> Happy Monday to you. Well, let me catch you up just a little. Sunday things were still unsettled in the city from the fighting on Saturday, so we decided not to go to church. But we were able to meet up with several of Water for Good's staff at the Grande Cafe'. It was great to have some social time with them and to treat them to some food and coffee. It was fun to see them laughing and having a good time because the night before most of them were listening to machine guns firing around their neighborhood. Please continue to pray for the guard at the Water for Good office compound as he recovers from a bullet wound to his arm as he was standing on the street. Also pray for Gerard's brother who was shot in the leg.
> After the crazy weekend here I figured we would not be able to work today. But to my surprise the guys said things were good for us to go. The Chadian military who caused a lot of the problems, left to head back to Chad. I heard the French military made their presence known to the Chadian soldiers to prevent further bloodshed like Saturday. So we proceeded to stop at the office and finish some things there including some explanation about how to care for the new water system. After this we headed out to PK 22 to see what we could do there. On our way there, we passed through the area which had seen the violence over the weekend. There were a lot less people in the market, and in the Muslim area, there was a very noticeable reduction in the number of people. The rest of our drive was routine. Thankfully, we were able to make some great progress today on our list of projects. During some of the looting that took place not too long ago, the overhead wires were stolen leaving PK 22 with no electricity for its garage area. Well today we got the power back on by splicing together some wire. We rerouted the wire from the generator so it is hidden and harder to steal. This allowed us to turn the water pump back on to the delight of the guards who have been without water for quite some time. We ran some more wires to be able to run some much needed garage equipment. We then worked on one of the drill rigs and got it running for the first time in probably in over a year. There are a few more things for Fabian to finish and then the rig is ready to drill some new water wells around Bangui. Because this is my last working day here I thank God for helping us get a lot done.
> One thing I reflected on today while I watched the guys work with me was how important it is for us to invest in PEOPLE. Some may question why I came during this challenging time. But I really believe these guys are the future of this country. They are learning skills to better themselves, provide for their families, and impact their fellow countrymen who are in desperate need of the basics; water, sanitation, and food. On top of that they can share the hope of Jesus as they work , the Living Water and the Bread of Life. As much as I am here to fix stuff, I am here to encourage these guys that they are not alone, and the legacy is investing in people, the impact is eternal.
> As I get ready to get on the plane tomorrow, I just want to ask you to continue to pray for the people of the CAR, and if you are able, donate to help Water for Good continue to impact this country. Continue to pray for orphans who are being cared for by VisionTrust and Project Hope and Charity. There are enormous needs here and incredible logistical challenges to offer help.
> We are scheduled to depart here around 5:30pm tomorrow my time which is 12:30pm your time. Thanks for your prayers!!
>
> Tim
Monday, March 31, 2014
Saturday, March 29, 2014
Fwd: Saturday update
> First off before I talk about our work, I want to ask that you all pray for one of the Water for Good staff members who was shot today while he was standing in the market area. Reports are that he is ok but will need to go to the hospital. Info is continuing to come in so we will learn more as we get updated information on his condition. Today was another day of fighting as you can tell. The big issue today seems to be the Chadian military soldiers who have come to escort more Muslims out of the CAR. It seems each time this happens the Chadians cause problems while they are here. Today is no exception it seems. We don't have a lot of info yet but there was lots of shooting going on between the Chadian soldiers and the Anti Balakas. So the relative peace that Bangui experienced the last couple days is gone and people in the affected area are either staying in their homes or they are going back to refuge areas for safety. This is the cycle of life for the Central Africans things calm down a little then things break lose again and people are caught in the crossfire, literally.
> Ok, one advantage of our work today was that we did a project on a military base so security was really good for us. Water For Good was hired to dig a bunker into the side of a hill to be able to store surrendered explosives more safely. Not something any us had done before but we have one of the only working backhoes in the country so why not. It was rewarding for me to help by operating the backhoe and helping Water for Good make some money. It was a very hot day again today and the sun was intense but we persevered and completed the project ahead of schedule. The organization representative who hired us was really pleased with how things turned out, so it is always good to have a happy customer. Unfortunately, there is a house near the sight of this bunker so the family will have to move out, not a good place to be once things are stored here!
> We only have a couple more days here so we will have to take things day by day as to what we will be able to do.
> Thanks for continuing to pray for Jim and me as well as our families!
>
> Tim
>
>
>
> Ok, one advantage of our work today was that we did a project on a military base so security was really good for us. Water For Good was hired to dig a bunker into the side of a hill to be able to store surrendered explosives more safely. Not something any us had done before but we have one of the only working backhoes in the country so why not. It was rewarding for me to help by operating the backhoe and helping Water for Good make some money. It was a very hot day again today and the sun was intense but we persevered and completed the project ahead of schedule. The organization representative who hired us was really pleased with how things turned out, so it is always good to have a happy customer. Unfortunately, there is a house near the sight of this bunker so the family will have to move out, not a good place to be once things are stored here!
