I am sorry to be so late in letting everyone know what is going on with the well situation in Rwanda. As soon as I returned from my recent trip, we jumped right into the Christmas season and this is the first opportunity I have had to write. My prayer is that this blog will explain in detail the current status and future needs of our situation. We want TVM to be transparent and operate in integrity, even in the most difficult of times.
What follows is a recap of all the information we have thus far, so that all who have participated in supporting us in this area will understand where we are in the process. We do not believe that it is over and we are standing in faith that we will have a well. We believe that God’s hand is still very much on this project and that there is purpose in the challenges we are facing.
As most of you know, last spring our focus was on raising funds for a much needed borehole/well to be drilled on our property for our new facility and for the local community of 900+ people. We were blessed to have raised the needed funds in the amount of approximately $14,000 through our Gallons of Change drive.
In early July we traveled to Rwanda and signed the contract with African Drilling and Exploration (ADE) under the direction of the Water for Life Organization. With much excitement the equipment arrived to our property the following week with our team and Rwandan staff there to witness this blessing that was to take 3-4 days to complete.
To our disappointment, after 4 days of drilling, approximately 39 feet or 12 meters down, they ran into the beginning of some major setbacks. There was a very thick layer of volcanic rock and underneath was a pocket of air, followed by more volcanic rock. Twice, as they were drilling, the drilling rods went sideways into the air pocket and broke off, thus causing the first financial loss for ADE.
At that time, it was determined that more advanced equipment would be needed for this site and new equipment was ordered from India and Nairobi, Kenya. We were again assured that water was there and this would only be a slight delay of another month.
Unfortunately the new equipment took much longer than expected to arrive. During the delay, we were offered the return of our initial deposit of $5,029 by ADE. We continued to trust God that this was part of His plan and held fast to that promise. We told ADE that we would be patient and would wait for the new equipment to arrive.
I returned to Rwanda in November about the time that all of the new equipment finally arrived in Rwanda. In fact, two days before I arrived to Musanze, ADE had returned to resume drilling, with the confidence we would have water within a few days. It was determined it would be best to start a brand new borehole. The original borehole was capped off and they began a new borehole approximately 40 feet away from the first site.
I arrived in Musanze early on Saturday morning, November 13 with a promise from the owner of ADE that this was the day we would hit water. They continued drilling for several hours, adding several segments of drilling rods into what seemed like softer ground after about 45 meters. On the 11th segment, we were told that this would be the final pipe needed and we should witness water with the following attempt. To our disappointment, another 4 segments of drilling rods were added, drilling down to about 64 meters (or 210 feet). The last 4 segments went much faster than the first 10 but there was no water, not even a drop.
Sadly, what happened was they ran into a very large cavern, perhaps a volcanic tube of some sort and never hit bottom – basically empty space for the next 20 meters (66 feet). The head engineer then informed me that it was time to give up because of many complications.
It was a heartbreaking day for all. That is the only word I have to describe the overwhelming disappointment that was felt as I watched our ladies and staff digest the latest news.
On Monday morning, November 15, I returned to Kigali to meet with the owner of ADE to learn everything I could about why they felt they had to stop. The second attempt involved sending the iron casing down with the drilling rods. There was a 2 inch space between the casing and the outer drilling that was filling with volcanic rock which was pinning the drill rods within the borehole. Additionally, pressure from these rocks was breaking the weld points on the iron casing and the casing was getting stuck in the top section of the hole, while the bits continued to go further down. At 64 meters, they had not hit the bottom of the cavern with the drilling rods. At this point, they (ADE) were risking too much loss. A.) They risked losing their brand new drill rods with a value of $25,000 and 2.) They still would not be able to push the casings to the depth they needed to retrieve the water. As a result, TVM forfeited the deposit for a dry borehole, roughly $3,000.
What follows is a recap of all the information we have thus far, so that all who have participated in supporting us in this area will understand where we are in the process. We do not believe that it is over and we are standing in faith that we will have a well. We believe that God’s hand is still very much on this project and that there is purpose in the challenges we are facing.
As most of you know, last spring our focus was on raising funds for a much needed borehole/well to be drilled on our property for our new facility and for the local community of 900+ people. We were blessed to have raised the needed funds in the amount of approximately $14,000 through our Gallons of Change drive.
In early July we traveled to Rwanda and signed the contract with African Drilling and Exploration (ADE) under the direction of the Water for Life Organization. With much excitement the equipment arrived to our property the following week with our team and Rwandan staff there to witness this blessing that was to take 3-4 days to complete.
