Imagine if instead of indoor plumbing, this was how you gathered all the daily water that you need.
Kangure’s Water
David’s 5th and Final Blog from East Africa
Dear Friends,
On our final day in Africa, Diane Scott and I traveled by car for a little over an hour outside of Nairobi to the village of Kangure. There, one of our Kenyan micro-bankers, a church-planter named David Gaita, has planted one of his churches. It is named, Emmanuel Joy Glorious Fellowship Church, and when we arrived, some of the saints were waiting for us.
Their greatest need is safe water, and Diane spent about 45 minutes questioning them about their current water sources and the consequent problems they are having. And then we hiked (or better, slipped and slid) down a steep trail into a valley to take a look at one of their water sources for ourselves. We were shocked by what we saw. The photo above tells the story.
After that, we hiked up and out of that valley, and slipped and slid down into another steep trail to look at their second water source. Neither water source replenishes itself fast enough to keep up with demand, and during dry seasons, they run dry, forcing villagers to walk much greater distances for their daily water needs.
Climbing out of both valleys was challenging, but the people of Kangure do it with 5-gallon jerry cans strapped to their backs. That adds 42 pounds of weight. And many do it multiple times per day in order to water their gardens and animals. Small children carry one gallon at a time.
Diane directs Heaven’s Family’s Safe Water Ministry. Her first step in helping the people of Kangure will be to order a hydrological study to see what is feasible. We’re hoping for a pump well on the church property. If you’d like to thank God for your safe, clean, running water, a great way to do that is to give to our Safe Water Ministry. Your gift will benefit the saints of Kangure, and Jesus will say to you one day, “I was thirsty, and you gave Me a drink.” Just click here.
Thanks so much for joining me, Becky, Diane and Mel on our journey to DR Congo, Rwanda and Kenya. I’ve only shared snippets of our two weeks here, as there is just too much to tell.
Below are a few photos from today and a few others from the trip that I’ve not yet shared, with captions.
David Servant
Founder and President, Heaven’s Family
Diane talking to some the saints of Kangure about their water problems
Pastor and church-planter David Gaitha. Take note that Sunday morning’s service is three hours, typical in Africa
This is how clothing is washed in Kangure, using the water from the muddy water hole in the top photo
Our old friends, missionaries-of-whom-the-world-is-not-worthy, David and Cynthia Taylor, who live in Nakuru, Kenya and whose ministry is multi-faceted. Among other projects, they are training church-planters, and they’ve connected us to some trustworthy saints who are serving as Heaven’s Family micro-bankers.
One of the happiest basket-weavers at the Women’s Center in Goma, DR Congo. Our Refugee Ministry bought 50 of these baskets to sell in the U.S. to benefit the weavers. (If you want one, contact Becky at [email protected].)
All ready to eat at Cindi’s Hope in Kenya, courtesy of Heaven’s Family’s Food Ministry
More food blessing at Cindi’s Hope, courtesy of our Food Ministry. Diane likes sustainable food projects. The Heaven’s Family cows at Cindi’s Hope are producing enough milk for all 89 children to enjoy one glass a day. And when 2 new baby cows begin to produce, Cindi’s Hope will have milk to sell every day.
Praise Alivitsa, a student at Jocada Academy in Nairobi
A typical water-gathering scene in rural Africa
School girls doing their daily water-gathering chore
Missionary-incredible and Heaven’s Family partner, Glenn Rosebery, with one of his people
Kids in Goma, DR Congo, all of whom live with their families in tiny shacks
Theresa, a sister in Christ in Goma whom Diane gave a Sawyer water filter more than a year ago. She has all the safe water that she needs for her and her children, and she sells safe water to neighbors as a little business.
Sudanese kids can grow tall! At left, Regina Bol, age 14, who lives at Cindi’s Hope, and at right, Daniel Maketh age 15, both standing beside Becky, who is 5’2″. Daniel doesn’t know anything about his parents as he was 5 years old when they were killed in Sudan. Our Refugee Ministry is paying Daniel’s school fees, as he has a strong desire to learn and succeed in life.