When our Children’s Ministry decided to raise funds for clean water during their vacation bible camp (VBC), we had no idea what that might mean. What started out as a goal to raise enough money for 2 boreholes, turned into incredible generosity. Pastor Adam encouraged the church congregation to be inspired by the children of VBC and gather with family or friends to donate money to “purchase” a borehole.
Resurrection partners with the Malawi Methodist Church and Blue Water Drilling annually to drill approximately 10 boreholes in 10 needy communities. In 2020, we are able to drill 80 boreholes! Thousands of people will now have clean water for many years to come. Clean water is the foundation of good health. Good health allows adults to work and children to go to school. The ripple effect is enormous.
This is a story we received from Mercy, one of our partners, after a Resurrection funded borehole was drilled outside of the health clinic she manages:
The idea of waking up before sunrise every morning, joining the women from Nkhafi village, Madisi, and spending hours walking 4Kms just to find a water source. Standing in line to access a muddy hole in the ground that they share with both their neighbors and their livestock. Carrying 25 liters of dirty water all the way home on her head and then serving it to her 85 years old grandmother, the woman she has only ever known and loves most. It was hard for Maria, 10 years old. “My younger sister died a year ago due to diarrhea. My grandmother told me, it was because of dirty water. This pains me most and it gives me energy to wake up early in the morning every day looking for clean water".
Maria is among the 5.8 million Malawians that have no access to clean water. Just like her younger sister, 1,472 under-five children die every year due to dirty water-related deaths.
Waking up at dawn is history for Maria after the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection supported drilling of a borehole 200 meters away from her house. “I can peacefully sleep now, water is just close to home. I can take care of my grandmother without getting worried about water now. Thank you so much Resurrection”.
