider than one could possibly imagine.

There was food and drink. The locals got out some of the local whiskey. It literally burned just to smell it! Others said words of thanksgiving and then we got to mingle with the villagers. Before we left, we gave the village children a soccer ball so that they could play with it. I presented it to one of the leaders, and got an equally enthusiastic response for that soccer ball. Something so simple. But wasn’t it Mother Teresa who once said, “None of us can do great acts, but we can all do small acts with great love.” That’s what kept ringing in my ear as I left. It was hard to leave. The waves from the people and the excitement on the kids who were already kicking that ball around was difficult to leave. But this is only a beginning in the relationship between Messiah and this village. I believe God has great things in store for us all!

We left there and then went to a local market. The market was busy with people. I instantly felt like a movie star. Everyone starring and kids coming up to us wanting to hold our hands. One is hesitant at first and then you are reminded of Jesus’ words, “Let the little children come to me.” Jesus goes on to say that one must have faith as one of these. I know what he means now. There they are and they don’t know us at all and yet grab our hands as if we were their brothers or their best friends. Faith I guess has a little audacity to it. I get that now.

We finished the day back at the well we were at the previous day. They began to lay the foundation. The relationships we had established the day before picked up right where they left off and grew more. We left them with some water in water bottles and headed back to the city.