THE MASTER’S DRILLER

From Lisa Dunn

I’m so thankful to have spent 10 days in Haiti with Curt.  My brother-in-law, Bill Moxon and I joined Curt and his assistant, Snaider as they started drilling with the new HHI drill rig.  Before I left last week, we drilled 7 wells in 7 days. Of those seven, four are good producing wells.  The people are so thankful for the life saving water these wells will provide to them and their families.  As they thanked us for our efforts, Curt would always be quick to remind them that it is God who had provided them with the gift and it is Him who knows all that they need.  Curt has always impressed me as we have worked together through many years– with his commitment to the water projects, his endless hours of hard work, the time he sacrifices away from his family, but these last few weeks, I have been even more impressed by the incredible example he is to those he serves.  He wants to provide them with help as much as they desperately need it.  His heart is broken with that which breaks our Father’s heart.  That’s why I call him the Master’s driller*.  His heart and life truly belong to the Master.  I’m thankful to be witness to his life and service.

Curt will have a report for you soon. Another volunteer came in last week as Bill and I left and they are currently working on well 11.  The needs are huge at the tent camps where we have been drilling and the work hard.  Please keep Curt and the project in your prayers as they wrap up this series of drilling.

* The top title given to a US well driller by the NGWA is “Master Driller”.

Lisa Dunn

July 5, 2010

Post Haiti – Redwood City, CA

More Haiti Trip Photos: http://gallery.me.com/dunnlisa/100148

Drilling at the Canaan Tent Camps outside of Port-au-Prince

Sweet Water Flows, Canaan Tent Camps – Well #7

OVERFLOW WITH HOPE

FLOWING WATER

Today we finished our second well since coming to Haiti on Jun 14th. One yesterday and one today.  We are working in what seems like a remote corner of the world, yet is only 45 minutes from Port au Prince, and would be a lot less if the road was paved.  But it has a rather elegant name, Thomazeau.

There is an American couple living in the area, and it is the place where Arron, the last driller to use the “new” rig parked it.  Since they know the people and the area, we listened to their advice and drilled on a trail into the hills where many live, and will get water as they pass. Today we drilled in a schoolyard near the marketplace.

Hitting Water at Thomazeau School - Well for Community & over 200 Children

It’s going well, taking some time to get used to a different type of machine, and it’s taking time to get people to agree on well locations.  There is so much need, and some greed, and we want to make sure the wells will be drilled where everyone will have free access. But it’s coming along, and we continue to move forward.

HOPE FLOWS

I came across a Bible verse the other day that is sticking in my mind.  We hear so much about, “hope for this”, “hope for that,” “hope for change,” and on and on.  But many years ago, it was written, “May the God of hope fill you with joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope…”

I (we) are loved by the very God of hope who wants us to be full of joy and peace and actually overflow with hope. What a good way to live in a confusing, violent and sometimes frustrating world.

Curt King

Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

MAKING THINGS WORK

(Lisa Dunn for the team…)

CURT AND THE NEW RIG

Curt, Snaider and volunteer, Bill Moxon, spent Friday making adjustments to the rig to attach the external compressor, allowing the rig to drill without any needed imported items (foam or mud).  Those items were available for the previous 13 wells drilled with this rig but the reality of availability had to be considered now.

Saturday the guys started their first rounds of wells, and I’m excited to report that they hit water at 150 feet at the first site. The team and locals were very thankful.  Today they  drilled an additional 15 feet at that site, checked the water quality and put in the casing. Snaider will follow-up with the hand-pump.  We’ve been praying the water is good as the village is near a salty lake outside the city of Port-au-Prince, near Thomazeau. Once again we are thankful: it is good, sweet drinking water and is producing at a good rate.

We have visited some of the well sites (tent camps 1 and 2) and the people there are continuing to use the wells there.  There were groups of people pumping buckets of water the entire length of our visits to those camps (primarily children).  Thank you for helping to make those wells possible. Your partnership is vital to this work.

