Dean and Ronda Ekberg

Recently we have been asked about the kinds of wells we will be involved in when we begin the drilling phase of ministry.

Truthfully, one solution does not work in all circumstances when it comes to providing water to a community.  We anticipate the right solution for each community may be slightly different depending on their situation.

One thing that we are passionate about is the involvement of the area residents in a community water project.  Dean has often seen situations where mission and relief agencies may come into a community, provide a well, but not involve the people of the community.  In many cases, when the well no longer functions properly or becomes contaminated, there is no community ownership in the well and it is abandoned.  This same approach proves fruitless when it comes to sharing Christ.  If salvation comes and there is no discipleship, God can be easily cast aside.

During initial stages of this ministry we will be working closely with established churches , forming relationships and getting to know their needs.   Some may be in  need themselves while others  are preparing to send missionaries to neighboring tribes.  This water ministry is intended to enable Christians to reach out and point others to the one true God while helping meet their physical needs.

Hand Dug Well

The communities we serve will be a vital part of the process.  Dean has previously helped to establish “water committees” in each community where he worked. These committees establish ownership in each  project.  Christians and non-Christians have the opportunity  to work along side each other.

Water catchment system at a medical clinic

Many areas in this arid land have had so many years of drought that water catchment systems and shallow wells no longer provide enough water and often run dry.  Yet, these choices offer many benefits when they work.  Catchment systems and shallow hand dug wells are usually not complicated technically.  With just a small amount of training, maintenance  of these systems can usually  be completed by those using the water.  We will assist with this level of systems when it fully meets the needs of the community.

Another option that Dean can bring to the table is the drilling of shallow wells.  In this case a small drilling rig as described in the previous post will be utilized.  This option will be used if a good site is hydrogeologically available.  We anticipate that this will be a good option in some areas.  Those areas hardest hit by long term drought and upland areas usually cannot be serviced with this approach.

Option three would entail drilling deep wells (> 500 ft.).    With this option there will be one of two outcomes.  A typical deep drilled well  requires the use of a mechanical or electric pump.  A pump would move water from the underground water aquifer to the surface,  powered by either  hand pumping, solar panels, windmills, or a diesel generator.  This type of well will require the most training for the community and the most equipment for ongoing use, but it will provide adequate water for an area even during drought.   The second outcome of drilling a deep well depends on the presence of an artesian aquifer.  When Dean was in Zimbabwe he saw that the rift valley is underlain with a significant artesian aquifer.  That Rift Valley extends through Kenya also, and contains this  naturally pressurized artesian aquifer at depth.  When the aquifer is penetrated by a well, water automatically rises to the surface.  With this type of well there is no need for a pump.  A well head simply needs to be installed, equipped with an on/off valve to control the flow.  This type of well has the best of both worlds: low maintenance and a good long-term solution for a drought-striken area.  We should note that drilling this type of well requires a more complicated drilling process, but the results are well worth the effort.

Improved Spring

While we were in Kenya we saw clear evidence that there is a good artesian aquifer in this portion of the Rift Valley.  Several natural springs  have continued to flow during the years of drought.  When protected from animal, these springs have provided the only clean water source for an entire region.  In these types of areas Dean will work to ensure that these springs are properly protected and  improved.

We must end this post with more evidence of artesian water that brings a smile to Dean’s face.  While in the northern Kenyan region of Turkana, area residents described the most amazing ingenuity for getting good clean water.   Lake Turkana is a salty lake, but for years  residents have gotten in their boats and paddled to one particular spot on the lake.  They dip their jugs into the lake and have all of the fresh water that they need.  To a geologist this is amazing and a very rare occurrence.   On the floor of  that salt water lake, there is a fracture (or fault) in the earth.  This fracture  extends down to an artesian water aquifer.  The pressure from that aquifer is so great that the fresh water displaces the salty water, forming a line of springs that well up along the east side of the lake.  Praise God!  This reminds me of John 4:14, where Jesus tells the Samaritan woman that living water is like “a spring of water welling up to eternal life”.

We are so aware that “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it!”  (Psalm 24:1)  He places the water in the earth and HE has given Dean the wisdom to see where HE has placed it!  We are humbled to be part of this ministry and are looking forward to not just “GO”, but to “Come” and join God as he desires to expand his kingdom in Kenya.

