December 5, 2022

Community members in Azama backfill a trench during the construction of the distribution system (photo credit: Chris Visscher)

 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” Luke 2:10-11, 13-14

Work is in full swing in the community of Azama. While many construction projects back in my home state of Michigan are shutting down for the winter, working conditions are still favorable here near the equator, just as they are all year round.

The Azama project consists of five different neighborhoods that are working together to complete this system. In the end, the system will allow 288 more families to have access to clean water at their homes.

The community has been making incredible progress. The construction of the 15 miles of distribution system pipe and four new tanks was started in the middle of October and the community hopes to complete the work by Christmas.

It is not only the community that is showing great commitment to the project. CODEINSE employs three field staff—Freddy, Jose, and Wilson—who have been making the six-hour drive to Azama each week and staying in the community to guide the work. I am grateful for their commitment and the important role they play in the success of the system construction.

The CODEINSE field staff plays an important role in the success of the construction projects that we design. In the photo below they are finishing the foundation of a tank after community members had gone home for the day.

Throughout the process of this work there is anticipation on the part of the community. In communities with new systems, some community members may have waited for this moment for decades. For others, it might not have been until the start of the construction process that they truly felt the opportunity for clean water at their homes was available.

Much like in these communities, there was a great amount of anticipation for the Israelites as they awaited the arrival of the promised Messiah. For centuries prophets foretold the coming of the Messiah and the justice, healing, and grace that would result, as read in Isaiah 42:1 and Isaiah 61:1-2. So the proclamation of the angels recorded in Luke 2:10-11 is one of incredible excitement, not only for those listening, but as it states, for “all the people.”

I like the way the fifth verse of the Christmas carol “It Came Upon The Midnight Clear” tells this story:

“For lo! the days are hastening on 
By prophet bards foretold, 
When with the ever circling years 
Comes round the age of gold; 
When Peace shall over all the earth 
Its ancient splendors fling, 
And the whole world give back the song 
Which now the angels sing.”

Of course, we do not yet realize the fullness of the Peace that is promised, but we can all take part in being a blessing to the nations in the here and now, whether that be in our hometown or around the world. Our ultimate mission is that “the whole world give back the song / Which now the angels sing,” a song recorded in Luke 2:14: “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased.”

In late October CODEINSE delivered the engineering report and design to the community of Pull San Jose. We spent some time walking through the design with the community—I worked the computer while Efrain, CODEINSE director, described the project and the work that would be required. We now await approval of the design from the community. If approved, the construction work would begin in February (photo credit: Braulio Morocho)

Prayer Requests 

I pray that you all may experience joy this Christmas season. I am grateful for all of you and the support that you show through emails, comments, and notes of encouragement. A few prayer requests for the upcoming months:

  • Thanksgiving for the completion of the San Antonio de Quito system 
  • Prayers of strength and commitment for the community of Azama as it continues to construct its new water system 
  • Life Giving Water International and CODEINSE will have a vision meeting in January to consider work in a few neighboring countries as well as the future of the ministry here in Ecuador. Please pray for wisdom and guidance for this ministry 
  • In February I will be receiving a ministry team from Noordeloos CRC, a church in Holland, MI. Pray that the trip may go well and the team will experience the blessing of this ministry

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