The Cercadillo Project

Oh, my!  I just realized that I’ve posted to Facebook but not to the blog, so let me quickly update this.

Yesterday  Morning–

Just got a call. Looks like the well drilling is going to happen really soon! Possibly this afternoon or tomorrow AM! Is that the Hallelujah chorus I hear in the background? KEEP PRAYING!

Also, we just experienced our 4th earthquake this month. I haven’t heard of extensive damage, except to folks nerves. Don’t want to cause anyone undue concern, but please pray for safety for those of us on the island.

Last Night –

It’s a little after 8:00 PM and I just made it home. Praise God the drilling rig is now in Cercadillo, ready to start early tomorrow AM!!! Keep praying and I’ll post pics when I return home tomorrow eve. Let’s ask God for all three wells to be drilled tomorrow, shall we?

Tonight – 

Well # 1 – COMPLETED! They found water at 80 feet and continued drilling to a little over 100 feet. PVC pipes were inserted in the well in anticipation of the next phase – installing the metal pipes and hand pump.

Well #2 – IN PROCESS. The drilling rig developed problems this afternoon, but praise God the guys were able to fix it. This really slowed down the progress. When we left the village a little while ago the 2nd well was drilled to a little over 50 feet. The plan is to finish it tomorrow as well as to hopefully finish the 3rd well also. Slower than expected, but still an INCREDIBLE day! Keep praying!

For the last 3 1/2 years that I have been working in Cercadillo a reoccurring question has been, “How do we reach the men?”  We may have found the answer!

All of the men pictured below came to an informational meeting today for an electricity class.  A Dominican electrician is offering to teach a 10 month hands-on class that will meet once a week for three hours.  At the end of the training the successful participants will receive a certificate in residential electricity and will leave with the necessary tools for this type of work.

The students are being asked to pay $125 RD per week. (About $3.30 USD) Each of the men who decide to take the training will need to bring the payment for the first class by next Sunday.

The students’ payments will cover a portion of the expenses of this course.  The rest will be covered by Steve Otte’s memorial gift to Cercadillo.  (Steve was a very dear friend from Kahoka who greatly influenced my life.  He died about a year ago after battling cancer.)  I’m very excited about how God is going to use this class.  I think Steve would have been also.