Site Features
International Missionary Fellowship - Steve and Faith Leach
Imagine never having water available at your home. No spigot to turn for drinking, washing hands, bathing etc. Then imagine getting a reliable, though limited source that with proper care will last a lifetime. You can see that it would be a huge, life changing blessing.
Cisterns not only change the lives of the recipients but the lives of our crew members. Here 4 of the 5 men that compose our cistern crew take a break from making the rain guttering that directs the water into the cisterns. Saul is holding the aluminum flashing the is used to make the gutttering. It is all made by hand on a homemade break.
Steel reinforcing bar (rebar) is included in the concrete pour giving the cistern the necessary strength to last a lifetime.
The rebar is pre bent to fit the precise dimensions of the cistern by heating with a welder.
The rebar is then taken to the construction site and placed inside a six inch deep form and wired in place on approximately one foot centers.
The form is filled with six inches of concrete, all of which is mixed by hand.
The concrete is allowed to harden overnight.
After the floor sets overnight the forms for the walls are placed and secured.
The walls are then poured, also 6 inches thick. All concrete is mixed by hand, it takes 20 batches to complete a cistern.
This photo shows a good view of the rain guttering, already in place. We make the brackets that hold the guttering in place. Leftover rebar is used along with flat steel in their fabrication.
The inside of the cistern is finished with a smooth coat of mortar.
After finishing the inside, forms are placed for the cover and the rebar is bent and tied together with wire.
Then other forms are placed on the top and concrete is poured, leaving a access hold for maintenance.
We had no idea when we built our first cistern in 2001 that God would bless and multiply this project so. We are privileged to continue in His work and do so by His grace.
The walk back from the local spring is steep and long.
A gallon of water weighs over 8 lbs so a 5 gallon bucket is more than 40 lbs. They are walking up a steep rock path with loose gravel. They probably do this at least daily.
Many children make this outing with no shoes.
Hauling water is a daily part of life for many children.
A cup of cold water for the glory of God.
Hospital Evangelique
provides medical and spiritual care to the more than 50,000 individuals and families of rural northwestern Haiti.
Cistern Project
helps with safe water sources by building and repairing cisterns in a country where less than 40 percent have clean, potable water.
Premature Infant Rescue
cares for low birth weight infants around the clock until they are strong enough, and their mothers are educated on how to meet the needs of their baby.
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