So someone has got to tell the real story of what happened to Mr. Jarred Griffin.  It was a warm morning in March a crew had gone out to drill and on the way had stopped to check out a model homestead.  Upon arrival we all noticed the two rather large windmills that soared over the property.  Upon further inspection my counterpart ,Jarred, noticed a small litter of kittens stuck at the very top of the windmill.  Being the brave soul he is he knew it was his right no his obligation no his duty as a human being and more importantly as a Christian to save these lost creatures from certian death.  He began his free climb with nothing more than a used match, and pair of dirty socks and his camera just because it happened to be in his hand at the moment of need.  Being a speedy climber he made such good time that he was able to stop half way up for a wonderful kodak moment.  After a few photos he continued on up making quick work for what would have taken a normal person three days.  Upon reaching the summit he summoned the fourteen kittens upon his back and prepared for a quick decent when he suddenly noticed out of the corner of his eye two eagle wasps heading straight for the two smallest kittens in this abnormally large litter.  In a true moment of selflessness while risking certian death Jarred “The Juggernaut” Griffin flung his right thumb directly in the path of the eagle wasps.  Upon contact with the stingers that rival most swordfish instant pain shot through Jarred “The Juggernauts” body, but in this time of need he felt no pain. Jarred believes that pain is a choice.  He immediately noticed that the other humans on the ground were also in danger.  Quickly Jarred top roped off the windmill and face first repelled down the tower with the kittens still clinging to his back.  Reaching the ground Jarred placed each kitten in an individual large blanket with warm milk.  He then attended to the humans which were in harms way for the eagle wasps had been making haste directly towards them the whole time.  He then engaged an intense stare down of the winged creature killing them all instantly.  True bliss filled the air as all of the other humans rushed up to the man who had saved their lives.  It was sure a sight the Jarred “the Juggernaut” Griffin saves the day again. 

Tune in next week to see what the Juggernaut has in store for us.  (No animal or Human was injured in the ordeal.  The only injury sustained was the right thumb of the Juggernaut ,which will never have arthritis,  and a large gash in the open palm.  Notice no animals or Humans were injured for the Juggernaut is simply of another kind.

-Merely a mortal-

So today was a good day we drilled again.  It was a lot slower we hit 38 meters.  We are into very hard clay that is very tough to drill through.  We broke three couplers but got it all fixed fairly quickly and were back at it.  Today was Mrs. Kathys B-Day and the custom here in Bolivia is basically the the person whoes B-Day it is hosts the party ha.  So we had twenty Bolivian women here when I got back from drilling and they all brought their kids and dogs.  It was great.  Jarred you will get a kick out of this.  When we first arrived at the Wallers we were pumped because they had gotten fans for us and our rooms here at there house.  It was great for the first two nights that me and Jarred used the one we had.  Well it was late afternoon and I was about to jump in the shower and was cleaning up my room a little.  NOTE – I was not wearing shoes – My fan was kinda in the way and so with my right hand I reached to move it slightly to the left.  Upon doing so I suddenly recieved one of the most painful and terrifying thing I had ever felt/experienced.  I immediately felt a sensation/pain take over the right side of my body and not release for about two or three seconds/ days my body recieved a nice Bolivian shock from the outlet.  I physically was able to release my grip because my feet lifted off the ground when I used my 44 inch vertical.  If not for my wonderful leaping ability I might not have been able to tell this story.  For the rest of the day and until the next morning I was able to feel a tingling sensation in the right side of my body.  It was amazing.  Bolivia runs on I dont know what this means but 220…The States uses 110 I beleive.  I have no data to back this up but you do the math and go stick two pennys in the socket for three seconds.  but really it hurt but everything is safe here…Mr. Terry is ready for bed maybe tommorrow.

