|
Trip To The Aral Sea 2003 Page 2 |
||
|
The Village of Kulanda was a fishing center on the Aral Sea. Most of the people in the town were fishermen. Now the edge of the Aral Sea lies 35 kilometers away. The sea was fed by two rivers one of which was used so much for irrigation of cotton crops that it literally dried up and no longer reached the Aral Sea. The water is used in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan has little recourse. So the Sea Continues to shrink. A small northern part of the lake has been diked to hold the water that flows in from the second river from within Kazakhstan. This lake is growing and the fishing industry is reviving on a much smaller scale. |
||
|
|
|
|
|
The town has 4 artesian wells that used to be used for drinking water. Now the water is so salty that it is only fit for the camels, sheep, and horses. It was amazing to us that these wells have no valves. They have poured out precious water for over 70 years! The water forms shallow pools where the animals drink and it is evaporated. |
We suggested building sand filters so the water could be drank by people and putting valves on the wells to conserve the water for future generations. The response (typical for former Communists) was that that was a great idea but they needed someone to come in and do it for them! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
When the evil in men's hearts is allowed to run unchecked by their government or even in cooperation with it, you find ecological (and other) kinds of disasters. The Bible tells us that our hearts are dead like this seabed, enslaved to sin, not even seeking God. We are like this boat that was made for the water but has no desire or ability to follow after it. The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved. Just as God will one day restore the earth to the way it was when He created it, your heart can have a relationship with God again through faith. This land is groaning to God for restoration. What about your heart? |
|
|
