Today is the anniversary of Aliento Ministry. It is a day worth celebrating, and I can’t wait to show you how we do it around here! But first, let me share our monthly update. Be sure to read all the way to the end to see the exciting day we had!
Well in Quiché
In our last update, I shared that the well we drilled for another ministry in Quiché was dry, and that Maudilio and Wilson would be returning to drill a second well. At first, everything seemed to be going smoothly—until it wasn’t.
At 93 meters (out of the planned 100), they experienced an accident and nearly lost their equipment down the hole. Thankfully, they were able to recover it, but some of the equipment was damaged in the process. They had to pause the project and return home to get replacement parts, planning to go back a day or two later to finish the final seven meters.
However, when they returned, they discovered that the well had collapsed during their absence. They were essentially forced to start over from scratch and drill a third time.
This was incredibly discouraging for everyone involved—the guys working long days in the field and us, the families back home waiting for them to return safely. Despite the discouragement, they continued. After another week of work, they finally reached the desired depth of 100 meters.
Even then, there was uncertainty. Right at 100 meters, they encountered some type of underground cavity that absorbed all the water being produced. Because of the size and depth of the hole, there was little that could be done to fix it. They cased the well, came home, and we all began praying that what they did would be enough to close it and allow the well to retain its water.
On Monday, the guys traveled back to Quiché to test the water source.
And praise God—there is water!
They ran the well for more than three hours, and the flow remained steady the entire time. To say that Maudilio and Wilson are happy would be a huge understatement! Not only are they relieved, but so there are so many families and individuals who will benefit from this well.
We are so thankful that after months of planning, hard work, setbacks, and prayers, this project is finally complete. Throughout the process, Maudilio gained valuable experience and learned a tremendous amount, which will be a blessing for future projects as well.
Personally, there isn’t much new to report other than the finishing of the well, and honestly, I think that’s a blessing. Things have remained fairly steady for us, and sometimes it’s nice when life is a little boring for a while.
Construction
The dining room is really starting to come together! It will still be some time before we can use it, but for the first time, it truly feels like the finish line is in sight.
This is especially encouraging because the rainy season has begun, making it much more difficult to feed people outside. Most days the rain holds off until after lunch, but recently we’ve had a few storms arrive earlier.
One day, it started pouring right at noon—just as we were serving food. Everyone had to squeeze into our small kitchen to eat. It was crowded, hot, and there was barely room to move, but we made it work for the day. Long-term, however, that’s simply not sustainable.
We are more than ready for a large covered space where we can serve meals regardless of the weather.
Once the dining room is completed, we’ll begin work on the second level, which will house our office space and library. The good news is that construction should move much more quickly since the foundation is already in place.
Since our last update, we also created an Amazon wishlist for our future library. A few books have already been purchased, and we are incredibly grateful! However, there are still many more needed.
If reading and education are close to your heart, would you consider helping us build this library? These books have the potential to make a lasting impact on the children of Aceituno and their futures.
Here is the wishlist if you’d like to help. After clicking on the link, you can then click “Aliento” to find the list of books.
Water Project
Things continue to run smoothly with the water project—in fact, it’s growing faster than ever!
Demand for water continues to increase, and we’re having trouble keeping up with production. I have been working on implementing better systems to help us stay organized and operate more efficiently.
On Saturday, Maudilio and Daniel will return to install a new system in the production center that will allow us to fill water bags and 5-gallon jugs simultaneously. This has been one of the biggest bottlenecks in our process, so we’re excited to see how much more efficient this improvement will make us.
Feeding Program
Today is a very special day for us.
Today marks seven years of Aliento!
It’s hard to believe that I (Taryn) have now spent one-fourth of my life serving in this community. Every year feels like a milestone, and every year we see God continue to grow this ministry in ways we never imagined.
We feel incredibly blessed not only to serve through this ministry but also to be part of this community. Our relationships continue to deepen, our vision continues to expand, and our excitement for the future continues to grow.
We marked the occasion by sharing cake with everyone and handing out candy. What better way to celebrate than with a little extra sweetness?
We know we say this often, but it truly feels like this is going to be a significant year. We are seeing progress in so many areas, implementing important changes, and experiencing growth across the ministry.
We are excited to continue walking alongside God as He moves and works in Aceituno.
Here are a few comparison photos showing the growth we’ve seen in just one year!
Thank you for being part of this ministry and support team. Thank you for faithfully reading these updates, for encouraging us, and for praying for us.
Your prayers mean more than we can express. They sustain us through the daily challenges, changes, and uncertainties that come with ministry.
Please continue praying that God would give us wisdom, patience, and joy in every circumstance, and that we would remain faithful to whatever He places before us.
Until next month!