> We only have a couple more days here so we will have to take things day by day as to what we will be able to do.
> Thanks for continuing to pray for Jim and me as well as our families!
>
> Tim
>
>
>
Friday, March 28, 2014
Fwd: Friday
> Today's update is not that exciting but it was a productive day. On our way to the PK 22 farm we passed all of the different main characters in the struggle here in the CAR. There was a large French military presence on the street today including a huge convoy of all kinds of vehicles heading out of town. Then we passed by the Seleka camp, then we passed through one of the main markets filled with Central Africans, then we passed through the Muslims only section of town, then a little ways out of town we pass by a couple machine gun toting Anti Balakas. So how was your commute today?!! We are thankful for God's continuing hands of protection each day as we try to accomplish our work. Once we arrive at PK 22 it's back to work. Today was really hot, my guess is over 100 but I know it has been cool at home so I won't complain too much. It is fun each day to work with the staff here and develop friendships while we work and even with the language barrier we have fun. Usually, I try to learn some Sango and then I try and teach them English, lots of laughter usually follows. In the afternoon Fabian and I got to take the tractor out to one of the fields and work the soil to make sure the tractor and equipment worked properly. I also wanted to continue training Fabian so he can run the tractor once I am gone. It was fun to see his smile as he saw each piece of equipment do its job, he commented that he wanted to now plant something in the nicely prepared soil. We in Wayne county Ohio or other rural places take it for granted what tractors can do. Most here have always cultivated by hand and have never seen a tractor work. We even drew a small crowd who watched us work in the field.
> Then it was back to our guesthouse retracing our interesting route, trying to see who would wave at me just for fun. Now it is time to try and relax and get ready for a busy day tomorrow. We will be doing a special project on a military base so it should be interesting. More on that in tomorrow's post.
>
> Thanks for your prayers
>
> Tim
>
>
> Then it was back to our guesthouse retracing our interesting route, trying to see who would wave at me just for fun. Now it is time to try and relax and get ready for a busy day tomorrow. We will be doing a special project on a military base so it should be interesting. More on that in tomorrow's post.
>
> Thanks for your prayers
>
> Tim
>
>
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Thursday, March 27 Back to Work!
Today was a good day for making progress. The streets were open and traffic was normal today. On our way out to the Water for Good office we stopped to check out a job an NGO wants Water for Good to do at a military base. The reason they called Jim is that Water for Good has one of the only working backhoes in Bangui and they have a special digging job. They wanted us to see if we could do it and how much it will cost. So it was a little intimidating walking onto the military base with lots going on but we met our contact at the gate and he led us to where we could talk to one of the commanders to let him know what we were doing. We looked over the sight they wanted excavated and it looks like we might do this project before we leave.
After our stop at the military base, we proceeded out to the office to prepare the backhoe and tractor for the drive out to PK 22. Finally, we headed out to the street. As you can imagine, it is not every day that a tractor and backhoe drive down the street so we provided a small parade for everyone with a Water for Good truck if front and one behind the tractor and backhoe. The market was very busy today so we had to drive slowly to get through. Then we drove the 10 kilometers out to the farm. Finally, we were able to start on our list of projects out here. So the rest of the day was spend working on the farming equipment getting it ready so we can start using it in the field.
Each day we learn a little about the conflict here in Bangui. Some of the tension and confusion for the people in town is they don't always know who is shooting at them or who will protect them. There is the Seleka, the Anti Balaka, the French, and then there is the MISCA forces, which are a collection of African nations. What they are finding is some of the MISCA forces are sympathetic to the Seleka and so they are giving some of the Seleka forces their MISCA uniforms and then they carry out attacks on the people or the Anti Balaka forces which is happened over the weekend. During the battle some of the MISCA soldiers were killed but when they took their uniforms off they discovered that they were actually Seleka.
Please keep praying for this country, the problems are huge and the road ahead is very unclear.
Please keep praying for the staff of Water for Good as they seek to get back to their work which means traveling the roads.
Thanks for your prayers for Jim and me!
Tim
After our stop at the military base, we proceeded out to the office to prepare the backhoe and tractor for the drive out to PK 22. Finally, we headed out to the street. As you can imagine, it is not every day that a tractor and backhoe drive down the street so we provided a small parade for everyone with a Water for Good truck if front and one behind the tractor and backhoe. The market was very busy today so we had to drive slowly to get through. Then we drove the 10 kilometers out to the farm. Finally, we were able to start on our list of projects out here. So the rest of the day was spend working on the farming equipment getting it ready so we can start using it in the field.
Each day we learn a little about the conflict here in Bangui. Some of the tension and confusion for the people in town is they don't always know who is shooting at them or who will protect them. There is the Seleka, the Anti Balaka, the French, and then there is the MISCA forces, which are a collection of African nations. What they are finding is some of the MISCA forces are sympathetic to the Seleka and so they are giving some of the Seleka forces their MISCA uniforms and then they carry out attacks on the people or the Anti Balaka forces which is happened over the weekend. During the battle some of the MISCA soldiers were killed but when they took their uniforms off they discovered that they were actually Seleka.