LEARNING FROM THE HAITANS

As we have been driving through town to pick up PVC and other parts we have seen the Haitian people continue on with life in spite of the terrible hardships they have encountered, especially since the quake.  They continue to press on and make things work. They are recycling the rebar, metal sheeting and anything else useful found in ruins and rubble.  They have set up store fronts in front of their condemned businesses.  Those in the tent camps that we checked on were gracious, thankful for the water wells, asking us to sit down if they had a bucket or chair.  They were open and honest of the living conditions but not complaining, just making things work as best as they could.

Life goes on amidst destruction and ruins – Making Things Work

What a lesson.  In a small way we simply adapted and made things work with the rig this week but how are we really doing that when it really matters in our everyday lives?  Not complaining or giving up, just “making things work.”

-Lisa Dunn (for Curt & Crew), June 21, 2010, Port-au-Prince, Haiti

HAITI DRILLING TO RESUME

Curt hits water at tent camp (for earthquake survivors)

Quick Update

Curt leaves Seattle tonight to get back to the drilling efforts in the Port-au-Prince area of Haiti. Fourteen wells are lined up with Healing Hands International.  Later this summer he is scheduled to drill on La Gonave (with other partners).

We appreciate your prayers as he returns.  We seek his and the entire team’s safety while working and driving, equipment to function, logistics to play out and for the necessary supplies to be readily available for drilling.  We especially pray that people will receive the water that they need…to help save lives, give them hope and show them that God cares for their needs.

Thank you for your continued support.

Lisa Dunn

Northern California

I have the opportunity to travel with Curt over the next two weeks and will try to post his updates from the field.  If connections are not good, I’ll have more to report at the beginning of July.  Thank you.

16 WELLS FOR HAITI!

HAITI TENT CAMP DRILLING UPDATE

Pastor and driller, Arron Swenson returned to Haiti at the beginning of March to step in as the driller for the project.  What a blessing he has been.  Sixteen wells have been drilled for the earthquake relief since we all began. That means thousands are being blessed with safe water in the midst of struggling and rebuilding their lives.  Arron now must to return to his responsibilities in Oregon–to his family and his congregation.  We are so thankful for his service.  The drilling will continue in Haiti, just a pause for now.  Curt King is currently in Ethiopia drilling.  Soon as he slows down for a second, we hope to have an update from him–to hear his progress in the contract there. (Plans are for Curt to resume the drilling in Haiti upon completion of the Ethiopia set of wells.) Thanks again, Arron; you and the team blessed so many with your hard work!

Excerpt’s from Arron’s reports follow (latest first).

WELL NUMBER 16

We finished our last well today.  A 90 foot well for Healing Hands Int’l out by Gran Tearre.  The CAT compressor works very well and so do the repairs we made on the rig.  We gave it a good bath, loaded up all the stuff and parked it in the Vanderbeek’s yard.   There will be one pickup load of stuff that needs to go there but we will probably leave it at the Kazo orphanage for them to pick up as the road to Tomazo is very long and rough in a truck and out of the way and we are running out of time.  Tomorrow we will load up all the rest of the FM drilling stuff and take it to either Terra Blanch or Steve Revis’ yard. It will be a long clean up day with lots of driving so you probably won’t hear from me.  We are just about finished.  Praise the Lord!

Tent Camp (sheets typical)

The need is great and there are several who stop us daily to try to get us to drill wells for them. A memorable one today, a group that is planning 25 new orphanages that want a well at each one.  Not everyone has good water but because of all of our team work, thousands more have clean water than did a month ago!  I am just about done for this year; my church and my family are calling.

Lord, bless us all for our team work and effort and resources expended, but most of all bless our Haitian brothers and sisters because for many, YOU are all they have!  May we not rest until all have access to a cup of cool, clean, life giving water in Jesus name.  Bless our travels our families and our churches as we answer Your Call of Obedience.

WELL NUMBER 15

Just one more week which means I am about done drilling because there is much to do to put everything away.  Looking forward to church and a day off tomorrow (that doesn’t happen for preachers very often).  Kelly and I will rest up and get things shut down this week.  Finally wore out the drill bit.  Can’t remember getting 15 wells out of a bit before!  God has sure been with us , even our bits.

