Stories of Transformation

She had been pumping the well for what seemed like an eternity, though it had only been a couple of minutes.  Men, women, and children were gathered around the new pump…waiting.  As the minutes went by the anticipation was building, community members were exchanging nervous glances and children were giggling in the background.  And then, suddenly and for the first time, fresh clean and clear water began springing from the mouth of the well!  This little spot of land in the rural village of Adoshe was suddenly transformed into a place of life-giving significance.  Women began exuding “Lulululululu”, men began smiling and slapping backs, and voices and hands were raised in praise to God shouting “Hallelujah”!  The excitement and joy over the new well was tangible and could be felt and seen in the joyous smiling and dancing all around!

Excitedly pumping the new well

A proud and grateful community member

This is just one scene that I got to experience this past week as we’ve been completing new wells outside of Yirgalem!  This was the first time I had the opportunity to be at a site as a new well was first completed and used, and it was certainly an amazing experience.  We know that clean water is important for health and easing the burden of poverty, but we often overlook the way that clean water transforms people’s attitudes and hearts.  Clean water truly brings a renewed hope for the future in the communities that we serve!

Another community that we completed a new well in this week is Gane Goro.  Two weeks ago I spent a few days in Gane Goro while Solomon was steadily working on installing the new pump.  While we were working there were lots of children from the community around, especially fascinated and amused by the presence of a tall blonde “ferenji” (Amharic word for foreigner)!  Most of the children, though shy at first, warmed up to me and by the end of the day were giggling and playing with me.  However, there was one small boy in Gane Goro who last week never came around to me.  He was extremely shy, wouldn’t smile at me, and any time I got anywhere near him he took off running in the other direction!

That was last week.  This week I visited Gane Goro again to visit the community and check on the newly completed well.  Many of the community members were gathered around the well, collecting water, and washing their hands and faces in the clean water.  Around the new well there was again a sense of joy and excitement.  Among the children playing in the water was the shy boy from the week before.  However, he was no longer the shy boy I had met the week before.  He was transformed.  He was running all around splashing in the water, smiling and giggling, and even ran up to me and smiled at me and let me shake his hand!  I’ve experienced this in other villages also.  The presence of clean water brings a sense of exuberance and joy that washes away shyness, inhibition, and reservation.  Water transforms people.

A transformed little boy

An overjoyed community member

Exuberant children by their new well

There are numerous other stories from this past week that I could share with you, but the overarching narrative points my heart to the same message.  Clean water brings transformation not only to people but to entire communities.  God longs to tangibly bring hope to his children who are locked in poverty.  I’ve been blessed this past week to get to witness God’s work of redemption and transformation through clean water.  I’m here to serve and to learn and I am so thankful for what God is allowing me to be a part of!

If you would be interested in financially supporting the work of Water is Life and my life in Ethiopia please check out my fundraising page here.

 

Blessings,

 

Two Weeks In

I’ve never been to Ethiopia this time of year.  There’s a first time for everything, and I’m already discovering new little treasures of this season!  Who knew that Ethiopia had a four week PLUM SEASON in January???  Awesome!  The dry season stands in stark contrast to the rainy seasons that I have experienced here in the summer and the fall.  As a Florida girl the concept of a “dry heat” is very foreign to me, but that’s what I’m getting acquainted with.  My first few days in country I was in Addis, where it is amazingly consistent temperature-wise year round.

Addis Ababa

The plums!

Most of the past two weeks I’ve been in the southern region, in and out of Awassa, where I will be for some time.  Down here we are on the verge of the Rift Valley, and it is dry and hot and DUSTY.  I’ve never seen so much dust!  And when I say seen, I also mean tasted and felt because the dust is everywhere!  It billows up from the road, invading your pores, your eyes, and your nose, and lightly covers vehicles, clothes, and bags.  Years from now, if I no longer live in Ethiopia, I know that I will carry with me many memories, names, relationships, and faces.  And now I also know that I will probably be dragging the red dust along with me too in the crevices of my backpack and luggage :)

I’ve been traveling the dusty roads to and from Yirgalem, a town about an hour’s drive from Awassa, quite a bit the past few weeks.  Right now WiLi is completing a series of 10 new wells outside of Yirgalem, in the Dale region, and that’s where I’ve jumped right in to work!  Ten boreholes have been completed already, and our Drill Team Manager Solomon is completing the pump installation and casing work on these wells.  Solomon, who I’m sure I’ve mentioned before, is an expert at what he does and has been drilling wells in Ethiopia for over 20 years.  Solomon is also a godly man with a gentle spirit and an uncompromising desire to serve poor communities in Ethiopia.  Solomon loves working in the communities, and that is where he is at his best!  I was with him for a few days last week and it was awesome to see him in his natural element, teaching the communities about how to maintain their well and at the same time investing in individual relationships with men in the communities.

Solomon teaching community members about the mechanical functioning of the pump

Solomon atop the tripod as the community helps install the pump

Showing how the rod works

My main priority in the coming weeks will be overseeing the completion of this well project in Dale.  We partner with the local government’s water bureau, with the Kale Heywot Church in regards to community mobilization and sanitation training, and directly with the communities to provide supplies and support.  With so many moving parts there are a lot of things to stay on top of!  It’s also my personal joy to be able to officially visit each community once the well is completed to assess the community, interview community members, and ensure that the well has been successfully handed over for community use.  The next few weeks will be busy and full as we work towards providing over 10,000 new people with life-changing clean water access!

These kids...

...will no longer be drinking from this.

So that’s the overview of the work that we have going on.  On a personal note, my first two weeks living in Ethiopia have been a whirlwind!  My emotions have run the gamut from joy, excitement, contentment, and fulfillment to fear, loneliness, worry, and doubt.  But if you know me too well, and yes this totally makes me sound crazy, for me that’s pretty normal :)  God is so good!  It’s a beautifully simple thing to now be able to say- “Yeah, I live here”.  It’s a game changer.  And for that I am so thankful and excited!  Living here, rather than coming for six or seven weeks at a time, changes the pace of my life, and I now have more time to dig into the work of Water is Life, solidly continue building relationships, and fulfill my role in our programs.

A few prayer requests before I go.  I’ve been sick the past few days (nasty stomach bug), so please pray for a full recovery of energy and strength over the weekend.  Pray for Solomon who is working around the clock to complete the new wells, that he would have strength and be encouraged.  A leader from the Mekane Yesus Church that we work with, Girma, lost his brother this past week so please pray for Girma and his family in this tough time.  As always, pray for the communities that we are privileged to step foot in, and that our presence and the presence of clean water in their community would encourage individual people to relationships with Jesus.