Please keep praying for this country, the problems are huge and the road ahead is very unclear.
Please keep praying for the staff of Water for Good as they seek to get back to their work which means traveling the roads.
Thanks for your prayers for Jim and me!
Tim
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Wednesday, March 26
Today was a definite improvement over the last couple of days. The main road was reopened today and so traffic began to flow more normally. The Water for Good staff was able to drive into town and meet with Jim here at the Mission. I ventured out to the Water for Good office compound with Gerard. The road was lined with military vehicles mostly French along with some MISCA forces to keep traffic flowing. The gas stations had long lines of cars waiting to get gas. I was able to get my hands dirty a little bit and finish up a couple things at the office. Our plan was to drive the backhoe and tractor from the office- PK 11 to the farm at PK 22. It had been raining hard most of the morning but the rain was starting to end. Just as we were almost ready to go we heard some gunfire in the distance. It seemed a good distance away but we decided to be safe and head back to the guesthouse. Fabian said In broken English " try again tomorrow". So hopefully things will be good tomorrow so we can continue our work. Safety is most important so we will see. Thanks for your continued prayers for us. See pictures from today in previous 2 posts.
Tim
Tim
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Tuesday-increase in Violence=Decrease in Work
First I want to thank everyone for all of your prayers, please keep praying for the situation here in Bangui. The last couple days there has been an increase in hostile activity in certain parts of the city. Thankfully it is not near us but the domino effect is we cannot drive to either of Water for Good's properties. This is challenging because we are not able do any of our work and so we just hang out here at the guesthouse. But what is not convenient for us is life threatening for those who live near the hostile areas. Almost all of the Water for Good staff were unable to go to work because of the violence. Some of the increase hostilities seems to be in conjunction with the one year anniversary of the Seleka take over. It seems many are taking advantage of the vacuum left by lack of a strong government. Keep us in your prayers, we have one week left.
Tim
Tim
Monday, March 24, 2014
Monday, March 24
I thought I would start today's update by talking about what we did yesterday afternoon. Jim and I took the opportunity to visit some neighborhoods where Water for Good staff live. We wanted to hear their stories and meet the spouses and children. It was fun to get into the neighborhoods and see people still in their houses. In one neighborhood though MISCA peace keepers were stationed in the area which quickly reminded us that things are not normal. It really means a lot to these families to have us come to their homes. Gerard introduced us to his wife and welcomed us into his home. He shared how honored they were to have us stop at their house. He showed us pictures he had on the wall of Jim and Faye Hocking and Tom and Sue Peters, he also retrieved a picture I had given him of my family. He shared that when the violence started and they thought they would have to abandon their home, he told his wife to make sure and grab the pictures because he did not want to loose them. Another reminder that we are investing in people when we do the work. We also met with Nicaise and his family in a different neighborhood and it was typical in that the road was very narrow and our truck barely fit in between the houses. As we did at the other visits, Jim talked with them and asked about their experiences with the war. Before we left we spent time praying for them. Please continue to lift up these families and the other Water for Good staff because each day is a challenge.
In yesterday's post, I mentioned how there are starting to be signs of life getting back to a little bit of normalcy and that is true. But last night gave a quick reminder that the fighting is not over. There was a clash between some MISCA forces and the Anti- balaka forces on the main road. This clash lasted most of the night resulting in the road being blocked today. This cut off access for us to get to the Water for Good properties as well as for the Water for Good staff to come to our part of town. So, some of the same neighborhoods we were in yesterday were now inaccessible due to the unrest. Things on this end of town continued as normal except for the obvious increase of military vehicles moving around. So this prevented us from doing any of our work today so we had to adjust and just be patient, hoping that things are better tomorrow. Please continue to pray for the situation.
In spite of our change of plans Jim and I had a productive afternoon meeting with several people. One meeting was with a relief organization that wants to partner with Water for Good. The meeting was very positive and it looks like it will be a good partnership to help with water, sanitation and Ag work. Our other meetings were opportunities for Jim to talk to different people to gather information and different perspectives on the situation here. So even though it was not what we had hoped for as far as work production, God used our time.
Tim
In yesterday's post, I mentioned how there are starting to be signs of life getting back to a little bit of normalcy and that is true. But last night gave a quick reminder that the fighting is not over. There was a clash between some MISCA forces and the Anti- balaka forces on the main road. This clash lasted most of the night resulting in the road being blocked today. This cut off access for us to get to the Water for Good properties as well as for the Water for Good staff to come to our part of town. So, some of the same neighborhoods we were in yesterday were now inaccessible due to the unrest. Things on this end of town continued as normal except for the obvious increase of military vehicles moving around. So this prevented us from doing any of our work today so we had to adjust and just be patient, hoping that things are better tomorrow. Please continue to pray for the situation.
