Preparing for the trip...

Arica sent magnets to fish and metal pieces out of the hole. Kayla picked up donated climbing rope. With help from Jason, I have been working with a local welder to get a bit made that we can leave with Peter. Cathy is bringing some bits too. We hope that if this well is successful others in Peter's community will be inspired to drill similar wells.

Here is a picture of our equipment from a training session in Reno in Spring of 2010.

Following up in Matuu, Kenya 2012

We (SAIWI) first attempted this well in June of 2010 using a small mechanical drill. The mechanical mishaps that we encountered with the drill and the truck that we were borrowing hindered our ability to finish the well in the time we had. We were, however, able to install two rain catchment tanks on a local community center/church near by.

A group went back last year to attempt the well using the Manual Method developed by Terry Waller and volunteers of Water For All International and ran into some time-devouring issues as well. This time the problems stemmed from drill parts breaking and falling into the hole...which then needed to be fished out. But over 25ft were drilled

All in all these last two years have been great learning experiences about the trials and tribulations of working in Kenya as well as the incredible resourcefulness, patience, and optimism of the our hosts, Peter and volunteers of International Development Missions.

And so....a small group of SAIWI alumni are going back to see if we can finally complete this well! We depart from the US on January 9th....so stay tuned.