| 11th Novermber 2002 Dear all, Thank you very much for your prayers as I get organised in Moyobamba and am beginning on the water and sanitation programme with the Luke Society. Thank you also for your thoughts and emails, which are very gratefully received. Please excuse me if I haven’t replied personally to an email, although I have received your messages and hope to reply soon!! My first five weeks in Moyobamba have been quite busy! although I have been able to get back into the water and sanitation programme quite well and learn about present situations and needs in the villages. Here is a quick update: 1) I travelled to Nuevo Milagro with Elias (Luke Society) and two representatives from DIGESA (part of the Peruvian ministry of health). In a meeting, they informed the villagers that DIGESA will help the village carry out a comprehensive sanitation programme over a period of one year. This will involve latrines (each family will be given materials to build a sanitary latrine if they don’t yet have one), small-scale landfill (families will be trained to prepare and manage safe waste disposal pits), and a water supply system. The Luke Society will help with coordination in the village and communication with DIGESA (who’s offices are 4 hours away from the village) during the programme. It is also likely that we will provide building materials (cement and aggregates) for construction of the reservoir and water tank for the water system - DIGESA will be providing the village with tubing. Please pray as this programme begins. 2) To our surprise DIGESA have also approved a project in Guillermo. This will also involve latrines (raised, as the village is beside the river and the water table is high), waste disposal pits, and improvement of the village water system - a new water line will be laid to provide the village with water from a spring in the hills 1km from the village. Again the Luke Society will be helping with coordination in the programme, and with funds for materials. On Saturday I accompanied 6 reps from DIGESA to the village, who signed a contract with the villagers, and presented a humorous sketch, to help raise awareness about dangers from poor sanitation and the need for commitment to the projects. 3) The LS field team visited Las Palmeras. One of the village leaders took Elias and myself to see the water system (which was built 4 years ago with funds from the Luke Society) and some problems from contamination. The Luke Society has agreed to help the village make improvements to the system in the coming year, possibly involving building a new reservoir, building filters into the system, and a chlorination tank. We are seeking help from a German N.G.O. GTZ in Moyobamba for technical advice and plans for the improvements. Please pray that their response would be positive. 4) Last Monday Elias and myself visited the village of Alan Garcia which has a very urgent need for a water supply system (at the moment villagers take water from holes dug in the ground which are a serious hazard to health). Village leaders took us to a spring 2.5 km from the village, flowing out of a small sandstone cave. The water is very pure. However, a technical study is needed to determine if the project is feasible. The spring is in hilly terrain just outside native Aguaruna Indian territory (and quite difficult to reach!!) but seems to be at least 40 m higher than the village. Please pray that the project would be technically feasible. DIGESA have expressed an interest in the project, and have said they would like to visit the village with us in December. Please pray for this visit. 5) The week before last, all the Luke Society team helped in the LS clinic during a Cleft Palette / Cleft lip campaign. Visiting surgeons (from Lima and the US) carried out roughly 50 successful operations on children with cleft lip / cleft palette problems. I acted as photographer during the week, taking photos of children before and after their operations, and also entered the operating theatre with mask etc. to take photos of operations!! 6) I’ve been attending the Rios de Agua Viva (Rivers of Living water) Church here. It is a fairly large and lively Church. On Friday and Saturday a Brazilian preacher (Fernando Cassaveche) visited the Church, which was a real blessing and encouragement. On Sunday mornings I’m helping with a children’s group in Bella Aurora (Moyobamba) - which I was involved in before. It’s been excellent to see the children again after two years and see the project continuing. Please pray for this group. Please also for unity between the Churches in Moyobamba. 7) I’m renting a house in Llullucucha, Moyobamba (la Punta de Fachin), and have been able to buy some furniture and start to get organised. I’m eating meals at the house of Juan and Estella Ruiz, which is a great blessing. Please pray as I continue to get organised. Please also pray for energy and health, especially for the visits to the villages. Thank you again for your prayers and support, which are an enormous blessing!! Yours in Christ, Martin Bone |