Today’s 105 foot well was for a brand new huge tent camp not far from CSI.  The well is actually on the back corner of church property (I think Church of God) and that will insure that it is free water for the public long term.  A gal from a Catholic school desperately wanted a well for her kids, another pastor called wanting a well in his yard, another guy wanted to talk but I told him I didn’t have time.  I get tired of telling people no.  We have limited time and resources and the need is so great.  We have literally  provided water to thousands but there are so many more.  Then there are those wells that are not useable.  The well in the camp at Delmas 6 pumps crystal clear water but it is salty.  It might work for washing.

WELL NUMBER 14

Drilling in Tent Camp

Today was Jason’s last day with us.  Couldn’t have gotten so much done without him!  Still raining this morning turning tent camps into a muddy mess.  Got Kelly and Snaider (and his son Bob) to CSI early and Jason and I headed out to Bon Report where we left the rig and compressor.  Steve Revis was there and Dave (cant remember the last name) two other drillers in country.  Talked with them quite a bit and a driller from Guatemala while we were trying to get the tire off the rig.  They had gotten a container of pumps and repair kits from India not too long ago and they said their pumps average out to about $550 sitting in their yard.   I told them we are very interested in getting a couple containers in and I think we can follow up with them.

The lug nuts just would not come off that rig.  We borrowed a 3/4 drive socket set and got a 8′ cheater bar but they would not budge.  They had a torch in their shop so we used that to heat the nuts up and they finally broke loose.  We then had to run the tire down the road to the recommended repair guy and he took the tire that came in with the rig and put it on the rim.  The side wall blew on the old one in the exact same place on the highway we blew a tire on the little rig back in January.  Their yard is actually shared with Samaritans Purse headquarters  The place is very secure with razor wire and armed guards.  In fact they were not going to let me in this morning because I didn’t have the right ID badge.  We had words and they let us in.  Anyway, Dave and Steve invited us to leave our equipment there next week if we need to until Curt comes back.  It is a very secure place and would be a good place.

Got back on the road by 11:30 and headed to Jean Ganthier’s church to drill.  Got moved in and the rig set up and drilled till 2:00 when we ran out of water and had to get Jason back in to town to catch his plane.  I met Russ on the road and he took Jason and I went and got Kelly to come drill with me.  We finished well #14 at 110 feet just as it was getting to dark to see.

Went by Kazo to pick up Snaider and Bob.  The installed two pumps and built a pump base today.

WELL NUMBER 13

Got up early (actually Snaider called me at 3:30AM), got Snaider and Kelly to CSI, then Jason and I took off out of town to Hosten.  We drilled a well there before but it kept caving in.  Pulled up 40+ feet of casing and then drilled a new well and cased it to 195 feet. Can’t cave in any more.  Good well.  Started back to town and had a flat on the outside duel of the rig.  Left the rig and compressor at Bon Repot at Steve Revis’ house.  We will have to change the tire in the morning.  Raining tonight.

I am beat.  Gone to bed.

WELL NUMBER 12

We didn’t start quite as early this morning; ran out of casing yesterday.  Snaider knew a guy that would open early so I sent him for another 400 feet to keep us drilling.  He was supposed to get it delivered by 7:30am which ended up 8:30.  In the mean time I left Jason and Kelly at CSI to work on the old compressor while I went to check out the next well site.  After waiting in traffic, the camp that was supposed to have 250 families had about 20.  They are still thirsty I am sure but we are looking for bigger camps.  Loaded up casing and Jason and I went and cased the well we drilled yesterday (by the power lines) then went to another camp in need or water not far off (by the cell tower).  Drilled that one in boulders to 100 feet.

The really good news of the day besides water is that Kelly got the new head on the old compressor and it runs!  It may live to drill another day!

We finished up a little early so brought the rig back to the yard and replaced a packer in the swivel and some other maintenance stuff.  We really need to find a pressure washer and give it a bath!

There is a lot of need and it feels like we are finally making a dent!

WELL NUMBER 11

Been a long day, but you have heard that before.  We went out and finished the well at Balan water at the very bottom, 308 feet of casing.  We will see if the static level comes up high enough for a hand pump.  They sure need the water out there.

