Water changes everything!

It was an amazing day!

After the earthquake eight days before Christmas this last December 17th, it set off and intensified many issues already present in Vanuatu. Although many buildings were destroyed, surprisingly the villages did ok as far as their houses are concerned. The tin homes just went with the earthquake “waves”, and the partial cement partial bamboo homes also did ok. Some did collapse and everything looked like it had been through a blender, but the biggest issue has been WATER.

Massive land slides went down in many places blocking the rivers/water sources coming down from the mountains into the villages. Also any areas that did have water pipes under the ground (rare) were broken. In many of the places the water has been restored, but in others it has not.

Helen

Helen works here at the apartments all of us older missionaries live in. She’s a mother of 6, grandmother of 10, is the hardest worker I’ve ever met and would do anything for anyone! Learning about her situation, her family is one that has not had water since December! She has been getting water from our apartment complex and transporting it in little bottles on a bus to her village an hour away for the last 7 months.

There is so much we take for granted back home. I don’t think I’ve ever thought about where my water is coming from when I cook, wash dishes, take a shower, use the bathroom, water outside, clean, etc. Water is just a part of life and has always been available in our culture. Last Saturday with 12 men from the village we were able to put in a water well so they never have to worry about water again. It was probably in the top two best days of our mission in Vanuatu.

Helens first shower with running water on her land.

Her grandkids bathing and having fun in the water.

A few men from the village had dug water wells in the past, but Joe was able to teach them a better way to help the community and build a well that will last many decades longer with water that is much cleaner. To see Helens face when the pump was turned on and the water started flowing… from the pump as well as her eyes was incredible.

Helens face when she saw the water for the first time.

Along with this project, we continue to be busy with our missionary housing responsibilities as well as opening new homes. The number of missionaries in this mission has increased to 190. That is A LOT of logistics in a place where everything is pretty complicated. 

We were needing to find a new property for missionaries to live in on the island of Efate (where we live). Post earthquake finding anything to rent is extremely difficult. The Saturday before we drove around for two hours looking and had a few leads but nothing came of it. The next Saturday we thought, ok we will just go for 30 minutes and see if we can find something. We stopped at this one place and Joe was talking to some people and the next thing I know, two ladies are getting in the back of the truck and Joe and this man are getting inside the cab.

The owners of the home we found for the missionaries

They had a house they wanted to show us so off we went. The house actually ended up being perfect and we were able to negotiate a deal. It has a “real” shower and toilet, but no water inside the house. They will do dishes in big bowls outside on a table in the front of the house next to a water tap. Oh how our perspective of what “perfect” means has changed. Ha ha. It is up the mountain in the middle of their teaching area and will save them about 2 hours of walking a day. A miracle find for sure.

I still teach institute on Wednesday nights on Zoom which I enjoy and is an interesting experience. It is a college program that Pathway has started for missionaries who only have 6 months left on their missions and an institue class is part of it. Especially for those who are from Africa and other islands… It gives them an opportunity to start their education and have a clear career plan before completing their mission and going back to their country.

Yesterday we had a baptism for four people at the ocean. I have to say, it is super cool to experience the transformative event out there in the beautiful waters of Vanuatu. 

Water is one of the most powerful resources. The literal benefits of water are tangible and immediate. Washing, drinking, using it for cooking, cleaning things… We see and feel the benefits and it is a normal part of life. When we don’t have it, it’s awful. Post earthquake when we lost water for 5 days, that was all we could think about. The symbolism of water in the scriptures is clear. 

“Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him will never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” John 4:14 “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.” John 7:37 … and many more references in all books of scripture.

While the drinking and other uses of water is life, it also represents all that is restorative to our heart and mind in the context of all meaning. The reference of “Living waters” refers to the restorative power of the connection to the gospel and specifically Jesus Christ. We continue to be grateful to our Savior and the strengthening power of our covenants with him as we focus on what we can do and push forward here in this land.

We love and miss you all,

The Kwans

They dug 9 feet down, put a layer of rocks and then this blue barrell was put in the hole so that the water went almost to the top of it.

 

The "journey of a 1000 holes"... Joe drilled all of the holes. The water needs to go slowly inside filtering through the rocks outside of the barrel.

We needed to wash the coral rocks so that all the sand would not go into the water source. I think they thought we were kind of crazy, ha ha.

After the barrel was submerged, a big white pipe was put in the center.

Then the coral rocks were put in around the sides of the barrel in the water.

Thick plastic went over the top, then about 5 inches of cement was added. 

Then the dirt was filled back into the hole.

Connecting the pump

We were all SO happy!!

Birthday pickleball. So fun!

Went to dinner on my birthday with some missionary friends. It was a fun birthday!