Drill Well for Monastery

Missionary Plan of Cooperation 2020
Dear Friends,
Jesus be Joy in you! My name is Fr. John Hansen, SMP. I am a member of The Society of Our Mother of Peace and the Major Superior of the Sons of Our Mother of Peace. I write to you concerning a considerably basic need: WATER. I was stationed at our newest Solitude (Monastery), Mary, Cause of Our Joy, in Edo State, Nigeria from August through early December 2019. We have a community of eight Religious Brothers who aspire to the Holy Priesthood, one Religious Brother, and one Priest living at this monastery. It was a real blessing, inspiration, and joy to be with this community dedicated to our way of life. The giftedness of our way of life revolves around three main ingredients for identification and union with Christ: 1.) a contemplative dimension of six hours daily for solitary prayer (communion with God); 2.) an apostolic dimension of outreach to help others to grow in a living relationship with Jesus and His Church; and 3.) by embracing a materially simple life that Christ may be our true Treasure! (May I also mention that we have no set income as a Community but live by donations and, thus, by God’s Providence.) About halfway through my stay, our six-year-old, hand-dug well collapsed. That ended our own supply of water for the community. I have come knocking at your door to place this basic and essential need before you for your consideration and help. Since then the community must pay for water to be brought in by a water truck to fill our water tanks; the price of which has gone up over the months. Our Brothers are doing their best to be sparing in their use of the water during this time. We want to have a more permanent drilled well that will last, God willing, for years to come. The cost for this project is estimated at $10,000 plus another $1000+ to move the water tank stanchion to the highest location on our property. That will allow the water to flow to all our buildings by way of gravity. In whatever way you can assist our community of Religious to once again have their own supply of water, we are deeply grateful and be assured that you and your intentions will be lifted up to the Lord in our prayers and thankful hearts! Yours in our Jesus and Mary, Fr. John Hansen, SMP