Went back towards CSI and we are down 105 feet in another tent camp.  Actually the corner of a church . We ran out of casing again so we can’t finish the well till after 8:00.  Jason ran the controls and I was the helper.  Have to run and pick up Snaider now.

WELL NUMBER 10

People Gather at Completed Well

Long hot day.  It rained last night so it was way humid.  My tent stays dry in the rain…probably not the same situation for everyone sleeping in tents in Haiti these days.  Up early and out to CSI.  We found a short cut down through the river that is much shorted and no traffic.  Loaded up casing and water and got the rig and the new compressor and off to the next well site in Balan.  Stopped and got 100+ gallons of fuel and we were set.  Kelly and Russ staid at CSI to work on the old compressor.  He still didn’t get his luggage today so they are at a stand still for now.  Snaider was up even earlier and all the way to Pegion to buy 10 more pumps.  He has them all the way back to Dessalines tonight.  Russ will haul a load  up in the morning and bring back the pumps.

We drilled down 270 feet today and I think we finally have a little water.  We will finish it tomorrow water or not.

THANKSGIVING…REFLECTIONS

NOTE:

Arron Swenson and the crew in Haiti continue to drill daily.  So far, eight wells have been completed since the replacement rig arrived on March 2nd, 2010.  Wells for tent camps and one for an orphanage.  We will continue to post some of Arron’s daily reports here along with Curt’s Ethiopia reports.  Below is a posting from Curt who departs for Ethiopia tomorrow.  Please continue to lift him, Arron and the projects up in your prayers. -ldunn

FROM CURT:

Isn’t it good to hear about Arron and his team’s success in getting water for the Haitians in the tent camps. (Arron’s latest reports) You guys are amazing!

I want to especially thank those of you who took the risk of giving funds and those who took time to pray for this work in Haiti.  I realize we didn’t give a carefully thought out plan including baseline studies, verification of need, detailed budget, resumes of all workers, theological verification for giving water to quake victims, environmental impact statements, hydrogeological studies to locate exact well sites, detailed calendar dates for meeting exact goals, long-term developmental studies and plans for sustainability of each indiginous community’s potential improvement to its local area, or have community meetings with each location to verify the felt needs of those living in shelters, etc., etc.

But some of you were still willing to jump in and take a risk to try and meet this immediate and very severe need.  And some of you kept praying and sending encouraging notes.  Without your immediate action, today there would not be 8 new water sources (over 20,000 people and counting!) for the neediest people in the world.  You allowed us to meet the need NOW, not a few months from now.  Without question, some lives have been saved.  From Vahan, who risked his reputation as a retired Special Forces Chaplain, to the SOCOM special forces who decided to back us up, and then jumped in and did things that we didn’t have the clout do accomplish, to those in the Embassy who pushed things along, to Kevin Kate who chose to go to Haiti with me on 3 days notice, then stuck it out when our plans changed, thanks.  And to those in the FM mission who let us stay in their yard and eat their food much more than we originally planned, to Joseph Smith and the people at Healing Hands who probably got ulcers by raising funds for the purchase of a rig sight unseen, and Bob Toney who quickly got the rig to go, thanks.  And especially to Arron Swenson, who I told when meeting him on his arrival home after being in the quake, ” I will never ask you to go again,” thank you for not doing great bodily harm to me when I asked you to go again. I owe you and your crew big time!

To the Haitians living in the camps who have little left but their very lives, thank you for teaching me about surviving with little, I have never seen such endurance.  And to my wife and family who, while dreading the separation and knowing the physical risk, pushed me out the door when I doubted, because you knew this was the right thing to do, thanks for having confidence in me.  And for the rest of you I have not mentioned, thank you for all you did.

For me, this was clearly a case of putting all my eggs in one basket, trusting God to make this work. Without my faith in Him, I could not have asked any one of you to pray, or help.  I admit I had some middle-of the-night prayers about how I was going to quietly sneak off in the darkness if this failed!   But I have learned so much about faith and obedience.  It’s a nice thing to think about while sitting in the church pew, all dressed up in my clean clothes.  But will it work when it involves $200,000.00 and asking people to believe me when I can’t even clearly articulate what I am trying to do?  Yep, my friends, I can say from personal experience, this faith-in-God stuff works even when you are up to your elbows in the grease of a 30 year old drill rig, wondering what to do next, and God says, “Curt, go for it, just ask for a good rig.” It really works when it’s from Him!