In spite of our change of plans Jim and I had a productive afternoon meeting with several people. One meeting was with a relief organization that wants to partner with Water for Good. The meeting was very positive and it looks like it will be a good partnership to help with water, sanitation and Ag work. Our other meetings were opportunities for Jim to talk to different people to gather information and different perspectives on the situation here. So even though it was not what we had hoped for as far as work production, God used our time.
Tim
Sunday, March 23, 2014
Saturday's Work and Sunday's Worship
Sorry for taking a day off but I thought I would combine Sat and Sunday post.
Saturday was another work day. I got a later than normal start due to some fighting the night before in the area on the way to the office, so the guys wanted me to wait for awhile to make sure things were settled down. Work involved finishing the water system hook up to the plumbing system, final repairs to the tractor, and wiring the solar panels that were now mounted. Finding the pipe fittings I needed was a challenge and a little expensive, but Gerard was able to get me what I needed. Once the system was hooked up, I discovered a leak in the next building. I am starting to get this African engineering skill, ha-ha. Knowing we did not have the proper supplies to repair the leak, and knowing how long it would take to get what we needed, and how costly it would be, I found some plastic pipe, Teflon tape, cut off fittings from another pipe, and hose clamps. Problem solved, leak fixed. I am concerned this will increase Jeana's expectations for me at home with my list of repairs ha-ha! All of the guys were excited to see the water flowing again, and that made it fun for me. We finished the other projects so now hopefully on Monday we will be able to drive the tractor and backhoe out to PK 22 to begin work there.
As I begin to reflect on my time here, it seems that except for the fighting that seems to occur every night, life is beginning to get back to normal. Street vendors are opening their roadside shops, and the markets seem busy with people. The school has now been open for 5 days, the taxis are running. At least on the outside, things are improving, but once you begin to talk to people, the real heart aches, hardships, and anger come out quickly.
Another sign of improvement we saw today, Sunday, was church services. Farel took us to church today in the neighborhood up the hill passed the high school. The church was pretty full, and it seemed pretty normal compared to other services I have attended in the past. There were probably 400-500 people at the Grace Brethren Church. At the end of the service, the Pastor invited us to have tea with him. He began by asking if we saw the bullet holes in the roof of the church. We said yes, then he shared how God had spared the church building, but many members of the church had been harmed and some houses were burned. He said there was a 12 week period that they did not hold services because it was too dangerous. He said, the chairs you are sitting on were the only furniture we could save from the house of one of the Deacons as it was burning. Wow, very humbling! He also shared how many of his congregation could not live in there homes yet and were staying at a Catholic mission compound just down the street. As many as 20,000 -30,000 people have sought refuge there. More are going back to their homes during the day, but then they come back to the camp for the night. With this in mind, what a joy to see and hear this church singing and praising God. So, there are signs of life, but these stories reminds us that things are not back to normal yet, and it is unclear how long it will take. On top of that, the rainy season is fast approaching, and inadequate shelter is not something you want to have when it rains.
Please continue to pray for us, but please pray for the people of the CAR. We are here for two weeks, but for them, this is reality every day.
Also, please consider supporting organizations like Water for Good. Water for Good is here investing in the people of the CAR through training them how to drill water wells, develop Ag projects, run radio stations, and help with sanitation. The people who work for Water for Good represent the hope for this country. They have learned skills to provide for their families and see how what they can do, can impact their country. Check out www.waterforgood.org and see how you can help. The conflict has been very hard and very expensive for Water for Good, but they are committed to be here working when not too many other organizations can. I am glad to volunteer my time to help them and partner with them. Thanks to all who donated money to provide much needed supplies for this trip. Please consider donating to help Water for Good so they can continue to work in these hard conditions to offer the hope of Jesus.
Tim
Saturday was another work day. I got a later than normal start due to some fighting the night before in the area on the way to the office, so the guys wanted me to wait for awhile to make sure things were settled down. Work involved finishing the water system hook up to the plumbing system, final repairs to the tractor, and wiring the solar panels that were now mounted. Finding the pipe fittings I needed was a challenge and a little expensive, but Gerard was able to get me what I needed. Once the system was hooked up, I discovered a leak in the next building. I am starting to get this African engineering skill, ha-ha. Knowing we did not have the proper supplies to repair the leak, and knowing how long it would take to get what we needed, and how costly it would be, I found some plastic pipe, Teflon tape, cut off fittings from another pipe, and hose clamps. Problem solved, leak fixed. I am concerned this will increase Jeana's expectations for me at home with my list of repairs ha-ha! All of the guys were excited to see the water flowing again, and that made it fun for me. We finished the other projects so now hopefully on Monday we will be able to drive the tractor and backhoe out to PK 22 to begin work there.
As I begin to reflect on my time here, it seems that except for the fighting that seems to occur every night, life is beginning to get back to normal. Street vendors are opening their roadside shops, and the markets seem busy with people. The school has now been open for 5 days, the taxis are running. At least on the outside, things are improving, but once you begin to talk to people, the real heart aches, hardships, and anger come out quickly.