Relationships can be powerful things.  Relationships have the power to encourage, discourage, bring comfort and share in excitement!  What a joy it has been to renew relationships with old friends and meet new people as we share about this water ministry.  It is amazing how God has orchestrated meetings and connections that we had not planned.  The past few weeks have been very encouraging.  We see that God is certainly moving us closer to Kenya each week.

We are so grateful for some recent outpouring of blessings to our family.  One of our  supporting couples has recently blessed us with a computer upgrade.  Our old one had many problems and no longer wanted to connect to the internet, making it hard for us to communicate via e-mail newsletters and posts here.  Words cannot say how grateful we are to receive such a blessing!

CMF has also announce the receipt of funds that are ear marked for a small drilling rig and a vehicle to pull it.  This  rig will be used by another man working alongside  CMF ministries in Kenya.  This rig will enable shallow wells to be drilled.  When we arrive it is anticipated that these will be under our care as we seek to find the best water solution for each area. This brings us to another topic… Will we only be involved in drilling deep wells?  We will answer that in the next post!

Truly this is God’s ministry.  We can not serve in this way if it were not for Him.  This outpouring of support is really a gift to God.  A form of worship sent to God.  We are simply conduits for God to care for His people in Kenya.  We are humbled by your belief in us and your willingness to serve God with us in this water ministry.

With many blessings

Dean and Ronda

It seems that these days are filled with increased feelings of urgency and the need to wait.  Recently we have seen an increase in news coverage for refugees escaping Somalia’s drought and arriving in Kenya where relief agencies are allowed to help those in need.  There is an urgency in our hearts as we hear and read articles of families broken apart due to the lack of water.  Men are losing their livelihood as their cattle die.  Their children are dying too.  People need to leave their homes and all that they know just to survive.  This is such a foreign concept to us.  It is easy to start whining when things break down here at home, but these are not life and death situations.  We are so blessed and often forget what blessings we have received.   We long to be in Kenya to aid in  drought relief.

God is increasing our desire to go, and is also increasing our opportunities to talk with others about this water ministry.  We trust in God’s timing knowing that He will provide and bring us to Kenya at exactly the right time.

Hebrews 12:2

… who for the joy set before him, endured the cross…

This verse has been running through my mind a lot lately.  In my ego centric way I thought God was telling me that going through difficult things is worth it and I should press on even when discouragement hit.   Lately whenever one thing gets accomplished it seems that two more things fall apart.  After two years with out a working dishwasher we finally replaced it as part of preparations to put our house on the market, but to make a long story short, we aren’t very good at plumbing!  We still have a small drip, that is currently dripping into a bowl.  During the tornado watch last Tuesday, we ventured into Dean’s basement office for safety.  Low and behold water damage on the ceiling from the leak in the dish washer!

Last week the dryer decided that it was done… Good thing we have a clothes line!  Only one of the lines broke under a full load of jeans!

One step forward, two steps back!

Back to my original thought…

Hebrews 12: 2

… who for the joy set before him, endured the cross …

Yesterday, I realized that what God was really telling me.

I AM THAT JOY!

Christ endured all that suffering so that He could have a relationship with me!

I am His JOY!

Jesus delights in me!

He loves me!

He does not want to be without me!

He died for me!

None of this is new to me, but I wept! I felt loved by God more than I had think I ever have in my life.

Oh, how often I live a life that is so centered on the small.  I try to return God’s love by doing things and serving Him.  In turn I want Him to do the same for me!  Blessing our plumbing efforts, keeping appliances working and keeping everything in order and moving at a steady pace of achievement, all in my timetable.  He simply wants me to be His JOY!

This is not just for me, but YOU ARE HIS JOY TOO!

He longs for a relationship with YOU!

He LOVES YOU!

HE DOES NOT WANT TO BE WITHOUT YOU!

HE DIED FOR YOU!

If  I truly believe that God loves me enough to endure the pain and suffering of the cross, simply because he is filled with JOY when he has a relationship with  me, I can trust HIM to take care of all of the details as we progress in following His call to Kenya!  – Even if the road is as bumpy and as full of pot holes as some Kenyan roads!