I leave Seattle this Sunday for two months in Ethiopia. Another donated drilling machine has cleared customs and we expect to put it to use.  We will also travel to Sudan to perhaps start a water project there.

As usual, Mary and I appreciate it when you remember to mention our names in your prayers.  Your encouraging notes, and faithful prayers mean the world to us.

curt and Mary King
on board the Sugar Plum in Seattle
March 12, 2010

Drilling, Providing, Drilling…

Haiti Wells- Reports from Arron Swenson

Monday, March 8th

Well here we are another week in Haiti.  Did I ever mention that I left Haiti for the last time so many times ago that I quit counting?  For what ever reason the Lord has us here for now.  I suppose the reason today is well number 4.  We went back to the original tent city in Marassa that Curt drilled in and put a well in the other end of it, or what the people tell me is actually a second camp.  Drilled down 105 feet in kind of an intersection and got lots of water.  Jason is back with me and it is so good to have him here.  He is learning much and took over as helper so Snaider and his son Bob could start putting in pump bases on the new wells.  They tell me that there are between 4500 and 5000 people in these camps.

Drilling at Caseau Orphanage

We finished that well so I ran back to CSI and got more water, casing and some pump stuff for Snaider and returned to the rig where Jason and Thomas were waiting.  We finally made contact with the Vanderbeeks and headed to the Caseau Orphanage to set up there while Snaider and Bob started building pump bases.  Their old well (at the orphanage) caved in or something and they have had to haul (and pay for) water for a while now.  We met in front of the Universal Market so my guys got lunch today!  The orphanage is kind of on a hill in a place that is too tight for the big rig but we got it in there.  Had to dig a hole for the front wheel to sit in just to level the rig.  Someone must be praying because we are getting wells put in for thirsty people!

Tuesday, March 9th

Finished well at Caseau Orphanage. We went by another tent city right beside Kings hospital in Kazoe that has 2700 families and one empty water tank. If they fix the entrance we may drill there.  Wow!

Wednesday, March 10th

Well the tent camp down on Delmas 6 now has a well.  We will have to do a couple finishing touches on it tomorrow and then it will be off to the next one.  This was a difficult well–clay that plugged up two bits till we got the right one on.  Then the rig quit running good because of a plugged fuel filter.  We worked for every inch of that 60 feet.  It is humbling to have people who lost everything and live in tents bring you cold cokes to thank you for your work!

Thursday, March 11th

We left early to go back the CSI yard for more water, the rest of the casing and a little bit to drill inside the casing.  We stopped and took pictures of the three pumps that Snaider and his son Bob installed yesterday.  There were already people lined up using them.

My being sick didn’t slow down Jason and Thomas.  We went down to Delmas 6 and finished that well: 56 feet of casing in the ground and a 60 foot well with a 5 foot static level!  While we were there all the tents were replaced by really nice ones that will withstand the rains.

Went to the tent city right next to Kings Hospital in Caseau to begin drilling.  They say there are 2700 people living there now and more coming every day with only one tank of water that gets filled a couple times a week.  We stopped by again yesterday and told them we would drill there if they fix the entrance and they did.  Drilled down 130 feet and should be able to finish it in the morning.

Ran out of water and went to the place where all the big water trucks fill up and they charged us $30 Haitian and filled our tank in about 4 minutes!  We will go back there again.  Thomas (of Toney Drilling) flew out at 6:30 this after noon so now we are on our own.

I am feeling a little better this evening.  Snaider will install his last pump at Delmas 6 tomorrow.  He has three more pumps in Mapou that he will get this weekend.  We will probably buy another 10.

