How do you define failure?

This is a post written by my co-worker, Peter Hypki.  See their blog at www.hypkis.wordpress.com

Sometimes it’s obvious. A grade below 70 on a test is considered a failing grade. A politician is said to fail in his or her bid for office if unelected. But what if you raise funds for, commit to and begin a well drilling project only to find out there are no aquifers within reach of the drilling equipment? What would you call that?

Two weeks ago we received the results of the hydrological study requested by Living Water. In two of the three sites – including the one where we began drilling – there is no water. In the third, there is a chance of achieving “a restricted water flow”, but it is 120 meters deep (394 ft) – well out of the reach of Living Water’s drilling rigs and our solar pump.

So where do we go from here?

The problem with the word failure is that it implies that we know the final outcome. We know a politician failed in his presidential bid because, when the election is over, he didn’t win. But with a project like this we don’t know the final outcome.

But God does. He provided the funds for it in just six months. He led us as we watched two drillers back out and the third postpone twice. He was there when the drilling began and when it stopped. His name was on the line when I told Tereso, a village elder, that our confidence was in God alone, and for that reason I would never make an offering to the patron spirit of the village, despite Tereso’s gentle insistence that we would fail unless I did.

Does that mean God failed? Maybe if the sole purpose of the well project was to have a working well here in Las Moras, you might think that. But the goal was never just to provide running water for the Nahuatl. And God never fails.

Our goal – His goal, if I may – remains to bring them water so sweet, so full of hope and joy, that they will never thirst again. His plan to bring them that water is something that’s beyond us. What we do know is that we haven’t failed as long as we live lives that point them to that living water.

God is the only one who knows how this will all turn out. All we know is that He never fails.

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Right now, we don’t know what to do.  Please pray with us for wisdom as we discuss this with the village.  Pray with us as we look to God to direct our steps for whatever else God has planned for the “well” project.

A part of me is still grieving this news.  My heart is sad because we’ve wanted for so long to be able to provide clean water for the village and for us as well.  The people have been watching us, knowing that we’re praying to God for water.

BUT, I know that God can take care of His own reputation.  He is trustworthy to provide ALL that we need and ALL that the Nahuatl need.  He created these mountains and placed water where He willed.  He will provide for us. –Rachel