I  pray that you too will spend this Easter Week KNOWING THAT YOU ARE WORTH THE CROSS, BECAUSE OF THE JOY THAT YOU ARE TO JESUS!

Ronda

Those of you who know me know that I love to sew.  This is my current project.  It is a wedding present for my niece and her new husband.  O.K. so they got married on Aug. 7, 2010  and I am running a bit behind.  We did have a few things going on – a trip to Africa, jet lag, the holidays…

While we were in Kenya it was my joy to see all of the fabric prints and designs that reflect traditional Maasai culture.  While we were in Narok we were able to stop into a mercantile of sorts which sold cloth panels that are traditional garments for the Maasai people.

The plaid is traditionally used by men as an outer wrap and can easily be seen in the desert while they are tending their herds.

The other two more elaborate fabric panels are traditionally worn by women in a sort of cape fashion over plain cloth panels (in vibrant colors).

While shopping we saw several tailors who sold yardage as well as their sewing services.  Each shop was equipped with an old black Singer sewing machine, similar to the one my grandmother used.  The work space was  located on the sidewalk just outside their shop.  We saw several of them at work on the busy market day. 

We stopped at one of them and I purchased some yardage (or meter-age) that caught my eye!

I hope to create something with this fabric that will reflect both our past and our future!  We will be Americans in Kenya!  The potential and the possibilities are endless!

As we progress in the support raising phase of our ministry please pray that the potential and the possibilities  for abundant clean water in Kenya will become reality.

Following our trip in November, God led us to Psalm 65.  Please join us in praying for Kenya.

Psalm 65: 9-13

You care for the land and water it;

you enrich it abundantly.

The streams of God are filled with

water to provide the people with grain.

for so you have ordained it.

You drench its furrows                           

and level its ridges;

you soften it with showers

and bless its crops.

You crown the year with your bounty,

and your carts overflow with abundance.

The grasslands of the desert overflow;

the hills are clothed with gladness.

The meadows are covered with flocks

and the valleys are mantled with grain;

they shout for joy and sing.

We trust that you have all had a blessed Christmas!  We have arrived back home after visiting both sides of the family.  Due to a snow storm on Christmas Eve we did not get to travel for the traditional Swedish/Danish festivities at Dean’s folks house, but instead traveled Christmas morning to have a nice brunch with them.  We saw one set of  cousins for a short time before they went to their other grandparents home.  We were also able to sing Christmas carols with Dean’s brother’s family and two neighbor families in a barn complete with cows and hay.  It was a wonderful time to simply worship Christ and all that He has done for us!

Sunday brought continued celebration with Ronda’s family.  We attended church with Ronda’s mom,  and heard a wonderful sermon.  Pastor Mike Cole took us to Jeremiah 52:31-34.  In these verses Jehoiachin, King of Judah, was released after 36 years of captivity(by the Babylonians)  on the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth month.   It is amazing how that parallels the freedom that we celebrate on the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth month.  Our Savior came to redeem us, we are no longer imprisoned by the law, but with the arrival of Jesus we can now live in the Grace and forgiveness that only He can provide.

A few new animals showed up in our manger scene this year.  A leopard, giraffe, hippo, turtle and and elephant!  Several of these animals were purchased at the Maasai market,  which involved negotiating for a good price.  On our first full day in Kenya Ronda and the boys went to a traveling market where vendors spread out their wares on blankets and benches.  Dori Cazier would give us a target price to aim for and she let us try to work with  the vendor to settle on a price.  Isaac was especially skilled at negotiation, he made several good deals, on one occasion needing to walk away before a final price was agreed upon.

We made the most of Christmas Eve, after shoveling snow three times.  We continued the tradition of reading the Christmas story from Luke 2 as a family.  This is a tradition started by Dean’s dad.  Before presents can be unwrapped on Christmas Eve the family gathers to hear this story.  For many years we enjoyed the reenactment complete with Mary, Joseph, Jesus and the shepherds & sheep  when the cousins would dress up in old flannel shirts and the like.  Sadly, this reenactment is not something the jr. high aged cousins want to continue, so we will just have to bring out the old pictures with fond memories!

From our family to yours

May you have a blessed New Year!

