Below is a six-minute version of a documentary by Rose Anderson found on hubwitness.org about the water situation in El Salvador. The site has this to say:

While there is no shortage of water in El Salvador, almost 60% of the rural population has no access to a reliable water source, forcing women and girls to walk long distances and pay high prices to obtain water of dubious quality. In cities, water is almost never lacking in wealthy neighborhoods where pools are common, while in poor areas where water is available only a few hours a day or during the night, the price can reach 10% of a household's income.

The communities where ENLACE works are certainly not immune to these problems. In communities like Las Delicias on average residents pay 30% of their income to buy dirty water from water trucks during the six-month dry season. However, great strides are being made to bring clean water to the nearly 10,000 residents in the area (www.projectmilagro.com). 

Since 1993, ENLACE has already helped local churches and communities implement five water projects benefitting nearly 15,000 people. 

Just $50/month for 10 months or a gift of $500 will bring water to one household for generations to come. Donate now to project milagro and be part of the miracle!

In a year of global economic hardship, Project Milagro made considerable strides towards providing water for 10,000 people in the hills of Las Delicias, El Rosario, and Las Animas. As 2009 closed, stage four (of seven) was near completion in which the first 100 families will receive access to clean water! It has been quite a journey, and here are some of the miracles that brought us this far...

• Cornerstone Church (Simi Valley, CA) contributed a significant gift in February and provided the necessary funding to begin construction of the first pipeline of the project. 
• ANDA (the national water company) donated over 1 mile of piping and provided technical help for the installation. 
• Starting in March, over 80 people from the various communities worked on a daily basis to dig the piping by hand.  Within six weeks the piping was installed. (see video)
• The Orange County (CA) chapter of Engineers Without Borders helped fund, design and construct a large water tank in Maroquines (between Rosario and Las Delicias).   
• Willow Creek Community Church signed on to provide the filtration system (to be completed by March 2010) which will clean the water supply of iron and manganese. 
• The necessary infrastructure has been built at the well station. 
  • First pumps installed 
  • Electrical system installed 
  • First re-pumping tank constructed 
• A number of U.S. churches and organizations have come alongside the project this year including the following: 
  • San Diego First Baptist 
  • The Crossing (Costa Mesa, CA) see video
  • Crossroads Church (Temecula, CA) 
  • Meadowbrook Church (Champagne, IL) 
  • Foothill Christian Schools
  • Engineers Without Borders
  • Samurai Enterprises 
  • Vanguard University 
  • AJA Charitable Fund 
  • Cornerstone Church (Simi Valley, CA) 
  • Willow Creek Community Church 
• Approximately $250,000 was raised in 2009 from U.S. partners and individuals. 

LOOKING AHEAD

In 2010 there is still a huge hill to climb. In the coming weeks we will describe in more detail the goals for moving forward. We hope to raise at least the same dollar amount as 2009 and begin construction on stages five and six.  

God continues to perform miracles in the communities of Las Delicias. Please continue to pray for more miracles and for the protection and provision of all the incredible people in the three communities who press forward in their goal for clean water.

It's been a busy week for Project Milagro.  Here's what has transpired.

Community volunteers form a human chain to distribute concrete for the tank's foundation.Work continues on the second inline tank just outside the town of Rosario. The tank foundation pad was finished shortly after the Engineers Without Borders team left a few weeks ago. This team from southern California was instrumental in preparing the land to support the heavy structure of the tank.  

Several local cement companies proved less than helpful in providing concrete for this stage of theMaria Marina Lopez assists tank construction. project, implying that the tank site was too far away to profitably deliver the cement. This was not a minor setback. However ADSA and Miguel Durán stepped up with a swell of volunteer labor. Because the cement delivery was no longer an option, a portable cement mixer was used requiring manual distribution of the concrete. On Friday October 9, over 35 volunteers materialized to make the concrete work happen. Among them was longtime Milagro advocate Marina Lopez: once again volunteering, once again working right alongside the men at 64 years old.  

ENLACE's Paco Gonzalez supervised the slab and foundation steps very closely. He has rigorously conducted quality-control assessments throughout the process. Slump tests and variable-period cylinder tests assure that Rebombeo #2 will last for generations to come.