Jose y Juana Maria

José Atupaña is one of our key national helpers, having built dozens of concrete tanks and spring collection structures. One wonderful skill he has is speaking both Spanish and Quichua, helping us bridge cultural and language gaps in order to get our job done!

José became a Christian at a church service at the age of seven, but as a teen drifted from this relationship with God. When he began serving with us five years ago, the work encouraged him in his faith.

¨My life has changed drastically since I started helping with water projects,¨ he shared. ¨Bruce disciples us and I am now a serious Christ follower. I´m learning so much about building water systems and helping rural people. My family and I practice better health habits, so we are much healthier.¨

He was so eager to join our team in those first days that he even offered to work without pay!

José and his wife, Juana Maria married 13 years ago and live in the Quichua Indian community of La Merced, a half hour´s walk from the Pan American highway in Chimborazo Province. Juana Maria cares for children in a government preschool in their community and for their three children, Luis Miguel, 12, José Abed, 8, and Joselin, 5.

We are so glad to have him on our team!