Water Well Project News

ETHIOPIAN WATER PROJECT WOODWARD PARK CHURCH OF CHRIST 7886 NORTH MILLBROOK FRESNO, CALIFORNIA 93720 559 446-2550 www.wpcoc.com

August 5, 2015 To All Our Friends of the Ethiopian Water Project: Fourteen years and 515 producing wells ago the Ethiopian Water Project was started. Some of you who read this report were involved then and many of you are still involved. UNICEF and the Southern Region Water Bureau in Ethiopia tell us that 1.5 to 2 million men, women and children obtain pure clean drinking water from the wells that you made possible. This work is a living demonstration of the love of Jesus made evident to a hopeless people through you.

(Matthew 10:42) Jesus promised that “Giving a cup of cold water� is a work tied to a reward.

A few of you who read this report have been to Ethiopia and have personally witnessed scenes like the ones in these pictures. You have seen the polluted rain water collections ponds, the small contaminated streams and seasonal springs where the vast majority of people living in the rural areas obtain water for their families. You have visited new wells and have seen the expressions of gratitude from the people as they come bringing their containers and carry home pure sparking clean water. It is scenes like these that put an absolute determination inside us to continue this work for as long as God will provide the opportunity and loving Christians like you provide the needed funds to do so. (2 Corinthians 9:8) ETHIOPIAN CREW ASSUMES DRILLING RESPONSIBILITY IN 2015: When the actual drilling started in 2002, Curt King challenged three of our Ethiopian brethren to work with him to become journeyman drillers.

They accepted and Curt provided exceptional training in the 12 years that followed. Forty new wells have been drilled since January 2015 and 34 of these wells were completed without Curt being in Ethiopia. The next 40 well agreement will be ready after the rains and drilling should start by November. The crew will lead the drilling on this agreement also. This is a very important step in going forward in the water project.

PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE: On the left is pictured our first drilling rig. It is a 1967 Schramm T-64. In 2010 we shipped a second 1967 T-64 to Ethiopia.

These rigs have served us well, but we are at the point now that updated equipment is needed.

Since no new Schramm parts are being produced and everything needed must be purchased used, rebuilt in the U.S. and shipped to Ethiopia, we understand it is only a matter of time until a major breakdown occurs and drilling will be stopped. The picture on the right is a KLR Model DTH 150 drilling rig. A generous donor has agreed to fund the purchase of this new rig providing it can be imported into Ethiopia duty free. The new rig is produced in India and parts and service companies are already in Ethiopia that can provide repairs that our crew might not be able to make. It will probably take a year before this process can be completed and the new rig is in the field drilling. At that time, the Schramm rigs will serve as backup should the new rig need to be repared. This addition to our water well program will add many more years of providing good clean water for the destitute people in rural Ethiopia.

The gift of clean water is the most important physical gift that can be provided for the people in the countryside of Ethiopia. Nothing touches their way of living more than this. When they feel the love of Jesus expressed to them through the wells, their hearts are open to hear the saving message of the gospel. More than 200 new congregations have been established and thousands of people have obeyed the gospel message through baptism and were added to the Lord’s church. God being our helper, by the end of 2015 20-30 more wells will be completed giving 100,000+ people a constant source of good water for their families.

Thanks to all of you who read this update for your support of this great ministry. We pray that you will continue to be involved and you will pray for our Ethiopian brethren now leading the drilling program. Our prayers go out to God for his blessings to be upon you as you serve Him. Kevin and John Ed Clark