Sharing Living Water
Imagine having to choose between drinking dirty, contaminated water or going thirsty. It may be difficult to believe, but for countless millions of people around the world, this is a daily dilemma.
“In America, we have cleaner water in our toilets than people in developing countries have to drink,” says Dayna Jordan, vice president of development at Water Missions International. “Our neighbors just drink from what they have, from a stream or a contaminated cistern.”
Water Missions International is a Charleston, S.C. based engineering relief and development organization aiming to provide for the water needs of those in developing countries and those in disaster areas.
The organization provides simple water purifying systems to communities and also trains a small group of those in the community to maintain the system.
“It’s a sermon without ever saying a word,” Jordan says.
That’s because drinking contaminated water is not just unsavory, it’s also a health risk. In fact, more than half of the world’s hospital beds are filled by a person suffering from waterborne illness, Jordan points out.
To combat that statistic, Water Missions has full-time staff in nine countries: Haiti, Honduras, Belize, Uganda, Kenya, Malawi, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Mexico.
They also responded to victims of Hurricane Katrina when it struck in 2005.
Most recently, after an earthquake and tsunami rocked the nation of Japan, Water Missions prepared to respond. Several water systems were ready to ship, but were stopped by the country’s regulations on the permitting process for drinking water.
The staff not only provides the people with literal water, but they also help them know about the Living Water.
“We hope to have not just lifetime results, but we pray to have an eternal impact with opening the door to learn about Jesus Christ,” Jordan says.
While the goal is the same in every country, the means of showing people the love of Christ is unique to each location, Jordan says.
In Honduras, for instance, the organization partnered with a local church and showed the Jesus film. Among the mostly Muslim populations of Sri Lanka and Indonesia, the staff shows love through their actions. In Kenya, partners of the organizations have planted churches.
The organization has had a staff in Haiti since 2007. When an earthquake rocked the nation in early 2010, they responded by sending more than 90 water treatment systems. Each of the systems is capable of providing clean water for a community of 3,000 people.
How you can help: Water Missions International has several ways for you to turn your faith into action by giving. Through its Thirst Quenchers program, you may donate monthly gifts of $50 or $25.
The organization’s website also includes a fundraising section with all the ins and outs of setting up a customized website to fundraise for Water Missions.
Another great way to help is to pray. Water Missions International offers a weekly newsletter called “Prayer Ripples” that includes prayer updates.
Learn more at www.watermissions.org.