Another sign of improvement we saw today, Sunday, was church services. Farel took us to church today in the neighborhood up the hill passed the high school. The church was pretty full, and it seemed pretty normal compared to other services I have attended in the past. There were probably 400-500 people at the Grace Brethren Church. At the end of the service, the Pastor invited us to have tea with him. He began by asking if we saw the bullet holes in the roof of the church. We said yes, then he shared how God had spared the church building, but many members of the church had been harmed and some houses were burned. He said there was a 12 week period that they did not hold services because it was too dangerous. He said, the chairs you are sitting on were the only furniture we could save from the house of one of the Deacons as it was burning. Wow, very humbling! He also shared how many of his congregation could not live in there homes yet and were staying at a Catholic mission compound just down the street. As many as 20,000 -30,000 people have sought refuge there. More are going back to their homes during the day, but then they come back to the camp for the night. With this in mind, what a joy to see and hear this church singing and praising God. So, there are signs of life, but these stories reminds us that things are not back to normal yet, and it is unclear how long it will take. On top of that, the rainy season is fast approaching, and inadequate shelter is not something you want to have when it rains.
Please continue to pray for us, but please pray for the people of the CAR. We are here for two weeks, but for them, this is reality every day.
Also, please consider supporting organizations like Water for Good. Water for Good is here investing in the people of the CAR through training them how to drill water wells, develop Ag projects, run radio stations, and help with sanitation. The people who work for Water for Good represent the hope for this country. They have learned skills to provide for their families and see how what they can do, can impact their country. Check out www.waterforgood.org and see how you can help. The conflict has been very hard and very expensive for Water for Good, but they are committed to be here working when not too many other organizations can. I am glad to volunteer my time to help them and partner with them. Thanks to all who donated money to provide much needed supplies for this trip. Please consider donating to help Water for Good so they can continue to work in these hard conditions to offer the hope of Jesus.
Tim
Challenges everyday in the CAR: Many voices speak up
Pray for Tim Harley and Jim Hocking. Take a moment to post in the comments the words, "I am praying," to encourage Tim and Jim. Thanks.
I also provide a list of other voices who share what is going on in the CAR:
- Barb Wooler, Director of Emergency Relief Efforts for CAR, who leads the charge to provide food for the CAR crisis.
- Etharin Cousin, Executive Director of the World Food Programme, who writes about the challenge of fighting malnutrition.
- Michelle Shephard, Toronto Star national security reporter, who wrote about the release of child soldiers during the CAR crisis.
- Dejerassem Mbaioerm, UNHCR worker in Cameroon, who wrote about how most new refugees arriving in Cameroon had spent weeks living in the bush without water or food.
Saturday, March 22, 2014
World Water Day 2014: Our partnership with Water for Good
Today is World Water Day!
Grace Church is grateful for our partnership with Water for Good. Together we get to provide fresh, clean water for families in villages in the Central African Republic. You can view what Water for Good does with the financial support we provide through your gifts. You can read more here.
Grace Church is grateful for our partnership with Water for Good. Together we get to provide fresh, clean water for families in villages in the Central African Republic. You can view what Water for Good does with the financial support we provide through your gifts. You can read more here.
Friday, March 21, 2014
Friday Update from Tim Harley in Central African Republic
Not too much excitement today, just kept working on projects. I think we are making progress. Things usually take longer here and supplies are very expensive, welcome to the CAR! Perseverance, patience, and creativity are important characteristics for working here.
Thank you for your prayers, our driver, Gerard, gives Jim the news from the previous night every morning as we drive from the Mission to the office. There is still some fighting going on but it seems isolated to certain neighborhoods thankfully which are far from us.
So since I don't have much to say tonight, I sent a couple videos (Jeana posted one yesterday) so you can ride in the front seat of the truck with me and see a little of the street activities as we drive.
Video of driving in the streets of Bangui
Video of the streets of CAR Tim sent today. I was actually pleasantly surprised as how many people were out on the streets. Not as many as usually, but daily life is starting to pick back up in some places.
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Work Day 2 in the C.A.R.
The first thing I want to do is say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my awesome wife, Jeana. It is hard for me to be away from Jeana on her birthday, but I look forward to dinner with her when I get home. And no, I am not dumb enough to tell you how old she is. You will have to ask her. Haha. I love her more each year!
Ok, on the first day of spring it was hot again; how is that for a weather report! We went back to the office complex to continue our projects. Phase two of the water project was to get the automatic water filter working.
After sitting for many months with no flow going through it, the filter was plugged to the point no water would go through. After some work, the water began to flow through again, and as you can see in the picture I sent, the water was bold reddish brown color (would you like to drink this?) After some flushing, the water started coming out clear.
While I worked on the water filter, the other guys worked on changing filters on the tractor and removing the fuel tank to clean it. Thanks to Rudy Maibach of Maibach Tractor of Sterling, Ohio for helping send new filters over. By the end of the day, the tractor was back together. We hope to get it started tomorrow.
