Kimberly Taylor: Water is Freedom
With Stage 2 beginning it's rollout here in Dallas, it's a breath of fresh air to see people again! My parents come into town tomorrow to help me with my apartment move. There'll be a lot of changes this month which has helped me reflect on the good things this last season brought. My roommate (who I hope ends up reading this) was really just a gift from God. I am going to miss her tremendously!
As my role has changed the last few months, I wanted to share a story of how the Lord is using this new initiative to impact people's lives. The Clean Water Peer to Peer initiative provides 500+ people safe, clean water by drilling a well. After the well is dug, our Christian national partners hold a special dedication cermony. At the ceremony, they show the Jesus film and explain why it is they want to love and care for this community.
Amanda DeWitt, a story writer for Unto, shares how a recent well changed life for an entire village in Chad... See the original story here.
“Water is freedom to life,” says Maysa, a wife and mother in the African nation of Chad.
“Before we had a water well in our village, there were only two things we could do,” she said. “We could walk 7 kilometers (4.5 miles) to try to get clean water in another village and carry it back. Or we could drink dirty water if we could find it in the hills.”
As a result many people in her village experienced illness due to dirty water — diarrhea, stomach pain, skin diseases.
But that all changed when Unto™ and our local partners worked with drillers to drill a well in her village. “It is truly amazing. We have a source of clean water, a very abundant source,” Maysa says.
Not only do people have safe, clean water. But they also have more time in their day. “We don’t have to walk for hours every day to find water anymore.” Maysa says.
This tangible act expressed the kindness of Jesus to a village in need. “I think this gift of water is God’s love. He gave us something important that we need for life … Our village is filled with joy now. We are so thankful.”
Today people in Maysa’s village enjoy safe, clean water daily. They have also learned about Jesus and His living water. And because they have tasted His goodness, they cannot wait to share it with others.
“For a long time, I did not know about Jesus,” Maysa says. “But now my husband and I both know Him. We believe that Jesus has provided this clean water to our people. Now we want to share about Him with others in our village.”
A Gift to Give Away
Jesus first introduces the concept of Living Water when talking with an unnamed, Samaritan woman (John 4:4-42). She had come to the town well in the heat of the day to draw water. Jesus struck up a conversation, first about drawing water and then quickly moved to the spiritual correlation.
Amazed at Jesus’ insight into her life — the things that had marked, made, and scarred her — she rushed back into town. She told the people all about Jesus, and they rushed out to see Him too. Many people responded to His eternal hope because, like Maysa, this unnamed woman could not help but share what Jesus had done for her.
Prayer and Praise
Things are beginning to open back up in Texas. I was able to go into the office this week and resume some regular activities. Several of our partnering countries have expressed a desire to have an Unto team come this fall. My Grandpa Taylor passed away this month. It was difficult to be stuck in another state and not be able to hold a funeral. However, my family can rejoice because we know he is with his Savior!As support raised staff, a bad economy can be a big hinderance. With so many friends and family loosing jobs, everyone is a little uncertain what the future holds. However, I've been blessed to see not only a steady continuation of partnerships, but several special gifts come in as well! Thank you everyone for your partnership with me in this ministry!