People Gather and Use New Well

Friday, March 12th

Well…it has been a long day.  I am feeling some better until we got to the rig this morning.  We just had to take drill pipe out of the hole and put in 130 feet of casing but we could not get the rig to engage in drilling mode (it had been an issue before).  After too many phone calls to Miami and trying many things like taking the water logged air dryer element out of the air system we ended up removing the air cylinder that engages the power take off on the transfer case to see if we could manually engage it, we ended up taking the driveline off the transfer case to look at the gears that just kept grinding while we were waiting for Bob Toney to call us back.  As it turned out the slip yoke that is supposed to slip up over the output shaft of the transfer case to engage the rig had kind of messed up the end of the shaft and the yoke so they would not slip together.  We spent the morning filing and grinding on the splines to clean them up so that they will engage again.  By then Bob Toney had called the manufacturer and they said that this is not an uncommon thing to have to do…But I bet it is the first time it has been done in Haiti in the middle of a tent camp with the ground covered with thorns and Human Feces!  We found a USAID tarp to put on the ground before we went rolling around under the rig.

With the help of mechanic Russ Cole who has been showing up exactly when we needed him we got the rig put back together by early afternoon.  We crossed our fingers and said a little prayer and when we flipped the switch, the power take off engaged just like new! We finished the well by about 3 pm and took off for the next site.

Tent Camp, Wedding Blanket for Wall

The next well is at Griffin, a school yard right across the road from a growing tent camp.  We set the rig up and drilled down 60 feet before dark.  Shouldn’t be much further to water, but we will see in the morning.
Only one picture tonight.  This is the wall of a tent house right beside the rig.  I finally figured out what it was.  It is a pink bed spread with hearts and flowers on it.  The kind of thing that looks hand made like someone would make and give as a wedding gift.  It is like drilling in the bedroom of a honey moon suite!  I can only imagine the story behind this blanket and the devastation suffered by the owner that bring it to the point of being a wall of someone’s home.

Please continue to pray for us, this rig and especially the 2 million Haitian people with no home and the many more who are still afraid to go indoors to sleep and for all the losses sustained.  God is alive and well in Haiti and it is humbling to be a part of it.

Arron Swenson

Port au Prince, Haiti

NEW RIG, NEW WELLS

UPDATE

As was last reported, Curt has returned to the States in preparation to drill in Ethiopia for a few months. Arron Swenson has arrived in Haiti to continue the relief drilling in the tent camps and the replacement rig passed through customs and red tape miraculously without delay or additional cost.  Below are some excerpts from Arron’s reports as the drilling continues.  Wells are being completed, pump work being done.  Thank you for your partnership.  Please continue to lift up the drilling projects and these servants in your prayers and consider supporting the emergency water relief work or ongoing projects financially. (Click for donation information.) Thank you and God bless you.  -Lisa Dunn

DRILLING IN HAITI CONTINUES

Friday, March 5th

Went out to CSI and moved the rig out to the new well site.   Started drilling and Snaider arrived.  He fixed a pump in Gromorne yesterday.  The drilling went good.  A few glitches and my learning curve is steep but we finished the 140 foot well and had the rig back in the yard and were home by 7:00pm!  All in all it was a great day!

Saturday March 6th

Healing Hands International’s people came along with us to the well site Curt had mostly completed before the old compressor died.  It was difficult getting the big rig down into that spot where the tent cinty is under the power lines but we made it without too much trouble.  Just a little extra gravel in a spot or two and some blocks.  We reamed the hole out to six inches and down to 105 feet with good water.  Cased it to the bottom with a static level of 60 feet.  The HHI guys were very excited to see the rig on its second well.  They were very nice folks and took lots of pictures and put a new HHI sticker on the door of the rig.

We finished that well and headed back to another tent city close by the CSI compound.  There were a few wells in the area but all were charging for water so we agreed to drill a well there under the conditions that no one would be charged for water.  Free to the public.  We are 75 feet down in that hole and starting into gravel.

Everything went well today and I am getting more confident with the rig.  Thomas from Toney Drilling has been a huge help.  It is so good to have him here getting us going.  He has drilled in over twenty countries and is very knowledgeable although he would rather be drilling with mud.  His first language is Creole (from a different island than Haiti) so he is a step ahead of most of us here.  Thanks Toney Drilling for sending him.