We arrived home on November 15th and after a week recovering from jet lag, Thanksgiving festivities, and Dean’s mom’s 80th Birthday Bash, we are ready to resume “normal life.”  We have had an amazing month.  As we look back we have so much to be thankful for.  For many years our family has been drawn to missions.  Now the possibility of Dean serving in water ministries in Africa again looks like reality.  Thank you for your prayers and the support of our family as we seek to serve God in this way.

The first plane trip for Isaac & Joshua

On November 3rd, 2010 we flew out of O’Hare Airport outside of Chicago, Illinois and arrived 8 hours later in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.  Following a 3 hour layover and another 8 hour plane ride we arrived in Nairobi, Kenya.  The next 10 days were filled with excitement, surprise, and new experiences for our family.

Dean hit the ground running and made a quick transition to Kenyan time.  He flew north to the Turkana region and met Lynn Pottinger and Chad Harris, who are part of the CMF Turkana team.  He toured the current work that he had heard about from Gene Morden (Turkana Team member on furlough) and met many of the Kenyan nationals who multiply the efforts of the CMF missionaries.  Dean saw first hand what God was doing in expanding His kingdom in Kenya through the relief work.  The people of Turkana live in a very arid area, and have made some strides using shallow wells located near dry river beds.  They have used solar-powered well pumps to irrigate gardens.  They also work in literacy and health education.

Dean made a quick trip back to Nairobi to attend church with us and then took off south to the Kajiodo district which has also been plagued by drought.  He visited the government water offices in both districts to see what was currently being done in terms of water development, as well as gather as much information as possible on the groundwater resources of the area.  He asked questions of the local pastors and community leaders to better ascertain the water needs, as well as learn about the successes and failures of drilling water wells in the area.

While Dean was in Turkana and Kajiodo, Ronda and the boys were experiencing Nairobi and visiting schools.  In the future we will be based in Nairobi, as this is centrally located and is the commercial hub where he can obtain water well supplies.  After 9 years of homeschooling, Ronda is ready to turn over the educational reigns for Isaac and Joshua’s high school years.    They visited both West Nairobi School and Rossalyn Academy, which are wonderful Christian International schools based on the American School model.  The boys were excited to visit these schools and are looking forward to attending one of them when we move to Nairobi.  They spent time with the Cazier and Redford families learning about their daily lives as missionaries.  They visited the local Nakumatt (Kenyan version of Walmart) and other shops and activities available in this modern city.

Sukuma Wiki

They tasted local flavors and toured the Kazuri Bead factory and the Giraffe Orphanage.  Isaac and Joshua introduced the excitement of piggyback rides, bucking broncos, and pillow fights to the Redford’s children, and learned Swahili greetings at the Cazier’s home.

Kale/Corn meal dish

Joshua feeding a giraffe

Kazuri Bead factory

Our family was reunited, got repacked and then set out with Lynn and Dori Cazier towards the Maasai Mara to visit the Barron family, as well as clinics and spring improvement sites in the Narok area.  We stayed in housing at a medical clinic in Ndonyo Erinka, that was formerly used by CMF missionaries.  This clinic is in transition and will soon be turned over to national Christians.

The local Christian Church has already taken over several medical clinics in the Maasai area (south of Nairobi) which were started by CMF.  They independently coordinate local medical care and even facilitate short term trips for doctors and nurses from the United States.  Several clinics have implemented water catchments and treat rain water for their daily water needs, however the recent droughts have stressed these water sources.  The churches and clinics use Community Health Evangelism as they work with both individuals and groups.  This program creates opportunities to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ as they serve the physical needs of the people.

Indoor water treatment tank at a medical clinic

We (…OK just Ronda) were surprised at the Christian presence in Nairobi.  We encountered several missionaries working in various ministries, and attended a church that is attended predominantly by western missionaries and europeans.  We saw signs on buses and Matatus (Kenyan version of a taxi) that praise the name of Jesus.  CMF and other ministries work in Nairobi with the Urban Poor in and around the Kibera Slum where nearly 200,000 people live in a 2 1/2 square mile area.  However, as you venture outside of Nairobi, there is less evidence of western culture and fewer mission organizations working with the rural Kenyans.  We saw evidence of failed wells and met people who had to walk 4 to 5 miles every day to satisfy their household water needs,  we realized that God does have a job that He has uniquely equipped Dean to do.

Failed well near a medical clinic

What do we have to offer?

