Hello from El Salvador,
I have completed four weeks of language school in San Salvador, and
am settled into my new home in Berlin in the mountains of eastern El
Salvador. Today was my first "official day" on the job. There have
been a couple developments that are important that I want you to know
about.
First, the well-drilling process has begun in the canton El
Tablon...which is a dirt-floor-home community about a two and a half
hour walk from Berlin. It is one of 16 cantons with which I work
with the Parish Team in social development. The water study had been
done for some time, and the hydrologist concluded there is water at
140 meters...about the distance of one and a half football fields.
But the rainy season made the roads unaccessible for a 12 ton truck.
The dry season has begun, and the rig arrived in the community last
Wednesday to begin drilling the well.
The need for a potable water source for El Tablon was defined this
summer by the death of four elderly people from kidney failure in
that community....caused by lack of water. It is an irony that in
the middle of the rainy season there still was a severe potable water
shortage. The well will enhance the quality of life for more than
250 families.
When drilling is completed in El Tablon the rig will move to the
canton Las Delicias to drill a well in that community. Both wells
will be equipped with solar pumps and water tanks will be constructed
nearby to hold sufficient water supplies for the day for the
community. Pictures of the drilling rig are attached. The dream of
the Parish Team is to have a minimum of 5 wells available for the 16
cantons, though ideally there would be a well for each of the
cantons.
The other piece of good news is that construction of the sewing house
in El Tablon will begin soon. The land has been bought and the plans
are being drawn. Hopefully the actual construction process will
begin within a month, though that time frame is not secure until the
one doing the plans has visited the site for plan details. The plan
is for a health care room and community meeting space to be added at
a later time.
For more information of these projects and more about the mission
here, go to www.oursisterparish.org. Mary Mackenzie is the
designer of the web page. My thanks to her for her good work.
Robert Cook from Berlin, EL Salvador