In 2007 a group of us from Northlake went to Peru to construct a church building and hold medical villages in remote villages on the Amazon River system. While there we lived in the village, ate their food, and slept in their houses. We were all struck by how different their lives are from our own. The most striking difference was the lack of clean drinking water. The villagers rely on carrying their water from the muddy river to their home to use and were often seen doing laundry by hand. This lack of clean water is not only inconvenient it is a threat to their health. Sickness and death caused by these conditions are common. This became a burden for me. I love the fact that my house has running water. We don’t have to carry it from the river. We just turn a tap and it runs in great abundance to wherever we want it. Not only that. It’s clean too. I can drink it all day without fear of disease or parasites. When I compared my lifestyle to the plight of these villagers I realized that I God was making this problem so real to me that I would have to do something. It is a constant in my life. I could not be any closer to this than if my neighbor here in Longview had to carry his water from the river. God has been calling me to be part of the solution, to put my faith in action.
Matt 25:37-40
"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'”
When I was told of a way that wells with clean water could be provided for these villages I began thinking of how we might be able to help. The Peru Mission Team has set a goal of drilling 3 wells in remote villages in Peru the fall of 2009. We will need to raise $3,000 to pay for the wells. Each team member will also need to come up with $2,000 to cover their own travel and lodging expenses. It is an ambitious goal, but people who serve a great God can afford to dream beyond their means. None of us know how this can be accomplished based on what we now have or can budget personally, and in economic times like we all face it almost seems absurd to be thinking like this. However, I think that one of the duties of the people of God is to show forth His glory. Why not look with faith to see God do something big for the people of Peru?