Late morning we decided to head out to the Water for Good farm called PK 22. No one has been out to the facility since Oct. and so we wanted to check things out. PK 22 is outside of Bangui so we had to go through a couple checkpoints along the way. The theme of today's post is, " the power of the flag." As you can see in the picture, there is a flag mounted on the front bumper of the trucks we ride in which identifies the truck as part of an NGO which gives more legitimacy and makes us look important, at least Jim haha! This flag allows us to go places safely that taxis and motor bikes avoid. At the first checkpoint the French military asked us where we were going and why and then since we had a flag, waved us on. We then drove through a section of town reserved only for the remaining Muslims. Again our flag gives us safe passage and respect. We then go through another checkpoint manned by the Anti-Balakas and they saw the flag and waved us through. They also, knew our driver Fabian and the Water for Good truck. We arrived at PK 22 everything looked pretty good. Again, thanks to God, very little was damaged even though it is on the main road, it could have been so much worse. It was nice to see the big white canvas barn still standing. A couple years ago a team from Wooster came and built this barn. Craig, Josh, Dave, Bruce, Larry, Rick all gave up there time to come over here and use their talents for God. Hey guys, it still looks good! The only damage is from the Seleka who cut a hole in the canvas. Today they were patching it back up using fabric and needle and thread. The shop area had a couple things stolen but all the tools were left alone. Unfortunately, the gardens did not fair so well, they were burned and destroyed, what a shame. But just like God is so good at, we saw buds starting to shoot out of a couple of the burned trees. God can make all things new. We can help Water for Good's staff bring life back to the gardens and fields.
On the way back to town we stopped and visited with Fabian's family. Fabian oversees the PK 22 facility and lives in the nearby town. It was great to see his wife and two children again, Fabian talked about when he had our team over to his house after we built the barn, he appreciated what we did to help, but he said he enjoyed getting to know us and asking us questions. Fabian and I have worked together many times. Even though we don't speak the same language, I have had the opportunity to train Fabian on how to operate several of the machines. He is a joy to work with and it has been fun building that relationship.
After our visit at Fabian's home, we stopped at a very small village to check on their water well and foot pump, Jim took the opportunity to ask how the people were doing. They were starting to build a new house making the bricks by hand and using mud as the grout. Small signs that life is moving on for some. Then we stopped in the Muslim section on the way back into town, Jim recognized a man so we stopped and talked a little bit with him. Everyone seemed friendly and happy to talk but you can see on their faces that things have been tough for their community.. Most traffic takes a detour around this section of town because of the unrest and tension between the Muslims and Non Muslims but because of our flag we had the opportunity to go through and stop.
Just as in any conflict, behind the labels, there are just people who need help and especially Jesus.
Thanks for your continued prayers
Tim
Ok, on the first day of spring it was hot again; how is that for a weather report! We went back to the office complex to continue our projects. Phase two of the water project was to get the automatic water filter working.
After sitting for many months with no flow going through it, the filter was plugged to the point no water would go through. After some work, the water began to flow through again, and as you can see in the picture I sent, the water was bold reddish brown color (would you like to drink this?) After some flushing, the water started coming out clear.
While I worked on the water filter, the other guys worked on changing filters on the tractor and removing the fuel tank to clean it. Thanks to Rudy Maibach of Maibach Tractor of Sterling, Ohio for helping send new filters over. By the end of the day, the tractor was back together. We hope to get it started tomorrow.
Late morning we decided to head out to the Water for Good farm called PK 22. No one has been out to the facility since Oct. and so we wanted to check things out. PK 22 is outside of Bangui so we had to go through a couple checkpoints along the way. The theme of today's post is, " the power of the flag." As you can see in the picture, there is a flag mounted on the front bumper of the trucks we ride in which identifies the truck as part of an NGO which gives more legitimacy and makes us look important, at least Jim haha! This flag allows us to go places safely that taxis and motor bikes avoid. At the first checkpoint the French military asked us where we were going and why and then since we had a flag, waved us on. We then drove through a section of town reserved only for the remaining Muslims. Again our flag gives us safe passage and respect. We then go through another checkpoint manned by the Anti-Balakas and they saw the flag and waved us through. They also, knew our driver Fabian and the Water for Good truck. We arrived at PK 22 everything looked pretty good. Again, thanks to God, very little was damaged even though it is on the main road, it could have been so much worse. It was nice to see the big white canvas barn still standing. A couple years ago a team from Wooster came and built this barn. Craig, Josh, Dave, Bruce, Larry, Rick all gave up there time to come over here and use their talents for God. Hey guys, it still looks good! The only damage is from the Seleka who cut a hole in the canvas. Today they were patching it back up using fabric and needle and thread. The shop area had a couple things stolen but all the tools were left alone. Unfortunately, the gardens did not fair so well, they were burned and destroyed, what a shame. But just like God is so good at, we saw buds starting to shoot out of a couple of the burned trees. God can make all things new. We can help Water for Good's staff bring life back to the gardens and fields.