-Addison-

Rachel and I left Santa Cruz last night around 6:30, an hour later than the scheduled departure time. That should have put us in La Paz around 10 or 1030 this morning. We arrived at the bus terminal after 130 pm this afternoon. Raise your hand if you want to know why…..
I was sleeping peacefully on the bus (a first) when I was awakened by swift swurving of the bus and supposedly a loud thud which I did not hear. The bus pulled off to the shoulder. A lady got off the bus and soon came back on and I heard the word vaca, which is cow. The passengers gathered that the bus had hit a cow and one by one they filed off the bus to see what had happened. The front right side of the bus looked terrible. I dont remember much of what was said, probably because I couldnt understand it. So, during the mayhem, I walked about a quarter of a mile back down the road along with a couple of Bolivians. There we found that our bus did not hit a cow; it hit TWO cows. The cows died along with the front right headlight and fender of the bus but no passengers were hurt. We stayed at the scene about an hour while the drivers debated on what to do, whether to go back 3 hours to Santa Cruz, head to La Paz, or wait there for another bus. They eventually decided to keeping driving with one headlight. Our crippled mode of tranportation stumbled along the road until we arrived in Coachabamba around 730 am where we changed buses. To all the motherly type, dont worry. This could have happened in Clay County. I would say it was an adventure but unless otherwise noted, I ask that the readers assume each day is an adventure.
Before that, as Addison was saying, we did some work with the Wallers in San Julian. They were extremely nice and hospitable. I had sweet tea there. More than that, I was fascinated by what they are doing in Bolivia and around the world. Water for All has drilled over 2,000 wells in 13 countries, each one costing little more than $100 as oppossed to $7,000-$12,000 it costs to drill a well in Bolivia. We got to see the model project of what a piece of land can look like if the local people use wells and windmills to supply water to their crops and cattle. Terry had asked me if I minded climbing one of the windmills to take pictures of the land. I said sure and began my ascent. I was at a point where I thought I could get decent pictures but I thought to myself, since Ive come this far, I might as well go to the top. That I did. Upon my arrival, I was greeted by a small swarm of black wasps the size of eagles. Subsequently, I was stung on the thumb twice and in my hurry to scurry down the windmill I received a nice cut on the palm of my hand. The pictures turned out well.

Addison rocked the well going 5 feet in 5 minutes by hand. I got his autograph.

– Jarred

(Sorry for spelling in advance) Hello sorry I have not posted in so long…I have been slacking while my counterpart is on the ball. Wow, a lot has happened in the past few days. Santa Cruz is amazing. We were there for one night as Jarred said and its was glorious with the AC and Frig. Ha…the three musketeers are split up now Rach and J-Money left this morning for Santa Cruz then La Paz then Ixiamas. I am still here with the Wallers who are some of the most amazing people I have ever met. Mr. Terry is the well drilling gladiator who I am learning from and just for an example on the two hour car ride from Santa Cruz I learned more than I knew previously. His wife Mrs. Kathy has made French fries and spaghetti so far….need I say more. They have adopted three little Bolivian girls. One lives back in the states along w

*edit* : Administrator’s note: Somehow half of Addison’s post was lost. We’re not sure why, but if you want to see the site of Water for All, please visit Water for All to see some examples of what Addison & Jarred are learning.

We arrived in Santa Cruz around 11:30 this morning. The bus ride was much smoother than the ride north towards Ixiamas. It is night and day difference from La Paz. The city itself is more modern looking and the people are mostly mestizo rather than indigeneous. Terry, the Baptist missionary (or as Tom says “mercenary”) has been extremely hospitable. He treated us to lunch today and we are staying the night in an apartment with the works. (That being hot showers, air conditioning, and a refrigerator). We even get to use a computer with normal keys. Example: I can actually push the @ button as opposed to alt+6+4 and @ comes on the screen) We will leave tomorrow morning for a town about 2 and a half hours away. We will go to church there tomorrow night and I am guessing begin with the wells Monday morning. It has been extremely interesting listening to Terry talk about the specific goals for Water for All, their origin, and missions in a more general context including the benefits local people receive by organizations focusing at starting from the bottom up rather than the top down. Today has been extremely educational for myself and I am looking forward to spending a few days here. – Jarred

Rachel, Addison, and I will be leaving for Santa Cruz tonight around 7 or 8 and should arrive there around 11 am tomorrow. From there, I believe we will be riding with the group from Texas another 2 and 1/2 hours to another town. For the next few days we will be receiving well drilling training with the goal of successfully installing a new well at the Internado and maybe after that at 2 Trees and ultimately in the future (after we have gone) needed communities around Ixiamas. Hopefully, this will be the beginning of a partnership between SIFAT and the Texas group, Water for All. – Jarred