Go Beyond

   Monte Rico, El Salvador

   Access to an abundant supply of clean and safe drinking water is one of the things we take most for granted. Our lives are easier and simpler because we have access to water on demand. We don’t give a second thought to leaving the water running while we brush our teeth or to talking long showers or baths. We wash our dishes and clothes in the comfort of our own homes. We use lots of water to keep our lawns and gardens green, to wash the grime off of our cars, and to carry away the waste in our toilets. And, as if that were not enough, we purchase and consume gallons of bottled water because we are convinced that the water from our taps is somehow not safe enough to drink.

   Life is different for the people of Monte Rico, a small community of fifty poor families in rural El Salvador. Located near the Pacific Ocean, the people of this humble community understand the lament of the ancient mariner: “Water, water everywhere but not a drop to drink.” The people of Monte Rico do not have water on demand. Women and young girls here still fetch water the old fashioned way – they walk to the nearest river or stream, fill their water jars, and carry them back to their homes. When you work that hard to get your water you are much more careful about how you use it. Wasting water is out of the question.

   Although I have seen so many impoverished places on the planet, my heart still aches when I see people living in poverty. The drive to our drill site takes us down a dusty, winding road sheltered by the lush canopies of old trees and occasionally accented by beautiful flowering bougainvilleas. Yesterday and today, I saw many women and young girls washing clothes in streams and carrying water jars on their heads. And, I also saw people at each of the wells that Living Water has previously provided for the people who live in the small villages along the way to Monte Rico.

Omar with boy named Angel

   Our team is here to provide a source of clean and safe drinking water for the people of Monte Rico. Over the past two days we have interacted with the people of this tiny mountain village. They are now our friends. Adults and kids stop by throughout the day to check on our progress, to talk, and to express their gratitude. For the past couple of days the kind and gentle people of Monte Rico have prepared lunch for our team – a beautiful expression of their gratitude. For many of these folks, this water-well means that they will no longer walk long distances to rivers and streams to fetch water for their daily needs. This water-well will be the closest thing to indoor plumbing they will ever know. This is cause for excitement.

Jim Coleman at Drill Rig

   Living Water is making a big difference in lots places like Monte Rico. I am enjoying the hands-on experience of drilling a well. It’s hard, dirty, but very fulfilling work. The Living Water staff members are highly organized and great teachers. The mechanics of drilling make more sense with every passing hour as they patiently guide us through the tedious process of drilling for water. In the past two days we have drilled to a depth of 130 feet. Our team members are eager to do whatever they are asked to do because we have met the people who will benefit from our labor. When we look into the faces of the people here, we don’t mind the heat, the humidity, the mud, or the work. We can hardly wait for tomorrow and then the day after when we hope to complete the drilling process and bring water to the grateful people of Monte Rico.