Geneva church helps to bring clean water to Guatemalans
A small village on the west coast of Guatemala will have some pure drinking water soon, thanks to six members of Fox Valley Presbyterian Church in Geneva.
Those six -- Scott Fintzen, Jack Lilley, Cindy Peterson, Sam Hill, Julie Olney and Linda Strong -- left Tuesday for a weeklong trip to El Rosario in Champerico, Guatemala as part of the Living Waters of the World program.
"Last year was the first time we got involved in this mission project through Presbyterian Church-USA," said Bart Roush, an associate pastor at the church. "We went to Mississippi to get trained for the mission."
Roush said the team of volunteers will train residents of that village on how to install and maintain a water purification system that can purify 300 gallons at a time.
"It is a small purification system, but it is perfect for schools, churches, health clinics and places like that, because in many places in poorer nations the big issue is lack of clean water," Roush said.
Roush said the village that the Fox Valley Presbyterian team will visit has a well, but it is contaminated.
"Three of us already have visited there and surveyed the site before the trainers will arrive," Roush added. "And we will follow up with a visit next year to make sure everything is working properly.
"They have to know how to care for clean water."
For more park: The River Park, just east of the heart of Geneva's downtown, might be one of those "best kept secrets" projects because this nice setting has the potential to get much better.
Folks interested in a meeting about expansion of the River Park should show up at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Geneva city hall.
Supporters of River Park, located on the west bank of the Fox River along River Lane, are excited about the prospect of expanding the location to the south to "Garden Club Park."
This area has lots of potential, and anyone who has not stopped by should do so. It's easy to pick up on the vision these planners have -- that an expanded park will become a popular spot tied in with the river, area restaurants and walking paths.
Some old pix: You have to be courageous to pull out a photo of yourself from elementary school and actually send it to someone to use for an upcoming reunion celebration.
Anyone who attended St. Peter Catholic School in Geneva is being asked to do just that -- find mementos and photos and send them to the school as part of activities related to its 50th anniversary.
The schools also needs to know how to contact alumni -- so send your contact information to the school by e-mail at spsgen@voyager.net or by fax at (630) 208-5681.
Information is available by calling Principal Ross Bubolz at (630) 232-0476.
Bring on the fish: All-you-can-eat fish fries are nice during Lent, but even a fish sandwich will do. I'll give in to fast food for fish filets at McDonald's or Burger King, and friends tell me that Wendy's also has a good one these days.
dheun@sbcglobal.net