Finally it is over!!
The day I looked forward to/dreaded has come and gone! I got moved yesterday- it felt sort of strange sleeping in a different house but I think I will really enjoy the new place. I had great help yesterday- by 5pm it was pretty much all done. The ladies helped me get my kitchen and beds and all the rest all set up- now I just have to do a little reorganizing. I am so thankful for their help. Oreo is doing pretty well with the move- she is NOT liking going up and down stairs but she will adapt and it will be good for her (and me too.) We have enjoyed two nice walks exploring the new neighborhood. My phone hasn't been transferred yet so I will be checking internet from the old house at least once a day, if not twice. Good thing it is not too far away.
Okay, now for the more important stuff- ministry! I have a meeting tonight in Los Santos to begin the process of formalizing a water committee, getting inscriptions for the water co-op. We will need to establish a bank account for them. They have been using water, giving it away to folks to try. I am excited to see what happens tonight!
I am on my way to Villa right now to help them purify their first two tanks. We had to work to activate the well so that the mud subsided- now it is crystal clear water! Yesterday our two water technicians had to do something for me in Santo Domingo so we are a little behind but things should roll quickly now. We decided to run an analysis of the water before signing up "socios" (co-op members) to help fight off any psychological ideas that you can't drink water from a well. We hope to get a sample today and have it tested tomorrow and have an official statement saying the water is potable and then we will launch our inscription campaign. I learned my lesson with some minor problems in La Canela that it is best to work out the inevitable "problemitas" before advertising too heavily.
How can you pray? First, pray for me to recover from all the activities and the stress of moving. I have been sort of frazzled of late. Second, pray for the water projects (La Canela, Los Santos and Villa) to be a great tool for physical and spiritual health in the communities. Third, for upcoming projects: we have a Disaster Relief training event in May with our Dominican brothers- pray for a healthy foundation to be laid for an effective ministry when disasters strike our nation. Fourth, I am still waiting to hear about how we can get a well dug in Perdanales where there is a small community of people with no water!
And one last thing: I have been working to get some water trailers that purify water out of customs. My time has been limited because I have to do all the errands in Santo Domingo and I have not had days where I could get away. I spent one whole day there just before Mill Creek arrived and I am hoping to get an exoneration so we won't have to pay $1800 in taxes this week so i can go back and get them. Please pray for this to go smoothly, for the exoneration to come through quickly and for the trailers to be released to us!
Okay, now for the more important stuff- ministry! I have a meeting tonight in Los Santos to begin the process of formalizing a water committee, getting inscriptions for the water co-op. We will need to establish a bank account for them. They have been using water, giving it away to folks to try. I am excited to see what happens tonight!
I am on my way to Villa right now to help them purify their first two tanks. We had to work to activate the well so that the mud subsided- now it is crystal clear water! Yesterday our two water technicians had to do something for me in Santo Domingo so we are a little behind but things should roll quickly now. We decided to run an analysis of the water before signing up "socios" (co-op members) to help fight off any psychological ideas that you can't drink water from a well. We hope to get a sample today and have it tested tomorrow and have an official statement saying the water is potable and then we will launch our inscription campaign. I learned my lesson with some minor problems in La Canela that it is best to work out the inevitable "problemitas" before advertising too heavily.
How can you pray? First, pray for me to recover from all the activities and the stress of moving. I have been sort of frazzled of late. Second, pray for the water projects (La Canela, Los Santos and Villa) to be a great tool for physical and spiritual health in the communities. Third, for upcoming projects: we have a Disaster Relief training event in May with our Dominican brothers- pray for a healthy foundation to be laid for an effective ministry when disasters strike our nation. Fourth, I am still waiting to hear about how we can get a well dug in Perdanales where there is a small community of people with no water!
And one last thing: I have been working to get some water trailers that purify water out of customs. My time has been limited because I have to do all the errands in Santo Domingo and I have not had days where I could get away. I spent one whole day there just before Mill Creek arrived and I am hoping to get an exoneration so we won't have to pay $1800 in taxes this week so i can go back and get them. Please pray for this to go smoothly, for the exoneration to come through quickly and for the trailers to be released to us!