On the way back to town we stopped and visited with Fabian's family. Fabian oversees the PK 22 facility and lives in the nearby town. It was great to see his wife and two children again, Fabian talked about when he had our team over to his house after we built the barn, he appreciated what we did to help, but he said he enjoyed getting to know us and asking us questions. Fabian and I have worked together many times. Even though we don't speak the same language, I have had the opportunity to train Fabian on how to operate several of the machines. He is a joy to work with and it has been fun building that relationship.
After our visit at Fabian's home, we stopped at a very small village to check on their water well and foot pump, Jim took the opportunity to ask how the people were doing. They were starting to build a new house making the bricks by hand and using mud as the grout. Small signs that life is moving on for some. Then we stopped in the Muslim section on the way back into town, Jim recognized a man so we stopped and talked a little bit with him. Everyone seemed friendly and happy to talk but you can see on their faces that things have been tough for their community.. Most traffic takes a detour around this section of town because of the unrest and tension between the Muslims and Non Muslims but because of our flag we had the opportunity to go through and stop.
Just as in any conflict, behind the labels, there are just people who need help and especially Jesus.
Thanks for your continued prayers
Tim
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
First Work Day in the C.A.R.
Greetings from Bangui!
Today was our first day to venture out and start working on some of our projects. I will give you a little run down of what we did and then share some of the thoughts of the day.
We spent our day at Water for Good's office compound. Challenges awaited us. The first was to install an electric well pump that will will run off of solar power because there is very little electricity from the town system, so there is no water when the power is off. I brought the 5' long pump in my suitcase, had to dismantle it at home, so now I have to remember how to put it back together. The other part of this is to install two more solar panels to help produce enough electricity. Fortunately, they are already here. Good news, it worked! We have water.
Next we started working on the equipment that is being stored here. A backhoe, forklift, and farm tractor, all are in need of some work to get them started. One thing you quickly learn is you have to be creative, because, usually if you need something, they don't have it and so you have to improvise. So today we had some successes and more "to be continued" projects.
The Water for Good office is set in a neighborhood and I asked the question, "why was this place spared from the looting by the Seleka rebels?" It seems they came to the gate twice but for some reason they did not enter. Praise God. Unfortunately, for most homes in the neighborhood, this is not true for them. Many houses are empty because people fled for their lives, and some even lost their lives at the hands of the rebels.
As we drive back and forth to where we are staying and the office, Jim takes the opportunity to talk to his guys and listen to their thoughts regarding the war. The stories represent the pain associated with the conflict as well as strong feelings on the future of the country. Please pray for our brothers and sisters, they have suffered much and only God can bring them hope for the future. Please pray for Jim as he continues these conversations during our time here. For those who can speak English I also take the time to ask about their families and how they are doing.
Thanks for your prayers for us. On a lighter note, you probably don't feel bad for me that I am sweating while I am typing. I saw a thermometer that red 95 degrees, IN THE SHADE! I am guessing it was at least 10 -15 more in the sun. Fun in the sun for the Son.
Tim
Today was our first day to venture out and start working on some of our projects. I will give you a little run down of what we did and then share some of the thoughts of the day.
We spent our day at Water for Good's office compound. Challenges awaited us. The first was to install an electric well pump that will will run off of solar power because there is very little electricity from the town system, so there is no water when the power is off. I brought the 5' long pump in my suitcase, had to dismantle it at home, so now I have to remember how to put it back together. The other part of this is to install two more solar panels to help produce enough electricity. Fortunately, they are already here. Good news, it worked! We have water.
Next we started working on the equipment that is being stored here. A backhoe, forklift, and farm tractor, all are in need of some work to get them started. One thing you quickly learn is you have to be creative, because, usually if you need something, they don't have it and so you have to improvise. So today we had some successes and more "to be continued" projects.
The Water for Good office is set in a neighborhood and I asked the question, "why was this place spared from the looting by the Seleka rebels?" It seems they came to the gate twice but for some reason they did not enter. Praise God. Unfortunately, for most homes in the neighborhood, this is not true for them. Many houses are empty because people fled for their lives, and some even lost their lives at the hands of the rebels.
As we drive back and forth to where we are staying and the office, Jim takes the opportunity to talk to his guys and listen to their thoughts regarding the war. The stories represent the pain associated with the conflict as well as strong feelings on the future of the country. Please pray for our brothers and sisters, they have suffered much and only God can bring them hope for the future. Please pray for Jim as he continues these conversations during our time here. For those who can speak English I also take the time to ask about their families and how they are doing.
Thanks for your prayers for us. On a lighter note, you probably don't feel bad for me that I am sweating while I am typing. I saw a thermometer that red 95 degrees, IN THE SHADE! I am guessing it was at least 10 -15 more in the sun. Fun in the sun for the Son.
Tim
Keep praying for Tim & Jim even though we may not get info everyday
The situation in Bangui is dire. Please keep Tim & Jim in your prayers as they seek to encourage the Central African workers with @WaterforGood and other friends in Bangui.
