Nyamihuu Well Update

​I’d like to give you an update on one of the best gifts I was a part of this year. During our Lenten services this year my church, Shepherd of the Hills in Shoreview, Minnesota ( www.sohsv.org ), raised money for a well in Tanzania. Our partner congregation in Tanzania, the Kidamali parish, had asked if we could help with a well in their preaching point at Nyamihuu. Shepherd of the Hills’ members responded to the request and the money was raised before the end of Lent.
 
St. Paul Partners ( www.stpaulpartners.org ) is the organization the coordinates the gifts from Minnesota and the well program in Iringa, Tanzania. They teach the people about wells and water sanitation. They also help them set up a water committee to oversee the well. Then comes the drilling.
 
At Nyamihuu there was a lot of drilling.  They drilled three holes to a depth of 40 meters, the usual depth for finding water. But they didn’t find any water. Then they tried drilling deeper. At 60 meters they found water with very good flow rates. A special hand pump was installed to pull up the water from the deeper depths of the well. There were some increased costs from the depth of the well, but a Shepherd member generously donated the extra money.
 
This fall at the Bega Kwa Bega Festival, which celebrates the partnerships between Minnesota and Tanzania I met Bo Skillman of St. Paul Partners. He had been to Nyamihuu. He told me the well was functioning good. They had a small problem with a leak, but the villagers had notified them of the problem. He said that was a good sign they were being serious about the well and the quick reporting had allowed them to have the repair covered by warranty.
 
Bo provided me with the picture below of the well. 

​Thank you to all who contributed money and prayers to make this happen. You have provided safe and reliable water to the community. Also, sometimes a new well will draw people in which could lead to increased attendance at Nyamihuu Preaching Point.
 
A belated Merry Christmas to all my readers. I hope your holiday season was peaceful and joyous.