>>> May 2010

Where Oh Where Have Our Trucks Gone?

Several weeks ago, while drilling in the northwestern province of Vakaga, Central African Republic, two of our drill team support trucks were commandeered by rebel soldiers. The rebels were on the run, fleeing from the pursuit of government troops after a skirmish near Biaro. After many pleas for the return of the trucks, we have thus far come no closer to their recovery. The last report we've heard is that the trucks were being repainted and up for sale in the Darfur region of Sudan. Word has it that the landcruiser (red truck pictured below) has been pretty well scavenged for parts. The loss of these vehicles has put a severe damper on our ability to stay on task during this busy drilling season.

Spirits Run High nonetheless among our central African staff. While the drill team was taking a break to rest and spend time with their families, the garage shop guys have been working feverishly at the Berberati base camp to retool a couple of old trucks we had on hand (one of them pictured left, being fitted with a new bed). The drill team will take these refurbished trucks, along with a fresh batch of supplies, back up into the region and resume their work. They are eager to get back to finish the drilling projects scheduled for that area.

And the Blessings Follow. It wasn’t long after the news of the stolen trucks went out, that many of the friends and supporters of ICDI began to send in their prayers and offers of assistance. A contractor from Warsaw, IN sent funds to cover the cost to fly the drill team home since they were stuck without transportation. Several people inquired what kind of trucks would be needed to replace our loss. News was just received last week that a family in Hanover, PA had just participated in an equipment auction in Texas and was able to purchase six good used Mack six-wheel-drive trucks! These would be the same type of heavy-duty truck that was used recently to build “Faithful & True”, ICDI’s new custom-built drill rig (which is being heavily used as you read this, drilling in the western part of CAR!). Jim will be in Houston next week for some meetings and will get a chance to see the trucks first hand. Stay tuned for pics!

But We’re Not Out of the Woods Yet. These new trucks will be outfitted for ICDI service in Africa over the next couple months. The folks at Hanover Pavers will see to a complete bumper-to-bumper overhaul of these trucks over these next few months. One of the trucks will be used for parts to refurbish four of the trucks into solid drill team support vehicles and one into a drill rig to be christened “Emmanuel”. The challenge to the rest of us who support ICDI will be to raise the funds needed to ship these to Africa once they are outfitted. At nearly $25K each for shipping, customs & import and registration, this is no small challenge! Given how we’ve been blessed thus far no one doubts this whole ordeal which started out as huge setback has been for the greater good! We have truly recognized a sense that what some men meant for evil does in no way have to define our determination to persevere. If you’d like to be a part of this effort mark your gifts to ICDI as "Ship Those Trucks." Your support can be sent by mail to ICDI, PO Box 247, Winona Lake IN 46590 or online at www.icdinternational.org

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