Bob Collins -

Living Waters helps to prepare the soil, so to speak; it’s a lot like tilling. It provides a way for ministry, an avenue to be able to preach The Gospel. Before I went I didn’t really know what I could do, but I found out that I could really help; that I could really do something. In my six or seven times participating the receptiveness of the people is what stood out the most to me. Despite the conditions, they don’t have what we have, and they are still happy people. I would encourage anyone to go.Everyone finds reasons why they can’t go. Just go! If you want to see what God is doing, go and be a part of it. It has done so much for me that my wife and I have decided, in the next 60 days, to do missions full-time.

April 24th thru the 28th 2006—Brus Laguna, HondurasRoland Bergeron with Living Water Carolinas and Mike Gullikson and Emillio Castillo of Living Water Honduras traveled to Brus Laguna, Honduras to determine the feasibility of drilling water wells in the Brus Laguna area. There are no drilled wells in Brus Laguna. Brus Laguna is a remote town in an area of Honduras called the Mosquito Coast. The only access is by boat or airplane.

A team from Living Water Carolinas had traveled to Brus Laguna in November of 2004 to repair their municipal water system that had been out of service for six years. The municipal water system is still operating and is still a blessing to the community. It only reaches about a third of the community because the town has grown beyond the reach of the system or the underground piping is severely damaged which would require repairs beyond the scope of Living Water’s capabilities. These areas that are not serviced by the water system get much of their water from hand dug wells.

Arrangements were made ahead of time to ship an LS100 drill rig with all the necessary supplies to put in a water well, from LaCeiba to Brus Laguna.

The drill rig arrived the same day we did. Working with the mayor of Brus Laguna, Barrio Twitanta (a poor outlying community) was selected as the site to try and drill the first well. We began drilling Tuesday morning. Drilling was easy and we drilled a pilot hole (3 5/8” dia.) to 125 feet. We hit a number of good water bearing strata with the best one starting at 110 feet dee.While we were drilling we started to meet the local people who were pretty skeptical of the “gringos” who came to drill a water well in their community. We also learned about and witnessed the process by which they obtained drinking water. A couple of times a week the people would load up 55-gallon plastic barrels into a dugout canoe. They had to pay the canoe owner to haul the drums up the local river where they thought the water was clean. They would fill the barrels from the river, transport them back to Twitanta, then unload the barrels and carry the water to their homes one bucket at a time. Twitanta has several hundred people living in the community.

We decided to set the well screen below 110 feet, so on Wednesday we reamed the hole to 6” dia. and set the casing to 120 feet. We still didn’t know if we had good water. That’s the way well drilling is. We arrived early Thursday to develop the well (find out if we have good water). The water table is very close to the surface in Brus Laguna which is surrounded by swamp and a large lagoon off the ocean so we decided to use our gas pump to try to develop the well. We hooked up the pump and started pumping.

People kept bringing containers to fill as word was spreading fast. Some started washing clothes. Some started washing their houses. Other brought their soap and got a great shower. They had never had so much water in their lives. I can’t describe the joy and happiness that rolled through Twitanta. The kids (some of the adults as well) played in the water all day. There was clean laundry hanging everywhere. Everyone was smiling and having a great time.

Once we knew we had good water we started building the concrete pad and preparing for the hand pump. When we finished, we left the pump running and the community had water late into the night.

When we got back to Brus Laguna, word of the good water well had arrived before us. Everyone knew that Twitanta now had the best water in the area. It was one of the best days on my life. I am crying as I write this because of the joy (provided by God) I felt that day.

Immediately we were producing 50 gallons per minute from the well. After pumping for about an hour the water started to clear up. At this point we started to draw a crowd. The water continued to clear and after tasting, proved to be fresh, sweet water (agua dulce). Now we really started to draw a crowd. People were running down the road with buckets, barrels, pots and bottles, anything that would hold water to have them filled. At the beginning they were frantic. Everyone wanted their container filled first. I think they were worried that we would run out. I stood there for almost two hours and filled containers. I also started hosing down the kids which is always great fun. As the day went on, it became apparent that we were not going to run out of water (like God’s love).People kept bringing containers to fill as word was spreading fast. Some started washing clothes. Some started washing their houses. Other brought their soap and got a great shower.

They had never had so much water in their lives. I can’t describe the joy and happiness that rolled through Twitanta. The kids (some of the adults as well) played in the water all day. There was clean laundry hanging everywhere. Everyone was smiling and having a great time.

Once we knew we had good water we started building the concrete pad and preparing for the hand pump. When we finished, we left the pump running and the community had water late into the night. When we got back to Brus Laguna, word of the good water well had arrived before us. Everyone knew that Twitanta now had the best water in the area. It was one of the best days on my life. I am crying as I write this because of the joy (provided by God) I felt that day.

Friday morning we set the hand pump and dedicated the well to our Lord, Jesus Christ. Mike Gullikson asked they crowd to pray the salvation prayer with us and many did. We had to catch our plane at 11 a.m. so we had to say our goodbyes. We all got many hugs and everyone wanted to shake our hands and thank us. God is so good. Everyone who supports Living Water Carolinas with their money and prayers make this possible.

Sharon Sudduth
Sara Dean
Lisa Castellani
Mo Elbeitam
Bruce Roush
Anthony Delorenzi
Bob Collins