First well dug for the people of Meto

February 2009, Meto, Kenya - While you are reading this article, the Maasai in Meto are about to drink clean, fresh water from their own local well. Located only 50 yards outside the village of Meto, the team of Water Man Drilling Africa dug a well 450 feet deep two weeks ago. After months of fundraising, Integrity Worldwide received enough funds to hire the well drilling company from Nairobi. Thank God, the heavy machinery made it all the way to Meto over dirt roads, through dry riverbeds, and the Kenyan bush. The day our 14-member mission team arrived in Meto, the drilling had already begun. Water samples were taken to make sure the water was clean and safe to drink.

Until today the people of Meto have never had a well or any clean water source. In the past the 16,000 people living in Meto - 2 hours away from power lines, paved roads, and water access - had to walk 15 miles to the closest water. Water from a pipeline. Dirty water, contaminated, not safe to drink. Women and children, in Africa responsible for the water supply, had to carry heavy containers filled with dirty water all the way from Tanzania. Sporadically, Tanzania sent water through a pipeline coming from the mountains, ending in Meto. Even the pipeline water was dirty.

Now, with their own well, the people of Meto finally have access to water that is clean, safe, fresh and right at their fingertips.

When the water shot out of the ground, the Maasai were gathered around the well. They couldn’t believe that there had been water right under their feet, all along. Even a herd of goats broke from their shepherd and started drinking the pooled water when it first came out.

The first phase of the well digging project has been completed. Water samples were taken – the results proved that the water is clean and drinkable. Now, the second phase of the well is in progress. A pump and a 100,000-liter water tank have to be installed and a pump house built. Also needed are a faucet and a livestock-watering trough. We are still trying to raise $13,000 needed to complete the Meto well project.

Ground breaking: 800 students soon to have a library

March 2009, Meto, Kenya – Meto has a population of 16,000 people; 10,000 of them are children. Unfortunately, Meto's school system for all these children is lacking in a lot of different areas. The smallest children only have an outdoor school under a tree. A one-room hut made out of sticks and mud is the school for 150 nursery school students. The only “real school building” with a few classrooms serves as a primary school. A secondary school doesn't exist yet, so most children that graduate from primary school have nowhere to go unless their parents can pay for boarding schools at least 2 hours away from Meto.

A chalkboard is all the smallest children have in their outdoor school. The nursery school students can at least enjoy a roof over their heads to protect them from the hot sun. Chalkboard and “posters” made out of old rice bags serve as learning material. That’s it. No books, no pencils, no paper. Just one teacher for 150 children, old rice bags with numbers and pictures stitched on them and some benches for the children to sit on. The primary school is facing similar problems. The government pays 10 teachers a very low salary, which is not enough to keep the teachers working full-time. While we were there, the teachers were on strike, and the school was closed.

Thanks to donors like you, we are able to help change the lives of the children, teachers, and the entire community. A year ago the people of Meto asked us to help them build a library. “Right now, 10 children have to share 1 book,” says the headmaster of the primary school who has been challenged by this problem for years. “The children can’t get educated without books, but the parents are not able to pay for more than the tuition and the children’s school uniforms.” With the library that is being build and hopefully finished in the near future, this will change immediately.

Several weeks ago, the people of Meto started building the Meg Truman Meto Children’s Library. The foundation is already laid. While there, we were part of a wonderful dedication ceremony that lasted for hours. More than 300 people joined us to celebrate the start of their future library. For many of us this was one of the greatest moments during our time in Meto, memories that will last a lifetime.

The children and their parents were extremely excited, excited because a library means more than having books during school. The Meg Truman Library will be a place for the children to spend time even after school. In their homes, little mud huts without windows or electricity, there is no light. There are no tables, chairs, or places to play or just hang out. Not to mention that there is no place for them to do their homework. With the library these children will have somewhere to do all of that. Not only will we provide books, but also pencils, paper, chairs, tables, and a place to read just for enjoyment. The Meg Truman Library will be a place for the children to call their own, learn, and grow.

Thanks to people like you, the children of Meto have a great future ahead of them!

700 families were helped in the fight against hunger and starvation

February 2009, Meto, Kenya - Droughts have left the people of Meto suffering during the last three years. The riverbeds are empty, the earth is dry, grass and trees are brown. Animals have been dying for years. Children are starving to death. Many children in Africa die because of malnutrition and lack of water. For the people of Meto this is every day life. Their herds have suffered from the droughts; animals couldn’t find food to eat; families have lost their only food supply.

“How can we help in an effective way” has been the question the Lord put on our hearts.To simply give food to children, families, and livestock would be an easy solution but not an effective one for the long-term. The Lord showed us that He wants the people of Meto to be self-sustaining, not dependent on us as their only food source. The decision was easy: we needed to supply them with resources like seed and water so they could plant and grow their own food. With the well being dug and the water supply secured, the perfect prerequisites were given to plant and grow seeds.

While there in February we handed out 5 tons of seeds to more than 700 families. People came from everywhere: entire families walked all the way from bordering Tanzania, some of them for 3 hours and more to receive a bag of rice seed, maize, beans, and split peas. A local, experienced in rice growing, helped by explaining the planting and growing process. Stacks of seed bags filled the little church in Meto Sunday morning. Just a few hours later, everything was handed out. 700 families left happy and excited about their future gardens. Even the timing was perfect with the growing season starting a week later - another example of God’s grace. Now, a few weeks later there should be little gardens all over the Meto area.

Not only did we give seeds for gardens to address the issues of malnutrition and hunger, but we also provided them with flour, sugar, and cooking oil: the basic ingredients for an African meal, enough for a mother to cook for her entire family for weeks.

Thanks to all of you that donated to our Seeds of Hope project, 700 families not only have food, but also a source for future food supply!

Thanks for caring!

“For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

1000 people received medical treatment and prayer

February 2009, Meto, Kenya - 2 hours away from paved roads, electricity, and a bigger city – that is Meto. A village in the middle of nowhere. A village without a doctor or any kind of medical help. A village with people that are in dire need of medical services.

During our two-week stay, our medical team of 2 doctors and 4 nurses set up medical clinics and a place for prayer in the local church. We brought $75,000 of medicine and medical supplies that helped more than 1000 people. Some of the people had never seen a doctor before. Others walked for hours from bordering Tanzania to get treatment and medicine.

Before we could even get to the medical clinics in the mornings, people from all over the place were already sitting in the dirt, waiting for our us. Waiting to be seen by a doctor, to get medicine, or to simply receive some prayer. Some of the people had life-threatening illnesses, but with just a little medicine our medical team was able to help them right away. Many of the younger children were successfully treated with antibiotics, life saving medicine that we often take for granted here in the US. It was incredible to see the same children a few days later, well and running around playing. It’s a great honor to be part of such a life changing, life saving ministry.

After being treated medically, each patient also received prayer. The Lord showed up and more than 30 people gave their lives to Jesus. It was amazing. What could be a better setting for medical clinics than a church?

Boston Butts For Water Fundraiser

SELMA, Alabama, August 2008 - In the hot sun of an early Saturday morning, our friends J.R. and Beverly Grace barbecued over 130 Boston Butts! The profits went to the Africa Water Project to help raise money for digging wells in Kenya! It was worth the effort - the butts were sold out within two hours!

The results: A $2,200 donation to the Africa Water Project and one step closer to digging wells for the Maasai!

Please, click on the pictures to see them enlarged.