Crossway water for life was recently featured in the Boerne Star newspaper.
You can read the article here:
Boerne Star Water for Life article 062010
Or here is the content:
Water for Life crew taking drilling rig to Kenya
| CrossWay International’s new CrossWay Water For Life program is sending a water well drilling rig to Kenya for work in the eastern province of Kenya, where the need for clean water is critical. Shown while on the way to San Antonio to ship the rig are (from left) Fred Vandenbosch, CrossWay International board member; Bob Nicol, engineer; Dean R. Chollar, Jr., CEO and founder of the ministry; Robert Messier, CrossWay International general manager; and Merle Admire, driller. |
By Candace Velvin, Managing Editor
Published: Saturday, June 26, 2010 11:34 PM CDT
CrossWay International’s CrossWay Water for Life ministry is shipping a Hill Country water well drilling rig to Kenya to bring fresh, clean water to rural areas in that country’s impoverished eastern province.
Since the Boerne-based international ministry began the Water for Life ministry, volunteers have helped drill three wells in Sudan. According to ministry founder Dean R. Chollar, Jr., the work in Kenya will include areas near Nairobi and Mombasa.
When the equipment arrives in Mombasa in about a month to six weeks, the drilling team of Bob Nicol and Merle Admire will travel there to work with the ministry’s onsite manager and crew. An engineer with 32 years of general and specialized engineering experience, Nicol has overseen drilling operations for the three water wells in Sudan.
“We will drill the wells and open the door for Dean (Chollar) to come and preach,” Nicol said, adding the ministry’s service is the best form of outreach.
“We ask the local communities to provide accommodations for us in their homes,” Nicol said. “We will work together, live together and worship together.”
Chollar said he was in Kenya in April working with a church in Mombasa where CrossWay Water for Life drilled a well last year that now serves the church and surrounding community. Through CrossWay International, Chollar travels extensively throughout Europe, Asia, Eurasia, Central America, and South America. Commissioned as a missionary with Greater Europe Mission in 1984. His work expanded through Europe and he founded CrossWay International in 1997 in response to invitations to serve beyond Europe. The ministry was headquartered in San Antonio until 2005, then moved to Boerne.
According to the Crossway International website, www.gocrossway.org, the ministry uses both humanitarian aid and income-generating projects as platforms for spreading the gospel. Humanitarian aid includes care and feeding of orphans, drilling water wells and setting up water distribution systems, and establishing medical clinics. Income generating projects include English schools, Internet cafes, Christian resource centers, delivery services, the CrossWay Coffee Ministry, and farming and raising of livestock.
Nicol said pumps and other equipment for the wells are available in Kenya, including components for hand-operated and solar-powered units.
“We’re looking at some wind power, too,” Nicol said. “There’s a company in Nairobi where we can get windmill systems.”
So, it’s possible Hill Country-style windmills will dot Kenya hillsides in the future.
“Our motto is ‘Drill, baby drill,’” Chollar said.