From the time Dean was a child he was drawn to rocks.  And after many years of schooling he still loves rocks!  Over the years, his understanding of the earth has helped Dean to worship God more.  And his understanding of how God designed the rocks has helped him to understand where the water flows and how best to get the water out of the ground.  Siting of water wells is one of the areas where he sees that he can make a significant impact.  Many relief agencies have tried to place wells near the clinics that will use the water.  In many cases these buildings are built on the tops of hills that are not the ideal places to drill for water.  We believe that by doing a hydrogeologic analysis of the area and by locating water wells near fracture zones, we can have better success at finding fresh water.

The second area he feels that he can have an impact for God is in relationships with the people at the government water offices, as well as with local leaders.  The recent droughts have created a desperate situation, especially in western Kenya in and around the Rift Valley.  The men at the water office in Lodwar in the Turkana region are at a loss in what to do.  They have 6 wells for the city, all but one has run dry.  Half of the town is allowed to access water in the morning and the other half has access in the evening.  Bathing and washing of clothes has to be done in the river, as the scarce water from the municipal well needs to be for drinking and cooking.  However, Dean was hopeful for the region as he saw several fresh water springs and “oases” in the desert that indicated that the majority of the area is underlain by a good artesian water aquifer that can be tapped into.  The city of Lodwar has a population of about 60,000 people, but is very remote (a 3 hour plane ride from Nairobi) .  This area does not get much attention from the government and only a few mission organizations are working in the region.

His final area of focus will be to find water solutions that will be sustainable.  Developing training for communities in the maintenance and ownership of their well will be essential for the benefit to be on-going to the community.  His previous experience has taught him that the proper balance of technology and training is key.  If no one understands how the well pump works, when it breaks down (and it will), the well is useless.  The added time, training, and planning is worth the investment.

We have the opportunity to join a team of committed believers in God, who wish to draw others to Christ by caring and investing in the lives of the people of Kenya.  CMF has had teams in Kenya for about 25 years.  They have a strong desire to ensure that the work that they have started would not stop if the team leaves the country.  CMF missionaries are working to write culturally appropriate curriculum for Maasai children, train pastors, equip churches and clinics to operate with the love of Christ as they strive to meet both the physical and spiritual needs of the Kenyan people.

Dean has always been a big picture man.  He sees the possibilities and how water can open the doors to the gospel.  He would love to get rigs in areas where the need is great.  He would love to train Christian men to run the drilling rigs and install and maintain the water pumps; and use this as an outreach to the remote areas of Kenya.  He would love to train men to do better well site geology.  He would like to see men move away from using “water witching” techniques.  He wants to train them in how God has created the water aquifers within the earth that can be tapped into and that by doing well-siting correctly they can avoid drilling a lot of dry holes.  He wants to work alongside Kenyan directors of mobilization and give them opportunities to start churches as they are better equipped to meet the physical needs of the Kenyan people.  Over the next year we hope to partner with people who will equip us to achieve these goals.  We cannot do it with out some significant prayer and financial support.  In the words of William Carey (pioneer missionary to India)  “We are willing to go, if you hold the ropes.”

Those words became so much more real to us as we visited with John Ole Keshe in the area of Ewasengaro south of Nairobi.  John serves as a coordinator of water ministries in the area where he lives.  He helps several clinics maintain their water catchment systems and watches over the maintenance of the springs that have been enhanced to provide fresh water to the area.  He has also been asssessing the areas in need of better water sources.  We were moved by his commitment to God and to his job.  He has a piece of property a distance from his current home.  He plans to build a new home for his family, but before he does that he wants to provide for the water needs of the community.  He hired a man to hand dig a well on his property that would be given to the community so that they would not have to walk 5 miles to the nearest fresh water source.  The well that was dug was dry.  Dean was able to survey the area and pick two spots that were better for a water well.

As we were standing by the dry hole, we saw the bucket rope that was used during the digging process, it was not adequate to help a man up quickly if he ran into trouble.  It was tied to a sapling, certainly not strong enough to hold a man’s weight.  We need a strong rope, and a strong anchor to keep us safe as we seek to help provide water for God’s people in Kenya.  Please pray that God would lead us to those rope holders!!!!

