A Plumbing Puzzle

I was recently invited to help out a friend and fellow missionary in Honduras, Paul Hosier, with a water project.  Paul is with Baptist Medical and Dental Missions International, BMDMI, and had recently received three large Sawyer water filters to replace the chlorinating filters he had been using.  Knowing that I use a Sawyer for our drinking water, he thought I could help out.

As we turned off the pavement of the main road to the dirt road, Paul told me that this is the most dangerous community in the area!  I'm left thinking, "Now he tells me!"  Actually, I think I said as much to him.  What does it mean to be in the most dangerous community when you're in a country recognized for having the highest murder rate in the world?  (see my previous post: "What Does That Sign Mean?" which discusses this issue)

Well, both Paul and I already know the facts of Honduras and have decided to stay which may be in part because of the dark realities that exist here.  The filter we would be installing would provide clean water for the school and the larger community.  Adults and kids alike suffer the sicknesses dirty water brings and so this is a real and needed help.

More importantly, we are working as emissaries in the name and for the person of Jesus - who is the living water!

Paul had invited me because he knew I was familiar with the Sawyer filter but there was a little difference between what we use and what he wanted to install.  The photo above is one we were to install - it's a big filter in the center surrounded by five valves to make three different paths with the tubing running about four feet from side to side

There was one more issue Paul shared, because the area was so dangerous and even known for stealing from the school (just a bit unusual), he wanted the $800 filter to be safely packed away in a secure box with all the valves outside.  So, look at the picture above and mentally pull that central filter out and put all the valves on one side but obviously maintaining the flow design.  Tricky - I like it!  That's why I called this post a "Plumbing Puzzle".

Here's the system we use.  Just a little simpler design.  Put the dirty water in the bucket, the water flows through the little black filter into a clean container and that's it!  We have been using this filter a couple times a week for the past three years for all our drinking and cooking water.

Here's the building on the school property housing the water tanks where we need to hook up the filter.  The first day of work we didn't really get much done, as we had to assess the job, do some prep and then go out and buy materials.

Love this shot with the little guy watching on, hands clasps perhaps praying either thanking God for the new clean water to drink, or for me that the silly 'gringo' doesn't cut his hand off and gross everyone out!

Fist things first, building out the box against the wall to house the filter!

Here's a great set of photos showing how the day went with one of us working and... well, one of us was working... I'm sure the call or txt or game was really important!

Here's photographic proof that Paul is a born supervisor.  Look at that poise and he doesn't even need to look down at what I'm doing!  Pure talent!

I'm ribbing Paul a little in this post, but let me tell you what it's like to working a couple days with another missionary from another organization... great!  Being men and working on a hard project, we kidded around - very fun.

We also spent most of our time sharing story after story after story of God's goodness, God's provision, God's blessings, just God, God, God!!  It was great!  Remember, we're in the most dangerous community in the area, we're physically working to share the love of Jesus and we're proclaiming the goodness of the Lord, shining His light right in the middle of the darkness!  What a blessing!

After building the open frame of the box I'm drilling the holes for the tubing to pass in and out.

Ellen and Kelly came on the second day of work and with all those school kids around we had what looked like a spontaneous mini-VBS!  They were teaching them games and fun songs about Jesus!!

The kids really really really had a good time!

ALL the 'kids' were having fun!!!

Job complete!!  It was a very long hard day and it was great!!

This is the final product.  The expensive filter is nicely tucked away and someone would have to rip through pressure treated 2"x6" to get to it.  Also, it's not particularly obvious what is in the box.  Just like the old adage, "Out of sight, out of mind".

"But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never thirst again; 

but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water 

springing up to eternal life."  John 4:14