Quick Update on SXP Project

We really enjoyed having the Knox ProCorps team in Sequixpur this past week.  A few highlights:

• Julio, our water technician, built two beautiful concrete tanks for the system in the two weeks prior to the team coming.  He was able to demonstrate just how much he has learned in the past year and a half.  
• We installed over 6 km (3.7 miles) of pipe in 4 days, 30 new services to homes and laid the groundwork for being able to supply good water to two or three more communities.  We also replaced valves in parts of their existing system, teaching the water committee how to maintain their own system in the future.
• We cooked and ate at the house of the president of the water committee (Don Juan).  The last night we were there, Juan's family invited us into their home to enjoy a meal of black beans, rice and platenos.  We had a wonderful time enjoying our food in the simplicity of one of the homes in the valley.
• Katy, the kids and I camped for two days with the team in the valley.  Despite the rain and the very primitive "facilities" we had a really good time with the people of Sequixpur and the team.  Drew had an especially good time, radio in hand, harassing all the guys he knew on the team.  
• Katy really enjoyed spending time with Cata, Michelle, Ginger and Kena.

Julio working on one of his pressure break tanks.  The tank is 1 meter square.

The team + a few locals.  Don Juan is the man middle-right with the brown shirt.  He was a very gracious host.  The other two Mayan men on the right are Ricardo and Ricardo, both members of the water committee and very active in everything we did with the project.  Team included (from left to right): Craig Parker, Michelle Maddox, Bruce Giles, Zac Helton, Jonathan Cummings, Gary Massey, Cata (Nina's sister), Edwin Deyton, Kena & Ryan Hyers, Troy Wedekind, Andy Jackson, John King, John Powers, Tim Tucker and Ginger Colvett (not in picture).

Organizing all of our materials in the Bodega (storage building).

Tim Tucker and John Powers with new friends in the valley.  In many instances the local men began to do all the pipe gluing and fitting.  It was fun to see them taking ownership of their new system.

Bruce Giles and Ryan Hyer with new friends.  Ricardo from the water committee on the left.

Edwin Deyton, Zac Helton and Jonathan Cummings showing off their strength after completing work on one of the tanks.

We will give some more details and add more pictures when we have more time and better internet.

Thanks for your prayers, we really appreciate it.

Mark