January 10th, 2024

Progress on the office building seen from the air!  The stucco progress is all on the inside, and the other side of the building.  They seem to be saving the hardest two sides to do for last.  It is time consuming for sure.  We will equip and paint the inside of the building as soon as we can of course, and probably leave painting the outside for when a group can help.    

"What will go upstairs in the unfinished area?"  Is a question I have heard already.  My first reply is "By the grace of God let's finish the first two floors first!"  But actually, I am already anticipating that down the line, we would use that for more group sleeping space, and a porch with a great view preserved of course.  You can kind of see from this angle how big the building is, and how we are using as much of the property as possible.  

---

Here are some of the girls from the Milk Project in Sampedrana, back from the holidays, and wearing some of the Christmas gifts the MP gave them in an unpromp
​ted picture.

I struggle to communicate what a treat it is to get new clothes, and for Christmas in particular.  It is tradition here, and one that for many is not doable.  

It is a lot of work and extra funds donated, but by God's grace this is several years now we have been able to do this.  

---

Another big prayer request right now is for digging a well...or wells.

We found a company that digs wells, and the need is somewhat urgent for Las Botijas to find a water supply.  Currently the water comes via black plastic pipe that the mission put in, and runs for several miles to find a water source.  However, the properties between us and the water are being sold and repurposed, and how much longer that will be viable (not to mention the  many repairs and finding where the problem is along such a long tract.)

I am waiting for the analysis to be fully processed, but there is only one possible spot in all the farms in Las Botijas, which is a bit distressing, and that spot is right by the Milk Project/church play area we built.  

If the preliminary analysis is correct, it could be as much as 500 feet down (not terribly uncommon here) but that would be about $25,000.  Could be 5 gallons per minute, could be way higher.  

So, we are praying...if we take the plunge and find donations (already $5,000 has been donated to the cause) to proceed.  It would be huge obviously long term, and we would still have to pump water (via solar) around the property, but that part would be easier to fund/do when we would actually know we have the water.  

So we are praying...is this the right course of action?  And if so, will the funds come to help make it happen?​

And while the guys from the well digging operation were on the clinic campus, they did us a basic (divining) measurement as well.  

They found a much stronger reaction behind the clinic than they found in Las Botijas.  

The difference is that we at least have access to water, and water trucks, for water on the clinic campus.  

But...we may look into this as well, as we spend more than $1000 per year on water, even with collecting rain water. 

Some of that is when we run out from the very small amount we get from the city, and have to buy from the passing water trucks, meaning sometimes, for a few hours, we have to go without. 

A cleaner (not just parasites...but also just a lot of dirt sometimes) and more consistent water source would be of course preferable long term. 

Another item for prayer, among many of late.  (praying for the new staff in Las Botijas MP undergoing training this week, the new work starting on the farm in Cantarranas, continuing construction in Danli, and planning for the groups coming in February, March and April, among potential new hires for several areas, and a big change for our plan for church maturity/growth, and the list goes on!)

We are entering 2024 with a bang for sure!

---

---