Connecting the Water Well Guys:

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My son called me up five years ago and told me to join an industry Facebook group called "The Water Well Guys."  He told me, "Dad, there is some great communication and sharing of drilling techniques and ideas.  But it's a ruff and tumble page.  Lots of aggression and swearing - but Dad, just hang in there.  You will learn a lot."

   I joined up and wow - yes - lots of negativity.  But the page was needed to hold suppliers and manufactures accountable.  Each of we drilling companies are basically our own little isolated "kingdoms".  The founder/administrator of our group told me that he started the group - now over 12,000 drillers - because he was angry at being lied to by suppliers who would tell him that the pump he just installed was the ONLY pump that had ever failed.  Now, when there are pump brands - or anything else that doesn't work - we all share our experiences,  and then we all know the truth. 

   A couple of weeks after I joined the group and made up my mind to simply watch and learn and keep out of the ruff and tumble of the name calling and worse, the Holy Spirit started to work in my heart and mind.  I got to the point that anytime I would try and pray, I could sense the Holy Spirit saying, "Hey knuckle-head, (I know, He speaks my language to get my attention.) I want you to write a weekly devotional about Me."  

    I didn't want to.  My peers could be vicious and mean.  I didn't want to open myself up to that kind of abuse.  I began to feel like Jonah being asked to go to Ninevah. The Water Well Guys group was my Ninevah. I even went to the little church that we were attending and asked them if I had to do this difficult thing - and of course they said yes!  I'm totally not into fish barf and ending up on a beach naked, and so . . . 

   I wrote a little devotional the next Sunday, with no planning, and just called it "It's Sunday."  And then I waited for the fall-out.  I couldn't believe that a number of the guys were approving and encouraging and asked me to continue.  And so I did.  

   That was five years ago, now.  Each Sunday I've written a devotional about Real Men, doing Real Work, serving a Real God!   I despise the bureaucracy of religion - we are supposed be "in relationship" with Jesus Christ!   I speak "drilling construction language" and simply want to encourage my industry with the love, the power and the might of my Living and Useful God.

   Water Well Drilling is like being in battle.  And in a war, there ain't no atheists in a foxhole.  Most are at least willing to give lip-service to God.  With ALL of the things that can - and do - go wrong in drilling, most drillers are willing to at least be respectful to things of Faith. 

   My son called me up a few months later and asked me, "Dad, do you know what has happened to the Water Well Guys group since you've been posting your Sunday devotionals?"  I told him I thought I has seen some change. He told me, "80% of the swearing, negativity and aggression is gone.  The guys are still men, but Dad, it's amazing." 

    I am honored and humbled that the Lord would take a nobody like me, and allow me to try to Connect with Everybody about THE SOMEBODY -  God.

   It's incredible and the joy of my life to see hard working men praying for each other during difficulties, thanking God publicly during the good times, and then watching many in our Water Well Guys Group trying ro honor God with their lives and behavior.  Who knew?  

Oh . . . God did.    

After serving God, and caring for my Bride, my primary passion is to "throw out the book" on how some conventional thing is done - like anything in drilling - and to build custom equipment that can do it better, faster, safer, and with less maintenance. 

   I've been innovating for all of the 36 years I was self-employed in the drilling business - and even now - I've got a fun project going that will change the way truck beds and their service boxes are built.  Think motorized waste high drawers . . . 

   For the past five years on the Water Well Guys page, I am only one of many who share that same passion.  And the entire Ground Water Industry is made up of many more, primarily men, who can't or don't show what effective, time saving things they have built.  Often they think of those things as "nothing things." But they need to be shared. 

   In March of 2022, I needed to take my Bride to find white sand and turquoise water - long story why. 😁  We decided to drive to Florida and make an adventure out of it.  I shared with the Water Well Guys group where we were headed and the trip became a Goldilocks tour of people's guest room beds. MOST of the 25 day 5000 mile trip, all along the way, and down to and including Key West, we were invited into the homes of the Water Well Guys - most of who I had never met face to face.  We had a magnificent time - made lifelong friends - even for my Bride who is an introvert.  😘.  

   We had to laugh.  We were graciously put up in tall beds, squeaky beds, low bunk beds, small beds, hard beds, soft beds, and much more.  Thus my Bride coined the name of that trip, "The Goldilocks tour of beds." 

   Beside having a lot of fun, AND finding the white sands and turquoise waters - thank you Bill & Janice Baldwin - we learned two things.  One very tough thing for me.  That is its own story, but God took away from me the desire to build another company for creating some specialty equipment that my son and I have talked about for 35 years.  And God gave me instead, the realization that I need to work full time in encouraging and Connecting  well drillers across the United States in their work and in their faith.

   But during that trip I did what I always do. I wrote about the people and companies we visited, shared that info with the group,  and the response was over-the-top!   And that is the opening I needed to be able to visit and Connect water well guys with each other - and IF they want - take their temperature in their faith and help them with their Eternal Retirement Plan. 

   My son and his partner stepped up and bought our business and added our Colorado business to their successful drilling and pump business in California and now they are running both businesses.   

This give us the income for Carla to retire and for me to Pivot - DO NOT used the R word on me. 😎 

I've got six months of trips across the nation loosely organized right now. A couple of the months my Bride with go with me.  The deal with the Water Well Guys is that I will come and visit for two to three days, they will put me up in their home - couch surfing if necessary - I will take my hard hat and boots and go and help them for the next few days, and then write a Spot-Light on what they and their business bring to the International Drilling Community.  IF during this time, they are willing to discuss and upgrade their lives in their faith in God - FANTASTIC.  I will bring great games for their kids for in the evenings. And powerful - and fun - movies for the family - if they want.

I've ready done one visit and wrote the Spot-Light and it was very well received.

1.  In the tough years in our business, there were times when Carla and I would weep together, then pray and ask God to give us strength to make it through.  If you are going through seriously tough times, I'd love to come along side of you and encourage you and pray for you. I will rearrange my schedule to help you.   

2.  Are you interested in my help with Casing Advance Drilling?  Either on site, or from an office presentation that I have prepared, or both?

3.  Would you like to see a presentation about the innovative methods I've used for years for capturing upper ground water or even spring water?   Infiltration Gallery Wells & Hybrid Wells.

4.  If you are new to the Pump Business, would you like to see the inventory list-concept of how to name parts and find them?  I developed this 25 years ago.  And yes, I've gotta a great story about this. 😋 Both my son and daughter took it and began to use it years ago in their respective businesses and it works! 

The BEST part of all of this is that YOU will teach me things that I don't know - that I'll be able to share and help someone else!  

(To be clear, I'm willing to help out for a couple of days at no cost to you.  However, if you determine that what I have shared with you is of value to you AND you can afford to surprise me with a "donation", so much the better. The Connector, LLC is a for profit business since my entrepreneurial spirit could not conceive of trying to run a non-profit. 😎  But the more income I have, the more I can help more of you guys across the nation.)  

In my travels  in 2024, I may also be available to take pictures of the  HVI's (Highly Valuable Items - that our lady folk call junk 😜) in the back yards of drillers businesses and offer them up for sale for you.  Or perhaps I could Connect you and your HVI up with another driller - or mission - who could use a donated piece of tooling or equipment. 

    And WATCH OUT if you are single and in the Ground Water  Industry. I'm willing to take some pictures of you, get some information about you, and see if I can find - Connect - you to your future husband or wife -  somewhere in our industry.  Connecting Kingdoms?  😁