"Dr. Bob"

I have been asked to describe the second phase of this fact finding trip to West Africa. As you have undoubtedly been told, World Vision USA arranged the trip in coordination with World Vision Mali and World Vision Ghana. The Ghana portion was primarily to visit and learn about the water procurement process and the other programs that World Vision has developed and organized that supplement the Water Development Programs.
I am a retired cardiac surgeon who is a member of the board of a North Dakota based organization called Wellspring of the World. The main function of Wellspring is to encourage donation of funds to be used to "purchase" wells in Ghana. We were aware of the importance of clean, safe water to families in Ghana for health preservation. We wanted to witness first-hand the process of drilling bore hole wells. I must admit that I did not expect the emotional and spiritual impact of witnessing this often complicated and time consuming process in deciding where to drill a well, prepare and maintaining it and developing the many ancillary programs which improve health, nutrition and the livelihoods of the people of the villages who benefit from the programs of World Vision.
Several important observations -
The people who work for World Vision Ghana are all Africans, most from Ghana. They are amazingly competent, well trained and loving people who could easily make many times the salary they receive from World Vision.
The staff understand the importance of including the people of the villages, not just the village leadership but also the women who traditionally have been ignored, to help decide about well placement and care.
The decision about the well drilling site, of course, must take into account the probability of successfully striking a long term producing water aquifer. This is determined by a team of University trained hydrologists and geologists who use three separate scientific techniques to establish the highest probability of success. Of course, it must be near enough to most of the village households to make it likely that it will be of use. In addition, there is a program of maintenance and protection of the new water source. This is a function of a committee of villagers who are trained to protect the new well and develop a fund to buy parts (usually at reduced cost through World Vision). This gives the village people a sense ownership in the well that is the key to its long term maintenance.
All this detail is probably more than you want to read, but the sight we experienced that I will not forget was the unadulterated joy of the villagers when the well drill entered the aquifer they were hoping for and water gushed forth. The women were dancing and the men shouting. The drill team celebrated by "baptizing" the new hydrologist on the team.
The start of the actual drilling is always preceded by the entire well drilling team joining hands around the well site with the villagers present to pray for God's guidance and protection. This is a clear testimony to the Lord's role in this process.
There is much more I could say, but I will end by saying that I came away from Ghana with deep conviction that it is a worthwhile, God honoring program that is providing new life to thousands of people in Ghana and many other developing countries throughout the world. It is certainly worthy of our investment of time and money. Robert Agnew, MD