Friends In Action Intl. (FIA), a local nonprofit headquartered in Middletown, has provided volunteers with opportunities to utilize their trade skills in remote, off-the-grid regions of the world. Currently at work on 10 projects in six countries, FIA uses construction projects as a platform to assist missionaries who want to share the Gospel with unreached people groups.
Although COVID-19 travel restrictions resulted in many canceled trips in 2020, FIA volunteers were able to travel to West Africa in February of this year. The team consisted of three mechanics, three welders, a team leader, and a field host. They met up with in-country missionaries to develop a base camp of operations for FIA's Water of Life ministry, which drills wells to provide thousands of Africans with clean drinking water.
FIA had recently completed drilling efforts in Burkina Faso and relocated this ministry to a different region in West Africa. "Jihadist activity in Burkina created governmental restrictions preventing us from ministering away from the city," said Jeremy (last name withheld), FIA's field leader on the project. "We relocated to a region that provides access to those with the highest degree of need both physically and spiritually."
Jeremy and his family relocated to this field in October 2020 to be on-site representatives and full-time workers on the project. Hosting the volunteer team recently and facilitating its work helped to accelerate FIA's readiness to deliver wells and serve its ministry partners.
Andy Bachert, an expert welder from Elizabethtown, was among the volunteers on the recent trip. He noted that the group's journey to Africa went smoothly, although due to the pandemic, participants had to wear masks and provide proof that they had tested negative for COVID-19.
At their work site, the mechanics serviced every piece of equipment and all the vehicles necessary for the well-drilling ventures. Rob Donley, a mechanic from Lebanon, noted that the relocation trip from Burkina Faso had been rough on the equipment. "There's not a lot of infrastructure. Most of the equipment was off-roaded over dry and rocky fields, so every piece of equipment needed servicing," Donley said.
The team diagnosed chronic equipment issues, determined future equipment designs and upgrades in light of available materials and supplies, and developed strategic plans for future support of the project from a mechanical and technical perspective.
While the mechanics were servicing the equipment, the welding team undertook the construction of a 60-by-40-foot steel frame shelter using low-cost materials.
Since beginning its drilling efforts on the Ivory Coast in 2002, FIA has provided clean water for more than 150,000 Africans. In addition to the well-drilling efforts, FIA completes projects to assist missionaries such as the construction of homes, airstrips, schools, and clinics.
"There's so much we can do to create positive change," said Bachert.
Pending the easement of travel restrictions, teams are slated for trips to Bolivia in April and Nicaragua this summer. Projects in countries still inaccessible due to COVID restrictions can be financially supported to continue efforts through national workers. Several volunteer opportunities are available locally at FIA's headquarters in Middletown, such as grounds development, packing shipping containers, building and maintenance projects, website design, administrative support, and creative content writing. Readers can learn more about FIA's projects at http://www.fiaintl.org or express interest by emailing fia-usa@fiaintl.org.
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