Well Drillin' for Jesus

This is well drilling. This is a twelve inch drill bit slowly chomping its way through the ground as it’s pushed by 10 foot medal rods and loads of compressed air; all on a journey to seek out clear water. This is blue casing going down the hole to seal out dirt from the water.

Working on a well drilling site is difficult work. There is always heavy lifting and repetition. There are consistently problems that can only be solved with dependence on God and a clear mind. Work begins early in the morning, and usually ends later in the evening. During the day, the sun is usually a scorching 110 + as you work. With mud, dust, and sludge coming up from the hole, you get dirty.

This work isn’t necessarily fun, but it is ridiculously rewarding.

In my time here in Burkina, I have had the wonderful opportunity to be a small part in the work of “Friends in Action,” an international non-profit who seeks to bring God’s glory to the nations in various ways. In Western Africa, that way is by clean water. A pretty great strategy if I do say so myself. This hasn’t been my main mission here, but I have gotten to go on three different trips, helping produce three different wells in three various villages.

 

Casing

 

The Crew on my third trip

 

 

As a kid, I always heard about the children in Africa who had to walk miles and miles just to get a daily dose of water. In innocence and ignorance, it didn’t much affect me; but to be here now, and to see this reality, it makes me ponder.

 

Spending time with some village kids after working

Where do I go when I am thirsty? Where do I go when I want to boil water for a meal? Where do I go when I am dirty, or when my plants need to be watered? From where I’m sitting now, the multiple water sources would take steps- steps, to get to. Don’t get me wrong, I am grateful for this. It’s definitely not a bad thing to have clean water at the turn of a knob. But To see the reality that these people endure, though, and to not have a change in heart and perspective, I would be a fool.

 

HE>i

 

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