Living Water

Hello all, hope you are all okay - cannot believe it is almost Christmas time! The official count is that I have been away for five and a half months! Can't believe it has been that long - almost half way through.



On Wednesday I went out with Jan Pieter and the water and sanitation team, to check on their progress with the well drilling, and to give some moral support to Pam who works as the educator. It was a neat day - could not believe how hot it was - and how well the men coped with the heat! Im sure the enourmous fountain of cool water was welcome when the drill hit water.



Pam teaches the children about the importance of simple public health things that we take for granted, like washing hands, using designated spots for toilets and such. At the end of the day we were able to give out a couple of hundred Bibles to the kids - so water and living water!

It is awesome to see the wells being used and knowing that it has made life at least a little bit easier for the villages the team has visited. The village we were at on Wednesday even gave the men a live chicken as a gift of thanks. I believe it went home with some of the locals that were helping with the drilling for their dinner.

They have drilled a number of wells so far, and at the moment are concentrating on constructing latrines at the same villages, to try and really make a difference in hygiene. JP was telling me that although Ghana is one of the most developed countries in West Africa, that their access to safe toilets is the worst in the region.

When one of the visiting surgeons Dr Leo Cheng chatted to us - he said although he can remove a big tumour from someones face or body one patient at a time, those who are working in public health are making differences to thousands. I have to say he has a point - and I am pleased Mercy Ships can be a part of both!