In a “dry and thirsty land”, some of the best words that can be heard are “We have found water”. These words were said to Isaac when his servants brought him news of a well that they dug for him 4000 years ago. We still love to hear these words as we await news from Burkina Faso when we know the drilling team is in action. Over the last two weeks, we have heard them five more times. This is about just one of these recent wells.
Preparations made
Before the drilling teams can go out, we have to know whether there is a realistic chance of finding water. We always ask a surveyor to go a village before we start to drill. Here is our good friend Abdoulaye carrying out the survey. It is a place where it can be difficult to find water.
Ready to go
After the survey, there were two places marked as possible places to drill. The drillers started the compressor and the drill. However, after drilling for 9 hours or more, they found no water. The borehole was 93 metres deep, but they had to call a halt and back fill the hole.
The team started on the second spot. This time, they did find water. Alas – when they measured the flow rate, it was only 400 litres per hour. That may sound good, but it is well short of the required 700 litres per hour needed for a sustainable well.
Last chance
We will usually try three times. This was the last chance. There was much prayer both in Burkina Faso and in the UK. The drill was about 70 metres into the ground when there were the first signs of water. At first water just bubbling up from the shaft.
First signs 
A bit more 
Looking good
These pictures are “stills” from a video that someone took as the bubbling around the top of the borehole turned in to a little fountain and then into the wonderful sight of water spouting out into the air. The team capped the borehole and measured the flow rate.
A small fountain 
Stand back 
We have found water!
There was an anxious few minutes while the quantity of water was assessed. The joyful news was that the flow rate was 700 litres per hour. Exactly enough! Often it is far more. But in a dry area like this, 700 litres is wonderful news indeed. Everyone associated with Myra’s Wells thanked God for the provision of another good well.
The news came to us via Whatsapp. “We have found water”
You can see the full video clip using this link. It is only 30 seconds long – but 30 seconds that marked a huge change in the lives of people who will now have clean water to drink.
We have found water here – but what about other places.
It seems that there are many underground sources of water across Burkina Faso. How sad that so many people there still do not have access to them. So far, we have provided 154 wells. You can see the full list using this link. Our mission is to provide as many people as we can with clean water. We are also know that the provision of a well will help the local evangelists to talk to the people about the provision of the Water of Life through Jesus Christ.