APPRECIATON
Following are only a few appreciative comments spoken by villagers at well dedications:
Peru – AA.HH Aeropuerto – San Juan Bautista District – State of Loreto “We are thankful for the help and having clean water. We were so in need of clean water. We also thank the people who helped to build the well, which is going to serve to get water in a better way than we used to.” Mrs. Julia Josefa Cadillo Veta
(Pictures - Previous Water Sources)
Nigeria – Gidan Lado – state of Katsina The village head, Mallam Samaila Bature, thanked the team for coming to provide his village with fresh water.
(Pictures - Previous Water Sources)
Thailand – Ka Set Pat Ta Na Village, province of Sakonnakhon 3/17/09 Mr. Boonmee, age 52 said, “I’m so glad to have a great project that helps the village. Water is so essential for drinking or growing squash, cucumber, or rice. Our village is on a plateau. Water for drinking is insufficient. We feel very proud. Once again, thank you so much.” (The closest water supply before this was 1.24 miles away. (Pictures - Previous Water Sources)
Laos, Village of Tabongphet, well location 4, Savannakhet province 4/9/09 “With the new bore wells, it is very convenient to use and drink clean water, for planting and watering vegetable gardens. We don’t need to take so much time to fetch water from the Tabong River about a third of a mile away. It usually took 40 to 60 minutes to walk there and back. Now, we could take a bath and cool down during hot season at any time, and with clean water, there is no skin disease for me. We also use water for raising of animals. On behalf of the village, thank you for helping us with these bore wells. We will guide the villagers to maintain the TARA pump for long-term usage, and keep the well area clean. We wish you good health, good travels and no sickness. We thank you very much.” – Mr. Bounark, 62 years old, Deputy Village Chief.
(Pictures - Previous Water Sources)
“In the past, the children and our nephews and nieces traveled very far and on difficult pathway to fetch water. They were very tired and fell sick during hot weather. In the dry season, we need to wait until midnight in a long queue to fetch some water, because the water flowed out slowly at the dug well near the river. Now, all of us are happy to have clean water to use near our houses, better health and less hardship for the children. I want to say thank you. We wish you good health and the same blessing for other villages. Thank you very much.” – Mr. Seann, 56 year old Member of the Elderly and Farmer.
Liberia – Wein Town – Montserrado County “We thank you for making the lives of all men, women and children better. We will now be free from sicknesses” – Mr. Albert P. PayeLiberia, Likely Town, Montserrado County 1 of 3 wells built 6/2/09
“We are no longer going to walk a long distance again to fetch water, and no more purification of water through the sand bags. Many thanks. Let God continue to bless you all for this great work.” – Mr. James Gaye, Community Spokesperson “I am so happy and don’t know what to say to you people, but thank God for you people for ending our suffering. My thanks go to those who helped to bring the hand pump in our town. I will always bless God for you all. I thank you.” – Mrs. Anita Molley. (Their previous water source was dirty, brown and they had to filter it).
Peru – Santa Ursula – San Juan Bautista district of the state of Loreto 1/09“We are very thankful for the blessings that God has given us. God bless Operation Blessing team.” – Mr. Ramon Gonzales Castillo
Peru Village of San Pedro in the state of Loreto 10/09 “We want to thank God for this well. This is a great help for us. And we also thank the donors.” – Yerman Macahuachi
Cambodia – Balangkrom - Rong Chrai Commune – Batambang Province - Mr. Chen Barang said, “I’m very happy to see the well was drilled in my village since it helps us a lot. In the hot season, there is not enough water so I needed to walk around 330 yards to get water every day… three times a day and sometimes I have to use white alum to make the water clean. Now I have enough water to use for my family and I don’t worry about water anymore. Because of this pump well, people in this village will have better health.”
Myanmar (formerly Burma) – Ka Ma Ba Kaung, Middle section – state, Irawaddy Division Daw Tan Mya said, “I live far from where the old well is located. I am now old and with not much strength left, it is very hard for me to bring my clothes to wash there or bring home some water for cooking. I am truly grateful for this water for several reasons: First, the water is so much closer, you not only provide us water, but also a nice concrete floor to bathe and wash. In the old well, there is a small flat stone where I used to wash, but it is so small and some clothes fall to the ground and I have to rewash. Third, the water here is much, much cleaner than that from the old well.”
Ghana Village of Satramo Tomeh 2/28/09 “We had to queue for long hours in search of water and we are truly grateful to you for coming to put the well back in good shape. Thank you and God bless you.” Comment from Jonas Doe Ablodepey, one of the young men of the village.
Philippines – Sitio San Isidro – Province of Cebu “As farmers, water is very important for the irrigation of our field. As hog raisers, water is essential for the cleanliness of the animals and their pen. It is very tiring to fetch water for our livelihood and daily needs, especially during rainy season and when the fields are flooded sometimes we fall in the mud. Now, we can fetch water anytime we need it, and walking through corn and rice fields will be minimized. God is so good.” Anacita Mondejar, 47 years old.
“There were several instances when the water we get is turbid and sometimes stained with soil. In those situations, we have to filter the water and sometimes boil it if we are still doubtful of its cleanliness. We are thankful to God for bringing this blessing to our village when seeing our condition. We now have a source for water that is very accessible.” Buenaventura Montecillo, 57 years old.
Philippines Sitio Balogbog in Batangas province 12/08 Estelita Mendoza said, “This is difficult most of the time because it is crowded with people from the village where it is located. Also, the road to that village becomes muddy and slippery during rainy season. We are so thankful that we do not have to endure long walks anymore to get to our supply of water. Thank you so much and God bless you. Thank you so much to God because He has answered our prayers.”