As most of you know, I’ve been on many mission trips both locally and internationally. I am often asked “Did it change your life” and “How did it change your life?” The answer is “Yes, it did”, but “how” is harder to articulate. When I go on mission trips I am reminded of what is really important: Relationships are more important than “stuff”. One thing I do know is that Marion Medical Mission changes lives!
This is the organization I’ve gone to Africa with for the past 3 years to install shallow wells. MMM is an ecumenical organization out of Marion, Illinois, that tangibly, immediately and permanently changes lives.
When we install a well and clean water comes pouring out of the spout , in that village, at that moment lives have been changed! No more drinking dirty water and getting sick. Money doesn’t have to be spent on medicines and clinic visits. Did you know that 50% of hospital beds in 3rd world countries are filled by people with preventable water-related diseases? Healthy kids can go to school and healthy parents can go to work. Another way a well changes lives is all the time that is saved since mothers and young girls who had to get up at 3 a.m. and walk miles to get water, now can get water close by. 40 billion hours per year are spent in Africa walking for water (and it wasn’t even clean water). Now girls can go to school and the mothers can work or take care of their families.
So when we install a well, the villagers know this. Their eyes are bright with joy. Some sing. Some dance. Some clap and some just bounce. Their joy is contagious and it is their joy that has changed my life.
In 2016 Marion Medical Mission worked in Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia and installed 2,173 wells – that was just one year! At an estimated 150 people per well, that is almost 407,000 people whose lives changed. My partner and I were assigned to Tanzania and we helped install 83 of those wells in the 3 weeks we spent there. We arrived at a village in a truck (we drive) with the PVC pipes, the pump and installers. The villagers had already dug the well deep enough to hit water – anywhere from 8-30 feet deep- lined it with bricks, and covered it with concrete so that it is a safe, closed source of water. Our Tanzanian field officers install the pipes, and then we show the villagers how to use the pump correctly and how to take care of their well, say prayers and give thanks to God and to all who helped make their well possible.
I thank you for your prayers and support that has made it possible for me to go with Marion Medical Mission to do this important work for the past 3 years. Thank you for sharing the gift of clean, safe water with those who have never had it before. Asante sana and Mungu awa bariki which is Swahili is Thank you very much and God bless you!