Snaider, our pump guy, is amazing.  He told me today that he didn’t think I would ever return to Haiti after January 12th. I asked him why and he basically said, “it was too much.”  He told me he was surprised when Curt told him I was coming back but didn’t believe I really would.  He couldn’t believe that I was willing to come back after going through such a tough time in a different country away from my family.  I told him that the only safe place to be is where God wants you.  I said, “you know, you have to be obedient to God” and he agreed!  He is my hero after going through teo hurricanes with floods in three years and then to be with us through the quake.  His faith is amazing and I am humbled to work with him and so many of our Haitian brothers and sisters.

Sunday, March 7th

Another amazing day.  Thomas and I got up early and went out to the rig in the tent city where we had drilled to 75 feet yesterday.  We finished the well at 105 feet and put the rig back in the CSI yard and made it to the airport in time to pickup Jason.  We came back to the house and had lunch and then we went downtown to check on some well sites and to visit with the Special Forces about paper to get the rig licensed and insured.  After going there twice, they said we will have better luck catching the necessary people Tuesday night.  I took  Rick, Jason and Thomas up to dinner to celebrate the new rig, working and the wells drilled.  Looking forward to a productive week.

Keep praying.  God is at work!

Arron Swenson

Port au Prince, Haiti

Drilling with New Rig (Haiti Tent Camps)

Drilling with New Rig (Haiti Tent Camps)

GOD MOVES…

EARTHQUAKE…

I made it home to Seattle safe and sound at 11:40pm last night. Not without a little excitement, a little earthquake about 30 minutes before boarding in Haiti. Then late today I got the following email, which says it all:

MIRACLES

… keep believing in miracles because God just did another one. PRAISE HIS NAME !!! LTC Gendreau called about 11:00am to say that the well drilling rig was in and would be ready to pick up around dinner time and that there would be no tarrifs or anything – the rig was in the military’s storage area. We – Aaron and I – drove down with them, Aaron got in, turned on the key, I signed my name, and we drove to the CSI compound and parked it. DIDN’T PAY A PENNY of the Lord’s money! Thank everyone for their prayers.   -Signed, Vahan

Thank all of you for your prayers and support, and especially thank you, Craig for your hard work on this.  I can’t find words to express my thanks.

Curt King

Seattle, Washington

March 2, 2010

NOTE…

Curt will be traveling on to Ethiopia to work on the drilling project there. The team received approval to drill another 62 wells there which will provide life-saving water to 100’s of thousands of villagers in that country.

During his absence in Haiti, Arron Swenson will continue the well drilling in the tent camps; what a blessing to work as a team of God’s servants around the globe. We will keep you updated on the work there through updates on this blog and you can also see Arron’s reports through the Cornerstone Community Church Link to the right. Thank you for your partnership in this work and ministry.  Lives are being saved because of your compassion.

-Lisa Dunn, 3/3/2010

GETTING THE RIG THROUGH CUSTOMS

PLEASE PRAY

CUSTOMS AND THE RIG

Below is Curt’s report this week regarding the rig import.  We need you all to join us in prayer regarding this issue.  Please pray that God will put it on the hearts of everyone involved in the processing of the rig once it reach reaches port to help process and release it it to the team quickly, without delay. We have all the paper work in order, permission for drilling lined up, etc. The need for water in the tent camps is so great and the delay of the drilling because of customs red-tape seems beyond description. -L. Dunn

Today started out on a very good note, that our military friends were able to come up with 14 large tents for the Haitian workers at our mission who have lost their homes in the quake. Then came a shocker.

With each day of waiting, I’ve been having a growing concern that the drilling equipment (rig, etc) may be held up in customs on its arrival in Haiti. Early on, we were certain it would be allowed into the country with a minimum of difficulty since  it is for the immediate relief of the neediest, namely those living in the tent cities as a direct result of the earthquake.  But as I read the CUSTOMS IN CAP HAITIEN/ST MARC paper that I received from the SOCSOUTH (Special Operations Command South) representative today, a line stands out at the bottom of page 1, under item 2: “ When attempting to bring in vehicles utilized for HA/DR (humanitarian aid/disaster relief), the process becomes more difficult.  The vehicle will likely be subject to taxation up to 65% of the value of the vehicle.  If carrying Humanitarian Aid materials, the materials will be released, however the vehicle will remain at customs until proper authorization is granted for release.”