Where to begin?    …

The events of our lives over the past year have not been entirely unexpected, but life changing none the less.  It was just a year ago when Lynn and Dori Cazier came to our church and shared about their ministry in Kenya.  This meeting was the spring board that God used to launch Dean back into water ministry in Africa,  this time with a wife and two boys!  We are all excited to serve God in this way all the while knowing that at times this will be difficult.  Ultimately, we desire to be exactly where God wants us to be.

Dean’s journey in missions began as a single man.  Even though I have heard his testimony and call to missions many, many times, I am still amazed at how God has moved in his life and shaped him into the man that I am proud to be married to.

Dean served with the Southern Baptist International Mission Board for 10 years (1983-1993) in both volunteer and career capacities.  His official title was Water Resource Evangelist.  He served in Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Liberia, and Ghana drilling water wells in rural areas.  While on furlough he was asked to do water survey in Columbia (South America), but after that trip determined that he could not continue to work in such rural areas as a single man.  Dean settled back in the U.S. in Rockford near his family, and together with his father purchased a rock quarry to begin a new phase of his life.  Shortly after getting settled, Dean met me (Ronda) and after a whirlwind romance of 6 months, we were married (1994).

Our journey into missions began about 10 years ago.  Dean owned (with his dad) and operated a rock quarry near Rockford, Illinois and we were active members of Maywood Evangelical Free Church.  One Sunday during a sermon, God renewed Dean’s call into missions.  When Pastor Scott read from Matthew

I am not going to give you another sign, I’ve already given you the sign of Jonah”

Dean and I looked at each other knowing that God was indeed calling him to return to water ministry.  Two other couples in our church were also feeling led into full time ministry, and so Dean’s Aunt and Uncle, Millie & Darrel Carlson (former Free Church missionaries in Venezuela), began to mentor all three couples in the process.  The Faull’s are now medical missionaries in Honduras, and the Adams family is serving in Asia, working in Bible translation.

During this time we contacted three missions organizations about water ministry and none were equipped to handle the infrastructure that is required to drill wells in remote areas.  We looked into the Southern Baptist Mission Board, but were not eligible as we were not members of a Southern Baptist Church.  Two years passed before we determined that we should switch churches as a step of obedience to follow God’s leading into missions.  By 2005, we had submitted our application and met with Recruiters when life hit us pretty hard.  Southern Baptists extended their membership requirements for service making us ineligible for another year and during that year they had budget restrictions and were putting a halt to sending any new missionaries, Dean was hospitalized with severe blood clots,  we lost our daughter Hannah in a still birth after 35 weeks of pregnancy, and several difficulties with the business.   The past four years have been a time of healing for us.  We moved to Mahomet, Illinois just north of Champaign/Urbana,  Dean worked for the Illinois Geological Survey and did a short time in Oil and Gas Exploration and Development with a Christian man in Southern Illinois, before moving back toward his calling into missions.

In November, 2009 we met Lynn & Dori Cazier.   Events of their visit stirred in our hearts and we knew that God was leading us to CMF (Christian Missionary Fellowship) through them.  CMF as a sending agency  establishes a focus each year and for 2010 it was to be WATER.  The flood gates were thrown open so to speak.  In March, 2010 we attended CMFs Assessment Center and were accepted a Missionary Recruits,  We met three other great couples all headed for Africa.  God bonded our hearts together and it has been exciting to share this experience with them!  In June, we returned to Indianapolis for Support Raising Training.  During this time we were told that the Christian church in Kenya was asking for help with their long term water needs.  This seemed to be the most logical place to start!  We would be joining Lynn & Dori Cazier and the remainder of the team in Kenya.  We scheduled our vision trip, and have spent the remaining time making connections with people and churches to move toward full time service.  God has been GOOD!  He has stretched us and challenged us in was we did not anticipate.  I doubt He is done with that, but we are excited to walking with God through it all!

Thank you for walking this road with us!  Sharing and connecting with you during this journey is so vital.  We gain strength and encouragement from you as we follow God’s leading in our lives!
In the words of William Carey (Pioneer missionary to India)

“We are willing to go, as long as you are willing to hold the ropes!”

We need your prayers and financial support to press on toward this goal that God has called us to.  Your willingness to “hold the ropes”  make it possible for Dean to open doors to the Gospel of Jesus Christ through water ministry!