By Jody Norwood

Tribune-Courier News Editor

jnorwood@tribunecourier.com

BENTON– Rainy winter weather and injuries haven’t been able to stop two Michigan women with their goal of providing clean drinking water in Haiti. Last week, after being delayed in Princeton for nearly a month, Brandy and Ashley Nelsey were back on the road, and passing through Marshall County.

The sisters, 23 and 21, set out from West Branch, Mich., Sept. 11 with five horses and their dog Tae. Their goal is to help Agape Community Church of the Nazarene raise about $15,000 to construct three wells in Haiti. Each well would bring clean drinking water to 2,000 Haitians.

Last week, their trek brought them to Marshall County.

“It’s been a blessed trip,” said Brandy by phone. “Kentucky is so beautiful.”

The Nesley sisters stayed with Ricky and Ginger Boatwright Wednesday while their horses were stabled at Terry and Debbie Anderson’s farm.

The stop came after an unexpected stay in Princeton.

“We had a weather delay,” Nesley said. “We stayed in Princeton about three weeks. My riding horse, Prince, ruptured his tendon so he had to stay behind.”

Another of Brandy’s horses, Febero, also had injuries from the trip, but healed after the rest.

Nelsey said injuries to the horses and rain delays slowed the trip, but generosity helped the sisters get back on the trail again. Wednesday, they stayed overnight in Marshall County before getting back on the road for Calloway County via U.S. Hwy. 641.

Since leaving their Michigan homes, the two have tried to make between 15 to 20 miles progress each day. They hope by the time they reach Houston, Texas, they will have helped the Agape Community Church of the Nazarene raise their goal of $15,000. The effort is part of the national Haiti Water Project undertaken by the Church of the Nazarene.

For more information, or to help donate to the water project, visit online at http://horsebackforhaiti.jimdo.com.

The jounrey can also be followed online through the Horseback for Haiti Facebook page.