To our disappointment, after 4 days of drilling, approximately 39 feet or 12 meters down, they ran into the beginning of some major setbacks. There was a very thick layer of volcanic rock and underneath was a pocket of air, followed by more volcanic rock. Twice, as they were drilling, the drilling rods went sideways into the air pocket and broke off, thus causing the first financial loss for ADE.
At that time, it was determined that more advanced equipment would be needed for this site and new equipment was ordered from India and Nairobi, Kenya. We were again assured that water was there and this would only be a slight delay of another month.
Unfortunately the new equipment took much longer than expected to arrive. During the delay, we were offered the return of our initial deposit of $5,029 by ADE. We continued to trust God that this was part of His plan and held fast to that promise. We told ADE that we would be patient and would wait for the new equipment to arrive.
I returned to Rwanda in November about the time that all of the new equipment finally arrived in Rwanda. In fact, two days before I arrived to Musanze, ADE had returned to resume drilling, with the confidence we would have water within a few days. It was determined it would be best to start a brand new borehole. The original borehole was capped off and they began a new borehole approximately 40 feet away from the first site.
I arrived in Musanze early on Saturday morning, November 13 with a promise from the owner of ADE that this was the day we would hit water. They continued drilling for several hours, adding several segments of drilling rods into what seemed like softer ground after about 45 meters. On the 11th segment, we were told that this would be the final pipe needed and we should witness water with the following attempt. To our disappointment, another 4 segments of drilling rods were added, drilling down to about 64 meters (or 210 feet). The last 4 segments went much faster than the first 10 but there was no water, not even a drop.
Sadly, what happened was they ran into a very large cavern, perhaps a volcanic tube of some sort and never hit bottom – basically empty space for the next 20 meters (66 feet). The head engineer then informed me that it was time to give up because of many complications.
It was a heartbreaking day for all. That is the only word I have to describe the overwhelming disappointment that was felt as I watched our ladies and staff digest the latest news.
On Monday morning, November 15, I returned to Kigali to meet with the owner of ADE to learn everything I could about why they felt they had to stop. The second attempt involved sending the iron casing down with the drilling rods. There was a 2 inch space between the casing and the outer drilling that was filling with volcanic rock which was pinning the drill rods within the borehole. Additionally, pressure from these rocks was breaking the weld points on the iron casing and the casing was getting stuck in the top section of the hole, while the bits continued to go further down. At 64 meters, they had not hit the bottom of the cavern with the drilling rods. At this point, they (ADE) were risking too much loss. A.) They risked losing their brand new drill rods with a value of $25,000 and 2.) They still would not be able to push the casings to the depth they needed to retrieve the water. As a result, TVM forfeited the deposit for a dry borehole, roughly $3,000.
Earlier that morning, I questioned if I had truly heard from God regarding the need for a well. I kept asking God if I had misunderstood His direction. After my meeting with ADE, I truly understood their reasons for pulling out. I actually felt much compassion for them because I know they tried very hard and made every attempt to produce a well for our organization. When I left their office in Kigali, I somehow I had peace knowing that it was all going to be alright and that this was part of “God’s plan”.
That night, I was put in touch with a gentleman who is the East African Development Director for Living Water International (LWI). After a short conversation on the phone he invited me to bring the drilling logs from ADE and meet at his office along with the LWI Country Director in Kigali.
According to these two gentlemen ADE did everything they could in the attempt to drill our well. Basically, they said with the typography of our land, that there was not currently equipment available in Rwanda that would be powerful enough to drill through the volcanic rock to the depths needed. They estimated that it could be up to 150 meters before we actually hit water.
It was discouraging and comforting all at the same time. There is still hope. LWI is anticipating a large donation for a borehole well that needs to be drilled in Gisyeni, Rwanda. The terrain there is very volcanic – much like our land in Musanze. Gisyeni borders Congo at Goma where there was a huge volcano eruption in 2002. They told me that this donor is considering the purchase of some massive equipment needed for their borehole. If this happened, LWI could bring it to our land and begin drilling again at 64 meters where ADE left off. It is not a certainty that this equipment will be purchased but it is certainly something that LWI is praying for, as are we.
At present, LWI has sent our drilling logs to their geologist in Nairobi, Kenya for further review. I will post another blog as soon as we have more information regarding the report and once I have touched base with my two contacts at LWI.
We truly appreciate your prayers of hope and encouragement. I will continue to believe that God is bigger than all of this and that he can move this mountain.
Hebrews 11:1 Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.
Blessings,
Diana
