What does Water Mean to You?
Updated: Mar 10, 2021
March is a special month for many reasons, but for us as a water ministry, it's special because World Water Day is March 22nd. It's a day designated by the United Nations to raise awareness about the global water crisis. This year's theme is What Does Water Mean to You? So here is my personal response to that question:
In the summer of 2017 I began reading The Hole in Our Gospel by Richard Stearns with my women's discipleship group through my local church. As a suburban stay at home mom, I had never thought too much about poverty before. When I read a chapter about women walking miles daily to fetch dirty water and helplessly watching their children suffer and die from preventable waterborne diseases, I couldn’t help but weep. The images in my mind were too much for me to bear. I couldn't imagine seeing my own children suffer like that, and with all the technology and resources we have, why couldn't we solve this problem? I knew the Holy Spirit must be trying to tell me something because I was so emotional every time I thought about it! I started praying an audacious prayer that God would use me to solve this problem.
After that, I did what anyone would do: I Googled. I found a reputable water charity and decided to do a small fundraiser for them. To get my kids involved, we went door to door telling people about dirty water and finished our campaign with a neighborhood lemonade stand. I thought that would be the end of it! Little did I know that would be just the beginning.
It all started with a simple lemonade stand!
A stranger walked up to our lemonade stand to support us and told me about a man living close by who runs a water ministry. My heart skipped a beat. I rushed home, sweaty and full of adrenaline, and again jumped on Google. A week later, I was meeting with Dan Blevins, the executive director of Water@Work Ministry, who happened to live a mile from me and had been praying for more helpers to join their ministry. They desperately needed help with stewarding their donors and fundraising efforts.
I warned him that I had very few skills to offer, but he assured me I would be an asset and God would equip me to do the work that needed to be done. Since then, I’ve been reminded again and again that God is the One in charge and feel so grateful that I listened to His prompting. It is truly an honor and privilege to work for such an incredible ministry that does life-saving work.
To me, water means life. It means children being able to go to school without being sick all the time. It means mothers empowered to care for their children properly, and it means I will keep following this calling to raise awareness to end this global crisis. You don't have to change your career to make a difference. Any time you give a donation, talk to a friend about why you partner with Water@Work, or share a social media post, you are moving the needle on this crisis and helping someone get the water they so desperately need. Will you join me?