Water of Life!

If someone offered you a cup of water in Buena Vista, in many cases you might think you'd been handed a cup of tea. The water that the people in this little remote village have been drinking comes from either a well or the river, which is also the place where they wash their clothes and themselves. So from milky white to muddy brown, the water that is ingested by babies, children and adults is far from pure. By the grace of God and a wonderful grant from the Oklahoma LWML, in addition to a generous personal donation, Groundwork Guatemala was able to purchase 120 water purification systems.

For several months and with the help of two of the local teens receiving education scholarships, Julián has been installing about ten systems per week in homes throughout Buena Vista. Off they go with twenty 5 gallon buckets and lids, asking families if they would like to receive a free water filter system. A few have said "No, gracias." Perhaps they're afraid to try it because it's "something new" in this village back in time. Makes me wonder what's holding them back from receiving this free gift. But most people are quite eager to have one installed in their home. Julián goes through the process of putting the system together and talks about how the impurities in the water can make us sick. As the muddy water is poured into the top pail, then goes through the filter into the bottom pail, everyone in the room takes a turn at looking in and is amazed at how clear the water is! Finally, Julián asks for a "clean" glass and has the pure water run into it. He takes a drink to show the family that the water is safe to drink...no tricks. Odd to think they might be afraid of the pure water, isn't it?

When we think about how many times we had told people to "drink more water" in the past, we realize that, while they may have been more hydrated, they were probably ingesting who knows what into their systems. How thankful we are that 120 families with all those little kidlets will now be drinking safe, pure and life-giving water!!

But wait! There's more!! As Julián talks with the family about the need for them to drink pure water, he also takes the time to get to know them a bit, to see if they have need for prayer and to see if they know their Savior, Jesus Christ. What joy to find that so many have a relationship with the Lord! If you've ever gone on a house visit with Julián you've seen his gentle, but passionate way of sharing his faith with his people. So, seizing the opportunity, he uses these filters that take out the impurities from their water as one of the best object lessons I've ever heard. Julián shares with those who don't know Christ how He is the Living Water, purifying us from all our sin so that we can enter into God's holy presence blameless and without impurities. No tricks. Nothing to be afraid of. We don't have to wait until we are "clean" and have our act together. Jesus has done it all for us!!

So, through these filters our friends in Buena Vista are receiving life-giving water for their bodies and Living Water through Jesus for their souls!!