December 5, 2009
Hey Bob just a quick note of follow up. I went back to the village where we took water systems and you all did the evangelism. We had a Baptism yesterday and 24 of the new believers were baptized. I have included some pics.
Also when I arrived I was immediately told reports of the impact of the water filter systems. Several of the elders came and told me that with in 1 week of using the filters the health of the community had drastically improved and all of the diarrhea was gone from the village. All of the women who received the filters where so thankful and asked me to “greet you all” and tell you again how much they appreciated the water filtration systems and the time you all shared together.
All for now. I hear you had snow. Sounds like fun!!!
Greet everyone at MLBC.
Merry Christmas to all,
Charlie, Sandra, Travis, Sam and Joseph.
Dear Brother Peter & Charlie
Greeting in the name of our lord Jesus Christ, by the grace of God we are doing fine. How are you? We miss you in our daily prayer. We have already visited S--l and C-i twice where we gave the filter. Here is the result of the filter:
S--l, 500ppb: - They are so excited getting the filter. Everyday they fill up the water. Before the water was smells so badly but now it won't. Also water is very clean and testy that we feel like drinking. Twice they have clean up the filter cap and once filter too. You remember that old lady, she feels good to drink that filter water and she doesn’t have chest pain now. All the villagers were surprise to see that. They have one problem; that the water is dropping very slowly?
S--l, 200 ppb: - they said water is clean and tastier than it was before. Every day he use to clean it up but I advice them do not clean every day, only clean the filter cap and filter when it gets dotty. They used it for drinking and cooking also. They fill up the water twice a day.
C--i: - Twice they have clean up the filter till now. Thrice a day they fill up the water. Water is clean and tastier than before. Not only there family but other two neighbors are also using the filter water. They said filter is kindly small but they are so happy to get the filter.
Imaging thing is that because of the filter they are open and positive to us. Last time we ware able to share the gospel with them. There response is very positive. Please include them in your daily prayer. Thank you so much for this good work. We are praying for this water project. There is one place called L--i, who have 900ppb arsenic. They are still drinking water. What can we do for them?
Thank you, please find the attachment and get the some picture. God bless your ministry,
In Christ,
MS
T--a Church , Nepal
Mr. Harrell:
Hello, I am Steve White, pastor of Colonial Baptist Church in Dallas. Ron Mathis asked me to drop you a line about the results of a water filtration project in Tanzania. I took a trip there in November this year and carried about 100 of those filters he is scattering over the globe. They are the gravity fed, ceramic ones he gets assembled in China from parts both English and American. I got them for $10 a pop and the first question everybody asked me where ever I went was, how can it be so cheap and still be any good? Well, my experience is positive.
I distributed them to the small hospital, public school in Mofu village, outside Ifekara, Tanzania - way out in the boonies. Mothers were lined up with infants at the clinic - most of them with stomach upsets, and the doctor was really insistent that he have a good supply as most of the complaints were due to water borne diseases. We also passed them out in fishing villages where no poachers were harbored - got a little political there, but hey, it was our decision to make.
The five gallon buckets were obtained in Dar Es Salaam and carried out in the back of the Land Cruiser. We pre drilled half of them before we left Dar. Results were pretty much immediate in relieving stomach distress. Everybody wants one, except the fishermen - they just scoop up a cup full from the river and throw the cup in the bottom of the boat.
But the mothers - they like it. I just had to explain to them that it is not as fast as turning on the tap. Just fill the top and go to bed, I told them. Next morning you will have plenty for the day. We chose not to install spigots, fearful that they would only get broken. Where I went things have to be made as error-proof as possible.
Well, there's my two cents worth. They ARE cheap, but they DO work. Try them, maybe you'll like them. I am recommending them to another outfit and a few missionaries. We'll see how excited folks get. Hope I have been of help!
Steve White
October 30, 2006
Eric Fox Mission Committee FBC
Eric,
Enclosed are some pictures of the water purification classes in Imphal.
We were surprised at how difficult it was to find buckets that would work with the filters, however, when we did find them they were colorful as you can see from the pictures.
Each person was required to ‘build” their own filter system after attending a class on why and how to use them. The response was really good and we had the opportunity of using the bridge of “pure water” and the “Living Water” that is Jesus many times. They were encouraged to use that same bridge with their neighbors when they got home.
The 70 recipients walked from in and around Imphal. One woman walked 2 ½ days from Myanmar (old Burma) and then walked home with the filters and two buckets on her head. They had a great time of fellowship and Bible study with Sue and Gwyn while they were learning.
An initial report came from Dr. Haokip’s wife (you might remember him. He was one of our guests earlier this year). She built her filter system early in the week. She is a small usually a very demur lady however that would not characterize her during our time together on Saturday evening. It could be said that she was bouncing off the walls. She was really excited as she told us that she had constantly had a low grade fever and low grade headache for most of her life (symptoms of arsenic poisoning) but both of those problems disappeared within Two days of starting and using only the filtered water. She then remembered that she had not had those problems while they were going to Southern Seminary in the USA in the early 1970’s. A really happy report that will be followed by many others I am sure.
The Kuki Baptist’s all sent their heartfelt thanks to FBC for the gift of the filters and training. I am also sending a CD that might interest you, It contains pictures of a kick-off ceremony for an Orphanage that we are starting just 0utside of Imphal. In fact, you will see some dirt work and steel going up. For $37,000 US Dollars (for the construction phase) we are going to build an Orphanage that will house and care for 50 orphans initially. The land has been acquired for both the initial building and for expansion to accommodate up to 150 orphans later on. The land and a little over 10% of the building costs are already in-hand.
The India Mission team members join the Kukis in saying THANK YOU to FBC Tulsa for their great support and all of their prayers for this effort.
Dick Freeman
...I need 20 more filters for a trip that John Sherman and I are making into Mexico in mid March. I sent one of the original filters to my son in Madison, WI to the Becton Dickinson micro biology lab. They have confirmed all that you wrote and are very impressed with the unit, especially for the price. I look forward to meeting you in the future.
Jack Berg