WATER

Yesterday I witnessed one of my favorite moments in Kenya so far. I saw a community who has never, EVER had a fresh water source fill jugs from the new well near their homes. The women are used to traveling hours each day just to get to the nearest water source--a murky river. I arrived just a few minutes before the pump was started and water began flowing from where it was being pumped from several hundred meters below. A crowd had gathered from the surrounding villages, water containers in tow, just hoping that today would be the day they would have fresh water in their community.

I waited with the women and children as a group of guys tried to get the pump started (they ended up getting it started with the car battery!). We heard the pump start and then waited in anticipation--several days in a row before the pump didn't start, then it had started but water didn't come. 

Then there it was! Clear water burst from the pipe and container after container was filled. Women and children raced back to their homes and brought others with containers to fill. 

Steve, to my right in the picture below, works with AfricaHope facilitating our food and water program. He's teaching farming methods and working on a total of 22 water projects in our ministry division. He's been working long hours lately on these wells because of the drought--not only him but several of our staff. This particular well project began about a year ago and was completed yesterday--the first of the 22. AfricaHope coordinates the project but actually connects the funding of the government with areas of needs and then trains the communities (by putting together committees) to care for their new water source. 

Why did I get to witness such an amazing event? I don't know, but I feel blessed. I think it is the Lord showing me more of why I'm here... and that it is so worth it. My prayer is that just as my Masai friends waited in anticipation for the water, ran toward it and then had containers filled to overflowing, their hearts and ours would long for Jesus, the Living Water who alone is able to satisfy our souls. The drought is still bad here, but at least one community is suffering less. Join us in rejoicing!!