Water

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As most of you know, we don’t have running water in Las Moras.  When we bathe, we do it here…

Bathing in the swimming hole.
Bathing in the creek. Can you see Katie waving from the swimming hole?

When we wash clothes, we do it here…

I'm a lot more picky about what is dirty when it means I have to wash it by hand at the creek on the rocks.
I'm a lot more picky about which clothes I consider "dirty" when it means I have to wash them by hand on the rocks at the creek.

Water for drinking and washing dishes is hauled from here…

There's a spigot at the school (white buildings) of water brought to our village by hose from a stream a little ways away. Still has lots of sediment in it. Still contaminated, but maybe not SO contaminated as the village streams.
At the school (white buildings), there's a spigot of water brought to our village by hose from a stream a little ways away. Still has lots of sediment in it. Still contaminated, but maybe not SO contaminated as the village streams.

We bring it in two barrels in the truck…

It takes an hour to fill up both barrels and bring them back to the house.
It takes an hour to fill up both barrels and bring them back to the house.

…then into the house by a 6 gallon container…

One of Josiah's chores is to make sure there is enough water in the house for washing dishes, cooking, and drinking.
One of Josiah's chores is to make sure there is enough water in the house for washing dishes, cooking, and to filter for drinking.

The Nahuatl live more or less the same way.  They bathe and wash clothes in the creek.

A neighbor girl washing some of her family's clothes.
A neighbor girl washing some of her family's clothes.

Some get their water from streams like this one next to the village…

Co-workers contemplating alternate water sources for the village.
Co-workers contemplating alternate water sources for the village. This is at the end of rainy season.
This is a creek by our village in the middle of the dry season.
This is a creek by our village in the middle of the dry season.

Others get their water from seeps like this one.

Seep at the end of the rainy season. Very little water flow.
Seep at the end of the rainy season. Very little water flow.

The water they drink comes to the village by hose from a stream a little ways away.

Box that collects stream water that flows to the village through the lower hose.
Box that collects stream water that flows to the village through the lower hose.

There is no clean source of water in Las Moras.

We have contemplated different options to our problem and sought expert opinions.  The best, long term answer that would assure water even during the driest times is a well.  Some of the difficulties in trying to drill a well are the remoteness of our location, getting the equipment out to our village over the rough roads, and the finances required for this undertaking.

However, unlike the other options, a well would provide clean drinking water for the Nahuatl of Las Moras.

Washing dishes

It would also provide a water source for our houses.  The time we have spent in the past hauling water, washing clothes and ourselves in the creek, and filtering drinking water could be spent with the people learning their language and culture.

The faster we learn their language, the sooner we can share with them God’s Good Truth!

The estimate of drilling a well in our village is $20,000 dollars.  We already received gifts totaling $5,050!! Praise GOD!!

Would you pray with us for God’s provision for our water needs?

Would YOU like to help finance a well for Las Moras?

Call New Tribes Mission’s Finance Office at 1-866-547-2460 to donate with a credit card.  Specify your gift is for the Mexico Fund – Well Project.

OR, send a check made out to New Tribes Mission to

New Tribes Mission
1000 East First Street
Sanford, Florida 32771

with a note saying it is for “the Mexico Fund – Well Project”

Either way, you will receive a tax-deductible receipt. THANK YOU!

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