Water … by Jen Decker
December 11th, 2008
I asked my friend Jennifer to give me an article for my Wells for Life newsletter and here it is, in its entirety. If you are coming into this entry from the newsletter then scroll down to the paragraph with the big N.
Each day I mindlessly flush my toilet, wash my hands, wash dishes, and take my shower all while thinking about other stuff. Perhaps I think about my to-do list that day or a person I need to call or the blessings in my life. I don’t HAVE to think about water…it is a constant…it is always there for the taking. Can you imagine for 1 minute if you had to plan your day around water? Instead of mindlessly going about your life…each moment is now consumed by thoughts like…
- Which nearby town has well?
- I need to get Water for cooking and washing for the next 3 days which means I need to walk 10 miles and I have no shoes and that spot on my foot really hurts.
- The baby is sick, its 100 degrees and I know she needs water and I can’t carry her all that way and carry enough water back. So I’ll just get water here in the canal. Not knowing that this water is the very thing that is making her sick.
Water is life. I’ve heard this phrase many times but I now know that sometimes water is death. Death to a mother, who sacrifices her own well being by walking dangerous roads and paths to get water for her family, risking injury, attack or even rape. Death to a village when the water supply is full of disease. Death to the future of a child who has no access to education because his village lacks even have the infrastructure to provide water for its people.
These aren’t just dark-skinned people in a far off land who worship strange gods, eat strange foods and dress differently. These are moms and dads who want the best for their kids, just like us. These are children who dream of being doctors, nurses and teachers. These are call center workers who ride a bike into the city and work crazy hours talking to ungrateful Americans who can’t get their computer working, just so they can buy enough rice to feed their family. In fact, given some time, we might find that we that we are more alike than we were different.
Now imagine that one day a crew arrives with the priest or pastor (our ministry partner) and they talk to your village leader about putting in a well at no cost to you. The news spreads like wild fire. Everyone is talking. A few weeks later the crew is back and drilling the well getting it all ready. People gather around and watch with wide smiles in eager anticipation. That night as you are eating dinner on the dirt floor of your home your children ask questions about the well, how it works, and wonder if water will really come out of the ground. You, as parents smile at one another cautiously embracing the hope that you can provide a better life for your children. You finally get the news that the team will arrive to start the well on Tuesday sometime between 8 a.m. and Noon. You begin planning this historical day in your village keeping in mind that your children will remember this day for the rest of their lives.
The day is almost here, you and the kids could hardly sleep and you lie awake in your one room hut wondering what it will be like. Will they be white? Will they be kind? Will they be like the government who shows up, does their duty, and leaves? Will they appreciate our town? Will the children mind their manners? You can’t lie there any longer so you arise before the sun and begin putting out the best outfits you have for the children, though without water you haven’t been able to wash them properly. Your neighbors are also up; they too could not sleep due to the same excitement. Slowly the whole village makes their way to the “main” road (which is not likely to be found on any map). Never mind the fact that it is 7 a.m. and you were told that the team wouldn’t arrive until sometime between 8 a.m. and Noon, you want to be ready because it would be terrible for them to arrive and have no one there to welcome them.
It is now ten after noon, and you have waited all morning. You have answered the “Are they here yet?” question from the children at least 50 times. Then you hear a car, and shortly after you see it approaching. The men start beating their drums in celebration, the women prepare the spices for the blessing and the team is finally here. They get out of their cars and they are excited to see you too. They smile and greet each person with a wave and a kind touch or embrace. Together you walk through the village towards the well. There are drums, dancing and fireworks. This is an amazing day. They begin to pump, and finally gushing out of the spout is water. Pure, clean water. The children splash and you can’t stop smiling. You present the each person with the best you have, a coconut and a straw for milk, and a scarf for each person. Then the team shares a message of hope, salvation and love like you have never heard before. They speak of a living God and you listen knowing that it is THIS LOVE that sent water to your village and that with hope like this anything is possible.
I think Jen captured nicely the impact our water projects have from the perspective of a village mom. Thanks Jen!