Dear friends; since our last update the crew has returned from Haiti and the dam is completed as we planned. Thanks so much for all your support in whatever way you have given! This has been an extremely dry year in Haiti! The normal spring rainy season only gave a few showers, not nearly enough to water the crops and produce food for the many families all over the country! The hunger is beyond what has been seen for many years! The floor of the basin behind the dam is seeping water like it did after the initial construction, this water is collecting in the river bed downstream from the dam, more on this later.
We need silt from rain runoff to seal the basin, after the initial construction only one rain has “came down” as they call it, or flash flooded. It brought down some silt, but not enough to do the job. With the extremely dry conditions we are still waiting for enough to seal off and then fill the basin.
We need to return soon to complete some downstream erosion control to prevent a reoccurrence the wash out that happened last hurricane season. An estimated 8ft wall of water came over the dam during Hurricanes Isaac & Sandy last fall. This tremendous force needs to be broken up and diverted to successfully maintain what we have. Our plan is to install some Gabion below the dam to take this brunt force. Gabion are large wire baskets which we will fill with rocks and tie together, a very common erosion control technique used in Haiti as well in North American. We have been consulting some US engineers and we think we have a workable solution. We anticipate this taking about 2 weeks for a small crew; our estimated budget is about $35,000. Of this we have a good 40% and we still need about $20,000, we would appreciate those of you who would feel to help with this to do so. Thanks again for your help and support of dear hungry folks, including Church brethren in Haiti.
Currently the water that leaks through the dam is continuing to run down the streambed. We are currently diverting that stream into a clean out on the pipeline about ¾ of a mile downstream from the dam. This is not a new idea; it has been done many times since the pipeline was installed. The downside to this maneuver is that a flash flood can fill the cleanout with rocks, and plug the pipe (this has also happened several times over the years). To prevent this, the Water Committee has hired a full time watchman to close the lid if a flood seems imminent.
Since the country is so dry, the irrigation system is a real bright spot, since those farmers can keep growing a crop. We are happy with the Water Committee’s performance, and it seems they are taking their job very serious. When we appointed the Committee, some in the community thought it was a power grab by those folks on the Committee, and did not want to recognize them. As they have gone about their work in a conscientious manner and with a visible presence from us on a frequent basis working with them and supporting them, it seems that the community is also taking them serious. They have also used their authority to deny water to those who have not paid their water fees, and to have some vandals arrested recently, which establishes the pecking order, so to speak. This seems to have further heightened the respect the community has for the Committee.
On the Mexico front, The cool of winter is over - and the heat of summer is on, recently reported as 120°F! Our involvement at Agua de Vida continues. This past winter we donated a van for Mario & Veronica's personal use and a 15 passenger van for the children. Now they can go on field trip as a family! Or just have reliable transportation again.
A new beginning at Agua de Vida is Babies! They have recently accepted 4 babies and with it a new commitment. This also includes higher cost of operations! We are putting out a plea for monthly commitments for the next five months. If the Lord speaks to your heart you can give your monthly donation to GNFI. This will be a blessing to all involved with the children at Agua de Vida enjoying the benefit of faithful givers. May we join God in his passion of loving the children of the world.