My concern is based on a couple examples; an ambulance was purchased for the Dessalines Rural Health Program, a joint Haitian Government/Free Methodist Hospital, and it was released after 3 years in customs. This occurred within the past 3 years.  They also had a generator for the hospital held up for approximately 9 months in customs.

The country of Haiti has suffered a tremendous disaster, and Healing Hands International has answered the call, raising $200,000.00 for the purchase of this drilling machine and related equipment, to replace the 31 year old equipment that has simply worn out.  Funds and materials from other donors are on hand to drill wells and install pumps at no charge in the camps. It will be a tragedy if we have come this close to helping relieve the suffering of those in the camps,
only to have it held up by paperwork and bureaucracy, and high taxation.

All I am asking is for the chance to help here. Please, please join me in praying that this will not bring a halt to this very crucial program.

TENTS AND OTHER NEWS

CHURCH AT THE HOUSE

I spent almost the entire day at the house (Sunday).  Five of us decided to stay home and watch over all of the visitors’ belongings, as there is no guard on Sunday and a new work team just arrived.   Vahan held a service for us, complete with singing.   It was a very meaningful time for all of us, reminding me that it’s not me that gets the job done, it’s Christ working through me.  And believe me, I’m happy to have Him in charge, especially these days.  Seems like every time I try to do something on my own, it gets all messed up!

I helped Vahan work on making beds this afternoon, measuring and cutting wood for the frames.  Then this evening was a very special time; one I’ll remember for many years.  Vahan invited a group of American military to the house for a Haitian meal tonight.  These are the men that have helped us so much these last few weeks.   Our country is a better place because of these men who make it their life’s work to protect our freedom.  And believe me, I am glad they are on my side.

DELIVERING TENTS…

Snaider and I left the house about 6:30 to deliver four tents. We brought only a few so we wouldn’t get mobbed.  We met Annalete, the house cook, in front of the National TV station and she led us to a huge camp.  We drove in and around until we met the man in charge, who then led us in between hundreds or possibly thousands tent and bed-sheet homes.   We finally found Annalete’s son and his family. They chose a tent, and we set it up for them.  We saw people all around that need more adequate shelter, including a young mother with two small children and a newborn, a grandma with only a sheet for cover, and many more.  It was difficult to move on and not be able to help.

We delivered two tents to workers we know at FOHO.  They wanted to try setting the tent up themselves.  If they have trouble,  Snaider will help them tomorrow.  Then we went about 45 minutes out of downtown Port au Prince to one of the Free Methodist driver’s home,  and put a tent up in his front yard.  His unfinished cement house was not down completely, but all the main beams are cracked,  crooked or broken off.  It has to be torn down, a huge disappointment for a man who has worked hard to save up enough to buy a little cement, or a few cement blocks at a time until he could finish it.  But they were very thankful to have a better place to sleep than a mattress propped up on cement blocks under a piece of plastic.

We drove home along a different route and came across several huge camps, and numerous small camps of homeless.    We could drill for a very, very long time and still not meet the need for water.

However one of the joys of this work is unexpectedly meeting friends who also work all over the world.  I knew my friend Scott Harrison was in Haiti, but had no idea how to find him.  As Snaider and I drove past the airport, we saw Scott standing there in front!  We had a good short visit, then had lunch later. The last meal I had with him was in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia a few years ago, so it was great to catch up.

No new news on the equipment, but in my moments of pause, I feel a dread that we won’t see it out of customs for a long time.  I spent some time with a very successful businessman in town who needs a well. I offered him a well if he would use his influence to get the equipment out quickly.  He turned me down and basically said “good luck.”  I admit that tonight my hope is wavering.  I hope I am wrong.

The Haitians need help like never before in history, if they are going to survive this enormous disaster…

Curt King

Port au Prince, Haiti

February 21-24, 2010

Setting-up Donated Tent, 2/24/2010

Tent Camp Structures