Port Town: Aquaponics

The aquaponics system here in Port Town is up and running! Our team installed the last few pieces of the system Tuesday morning and things have run rather smoothly. The system contains roughly 800 gallons of water housed in three IBC food totes that have been cut in half. All 800 gallons is cycled twice a day and is run off a $40-dollar air pump. The water is pumped to the farthest tank with a rake siphon and a long run of PVC. Then the water is siphoned back to the fish tank with manual U-shaped siphons, making a complete loop. The physics behind the system is rather amazing and ingenious.

It is rather surreal seeing this system take shape. All things have fallen into place with ease and the local brothers are very interested and willing to learn. They have grasped the concepts with little effort and are eager to teach each other. It was encouraging to see one of the brothers teach his small son how to us a U shape siphon to transfer water from tank to tank. Any teacher worth their salt will tell you this is a true sign of mastery.

The goal of this system is to grow fish and plants for the local community with the hopes of one day expanding. It has also become important for our friends here to be able to renew their visas under a new platform. Lord willing, this could possibly be an avenue for them. However, this is not the ultimate end. This garden has already become a ministry platform for the Gospel here in Port Town. Just this week we have been able to share with many brothers the Good News! 

Tuesday: Lunch Bible study

Steven led the men in Bible Study from Matthew 6. It is ironic that just last week, a couple of the men memorized Matthew 6:38, which was the focus of today’s lesson. “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all of these things will be added to you.” This led to several good questions but more importantly, it led to examples of devotions that arise out of the aquaponics project. Adam has stressed to the locals the importance of having good water. He described the water that is good as “gold.” As Jesus was approached by the woman at the well, He informed her that her water would cause her to thirst again but His water would leave you never thirst again. The water we have in the project would eventually evaporate but the real “gold” water was what Jesus provided.