After a successful first day of drilling, day two started off equally well for the Triumph team. The morning devotional focused on unity, teamwork and compassion, all of which have been visible in this group since the beginning of the trip. It wasn’t until later in the day that this would prove to be a beneficial lesson.
The team gathers together for Living Water’s morning devotion.
The team stopped at this rock quarry to pick up gravel for the worksite.
The team stopped at a quarry to pick up gravel and headed off to the drill site to prepare for day two. While the drill team was hard at work, the hygiene team delivered a lesson on how bacteria can travel on flies. They also acted out the Parable of the Lost Sheep. The team enjoyed playing games with the children in the village, and the girls even painted each other’s nails!
Kevin is ready to take on the day with a fresh cup of Salvadorian coffee.
Shannon, Tya, Jeisy and Sandy with kids in the village
Jeisy jumping rope
The kids make sheep masks for the Lost Sheep skit.
Tya takes a turn holding a baby
Vanessa, Armando and Christine
After a day and a half of smooth sailing, circumstances took a turn. The water pressure in the well became inconsistent. The pressure underground is crucial to making the well effective. Living Water staff members, Armando and Enrique, made the decision to cautiously continue drilling deeper in hopes of finding a pocket of free-flowing water. However, the more they continued to drill, the more that the well was at risk due to permeable materials below the ground.
Luke analyzes the drill site.
By 3 p.m. they had reached the well depth of 229 feet, but the water pressure had not improved. It was determined that the current well would not be a viable source of clean water. Armando and Enrique made a call to Living Water International’s headquarters in Houston for approval to move to plan B: drill a new well in an alternative location within the same community of Cerco de Piedra. News that the original well had been lost was hard for our Triumph team. But reminding themselves of their goal to bring clean water to the village, they accepted the news and looked to make the best of a tough situation.
Emotions were running deep, but the team came together in remembrance of their morning devotion on the topic of unity. Filled with compassion for their new friends and the village, the team worked into the night to move the drilling equipment to a secondary location in preparation for the new well.
Christine and Fanny carry a pipe for the drill to the new drilling site.
Little boys in the village stand behind the fence to watch the team at the drill site.
Following a full day of hard work, the Triumph team came together in prayer and encouragement for one another as they prepared to start from scratch in the morning. The team is fighting through discouragement and are committed to continually working efficiently and joyfully, turning sour lemons into lemonade.
Shannon takes a moment to relax in a hammock.
We invite you to keep The Triumph Team in your thoughts and prayers as they continue in hopes of digging a well with adequate pressure in order to provide clean water for the people of Cerco de Piedra.