What is a 1942 GMC military truck drilling rig with an Oregon company's name on it doing at an Adventist school in rural Guatemala? It is drilling wells for International Children's Care. The drilling project is a result of the providence of God and the efforts of several dedicated families in the Upper Columbia Conference.
International Children's Care is a non-profit organization started by Ken and Alcyon Fleck of Vancouver, Wash. ICC operates orphanages in 17 countries and several primary and secondary schools. The largest secondary school ICC operates in Guatemala is near Poptun. That facility consists of Los Pinos, an elementary school for about 160 children, and Instituto de Capacitacion Adventista del Peten, a secondary school with nearly 350 students. About 700 students, staff and their families live on the ICC campus.
This well-drilling project culminates a four-year effort to solve a serious water problem. The river water, on which the people had depended for many years, became contaminated. Many efforts were made and a lot of money was spent to solve this problem, but they all failed. So the Bartholomew family of Spokane sought help from their fellow tradesmen in the well-drilling industry.
God inspired people to be generous, and a well-maintained drilling rig, tools, pumps and equipment were donated to ICC. The rig was transported to Houston, placed on a ship to Guatemala and moved miraculously through the Guatemala customs process. Day after day God's leading was evident.
From January to March 2005, several members of the Bartholomew family, Glen and Michelle Frachiseur and their daughter Holly, and Tim and Annette Rasmussen traveled to Guatemala to help with this project. By the grace of God, there are now three wells on the ICC campus, producing 150 gallons of clean water per minute. For the first time in many years, the children of Los Pinos and ICAP can drink water from the faucets without fear of illness.
The Guatemala Well Project has plans to drill wells for the people in nearby villages, where they can make friends and share the gospel. For more information, contact Gary Bartholomew at (509) 466-5075.
Gary and Rod Bartholomew and Donaldo Lopez work on the well.
The rig is set up and ready to begin drilling a well at Los Pinos, a process that would take several weeks.
The drilling rig, mounted on a 1942 army truck, finally ended its journey from the Northwest to Los Pinos in Guatemala.
Boys from the Instituto de Capacitacion Adventista Del Peten, a secondary school campus, bury one of the four-inch water lines.
Glenn Frachiseur and Donaldo Lopez help drill a well.
