June 12, 2023

The team at Proyecto Dulcepamba explained their work and shared information about the three communities seeking help. 

Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body - whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free - and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. - 1 Corinthians 12:12-13

Over the past few months, the themes of unity and cooperation have been appearing in discussion, in work, and in everyday life for me here in Ecuador.

Recently, CODEINSE’s expertise in water distribution has been shared with two other organizations here in Ecuador that are looking for assistance with community projects. The first organization is Fundacion Ingenieros en Accion (FIEA— translation: Engineers in Action Foundation), which is a development organization based in Ecuador. FIEA works with communities on a variety of projects, including spring protection and water distribution, which is CODEINSE’s area of expertise.

The second organization CODEINSE connected with is Proyecto Dulcepamba (translation: Project Dulcepamba), an organization based in Chillanes, Bolivar province, which helps communities secure the water rights of springs. In the process of this work, Proyecto Dulcepamba connected with a number of communities which needed help with water systems, either new or existing.

It’s exciting to see the connection made between organizations as they seek to improve the health of the communities that they serve. Each organization has different skills and abilities, and play their role in walking alongside communities to make clean drinking water a reality.

On top of the connections that have recently been made, the CODEINSE team here in Ecuador is looking forward to working with new and existing partners in ministry this June. We’re excited to welcome a team from Calvin University, which will research the topic of chlorination in gravity systems with us. We will be hosting Hope Christian Church from Massachusetts, a church that started off supporting Bruce and Cherith Rydbeck in the 1980s and continues to support the ministry today. Finally, we will be hosting two professors from Hope College, who are interested in potentially partnering with CODEINSE on health studies here in Ecuador.

Chris and I spent two days working with this rotary drill unit. We also learned about hand auger and percussion drilling. 

Last month, Chris and I were able to attend a well-drilling training in North Carolina on the campus of Equip International. Equip International focuses on preparing missionaries for time in the field. Along with well-drilling training, they provide weeklong courses for medical training, small engine repair, and pump repair. It was a blessing to see the passion of the instructors at Equip, to hear their first-hand experience with well drilling in remote locations, and to spend a few days working with the drilling equipment to learn the processes and methods to drilling a productive well. It was great to experience the fruits of this ministry, while also spending a few days in the North Carolina spring weather.

Here in Ecuador, the CODEINSE team completed topographic surveys in three communities in the last few months. The communities of Sacahuan Tiocajas (60 homes), Atapo (60 homes), and Guaslan Grande (300 homes) are all excited to begin the process of improving their current water supplies.

The CODEINSE team also wrapped up construction in Pull San Jose. Once the reservoirs were sufficiently cured, the water meters were installed and water began to flow through the new system. As this was my first design, I am very excited to see this project completed. With this work complete, the team will now focus on a new construction project in the community of Guayllabamba. Consisting of 252 homes, the design for the Guayllabamba system includes two new tanks and 13 kilometers of pipe.

While a large community at approximately 300 homes, the community members of Guaslan Grande helped us complete the topographic survey in just one day. 

Prayer Requests

A few prayer requests for the upcoming months:

• Thanksgiving for a productive week of training and learning the basics of well drilling.
• Encouragement for the community of Guayllabamba as it begins the construction process in the next month. 
• Health and strength for the CODEINSE team as we host four summer interns, two university teams, and one church team in the month of June, and effective programs for these groups as they learn about the ministry and partner with us in various aspects of our ministry. 
• In mid-May, the President of Ecuador dissolved the national assembly, per constitutional decree. This means the president has expanded rights, although still held in check by the Constitutional Court. New elections will occur in the next three months to elect a new President and legislators. There have not yet been any protests or demonstrations, but prayer is needed for stability and wisdom for the politicians in the upcoming months.