Another viewpoint of the dire challenges comes from Melissa Chemam, a consultant for the World Food Programme. Melissa is in Bangui. She reports about the tragedy of mounting malnutrition cases. Yet, she notes faint signs of normalcy. Melissa notes how the market is seeing more fish for sale but still few buyers. You can follow Melissa on Twitter https://twitter.com/melissachemam.
Moreover, the logistical challenges that Tim & Jim face are impossible to imagine. As Peter Boukaert from Human Rights Watch testifies in an interview with OpenCanada.org, just getting a tweet out through social media is an ordeal. Peter answered the follow question in his interview,
What are the main challenges that you face on the ground?
Another viewpoint of the dire challenges comes from Melissa Chemam, a consultant for the World Food Programme. Melissa is in Bangui. She reports about the tragedy of mounting malnutrition cases. Yet, she notes faint signs of normalcy. Melissa notes how the market is seeing more fish for sale but still few buyers. You can follow Melissa on Twitter https://twitter.com/melissachemam.
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| Photo from Melissa Chemam |
Moreover, the logistical challenges that Tim & Jim face are impossible to imagine. As Peter Boukaert from Human Rights Watch testifies in an interview with OpenCanada.org, just getting a tweet out through social media is an ordeal. Peter answered the follow question in his interview,
What are the main challenges that you face on the ground?
Using social media to report on the crisis in CAR is quite different from using it to talk about your personal life. It takes a tremendous amount of equipment and effort to assemble the information that we put out on Twitter. We often traveled more than 12 hours a day over very rough roads in a country without infrastructure, and then had to set up camp, start up a generator, hook up a satellite dish, upload the pictures we took that day, and started sending out the information. That’s the main challenge, just getting out to these very remote areas and getting accurate information, dealing with all kind of problems along the way, from broken-down cars to hostile men with guns. It takes a lot of effort to pull that information together. But it makes a difference. I recently met with a top UN humanitarian official in Bangui, I noticed that the majority of the information she had marked on her country map had come from our tweets, being used to plan the humanitarian response for the country. It’s at moments like that that you realize you can make a difference in 140 characters.So please keep praying for Tim & Jim even though we may not get information everyday. Pray for their safety, success in encouraging the workers, rest and focus as they assess what they can do in Bangui.
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
We Arrived In Bangui, "We made it!"
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| Refugees at Bangui airport (Txs trust.org/) |
I am not in Ohio anymore. The sights, sounds, and yes smells greet us as we enter the small terminal. After making our way through the disorganized maze of people we waited for our big suitcases full of parts, filters and a few clothes to come around the small luggage belt, all but one arrived. This means we will not have a chance to see that suitcase until next week since there is only one flight a week from Paris to Bangui. This is part of the fun and we will make due with what we have.
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| Bangui airport & refugee camp (Txs Water for Good for photo) |
We arrive at the Mission station where we are staying, and we are greeted by those who have taken up temporary refuge here. Then we are greeted by our dear friend, Andre, with his contagious laugh, We see that he has prepared dinner for us, nice! While Jim and I eat Andre relayed stories to Jim about the violence that has happened over the recent months. Even though I could not understand what he was saying, because he was speaking in Sango, I could hear the emotion in his voice. I think this will be something we will do a lot while we are here, just listen.
Thanks for your prayers!
Tim
Monday, March 17, 2014
Airport Praise
Well, Tim made it through check-in without having to pay over-weight fees. When the attendant asked why I wasn't going, I told her I wasn't allowed because it was too dangerous in the CAR. Then Tim explained how he was going to help at a refugee camp and that is why he had so much food and supplies in his bags. She marked them "heavy" but just winked at us and said, "No charge. That's great what he is doing there."
Glad there are still big-hearted people in the world. This was an answer to pray because all 3 of his bags were over the limit. Tim decided this morning to just go ahead and throw in the rest of the beef jerky he plans to give to people there. He thought he could always take it out if the airline was going to charge him, but they didn't. So now, some unsuspecting people will be blessed with a source of protein and food in a few days!
Sent from my iPhone
Glad there are still big-hearted people in the world. This was an answer to pray because all 3 of his bags were over the limit. Tim decided this morning to just go ahead and throw in the rest of the beef jerky he plans to give to people there. He thought he could always take it out if the airline was going to charge him, but they didn't. So now, some unsuspecting people will be blessed with a source of protein and food in a few days!
Sent from my iPhone
Tim's flight info
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| Pastor Bob praying for Tim |
1:34 depart CLE
2:48 arrive in Detroit and meet up with Jim.
6:40pm depart DTW
Tuesday, March 18
7:55am Paris time arrive in Paris
9:25am depart Paris
4:00 pm arrive in Bangui (10am our time)
Sent from my iPhone
Saturday, March 15, 2014
Wayne County Man goes to Central Africa to offer help and encouragement
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| Tim & Jeana Harley |
Please pray for their safe travels. They intend to encourage the Central Africans and to offer support for their efforts in drilling fresh, clean water wells in the CAR. You can read more prayer requests on Pastor Daron Butler's blogpost.
Please visit this blog for updates from Tim and his journey to the CAR.
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