Day 5: Fighting Discouragement

Day 5: Saturday, July 3, 2010
The disappointments of yesterday were strong and unpleasant, and continued to intensify today. We returned to Canon to continue drilling, hoping that we would be able to break through the rock and find water right underneath. Instead of just turning the drill the men had to pick up the drill to add momentum as they slung it back into the rock.

We enjoyed a nice little shower as we worked into the afternoon. It really was nice because it caused the temperature to decrease immensely. Even after all the hard work we put into the well, we didn’t break through the rock, so those in charge decided to move the machinery just to the other side of the drainage holes to see if the rock was there as well. Sure enough, we hit rock again. Although we did dig deeper on the second attempt…no water.

It was quite discouraging to have to walk away from a village of so many people who so desperately need life, not only clean drinking water but the Living Water! I believe we showed them Jesus, but we couldn’t keep attempting to dig wells there all week because we had promised other villages that we would come.

I was reminded of the prophet Jeremiah who was called to prophesy and proclaim God’s words to a people that would reject him. And God told him that this people would not receive his message but that he was to go anyway (Jeremiah 7:27). Yet I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you. To give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11 All we can do is be obedient to the Lord…the rest is up to him!

Later Juilo told us that he had noticed a lot of things about that community that weren’t exactly right (like the number of people who came to help, the fact there had been a lot of drinking going on, etc). Perhaps God wanted to show himself just to these people. Here’s a harsh yet encouraging quote from a friend, “[Keep in mind] that the Lord knows what it takes to perfect you.” Maybe it’s me that the Lord wants to begin a change in. I can’t begin to fathom his ways, but I do trust that his is good!

To end on a more upbeat note, we did see an anaconda today in the village and the world’s only fresh water dolphins on the ride back to the farm! Most of the meals consist of a lot of carbs (rice or pasta or potatoes or all three in a single meal) and loads of salt, not exactly the massive amounts of fruits like I was expecting.