Dear Friends,
Most of us take for granted the precious clean water which flows freely from our taps. But for many villages in India, this basic life necessity is often in short supply. It is not unusual for families including women and children to walk several miles each day to bring home life saving water for their needs. Even then, when good well water is not available, polluted stream water must be used. In that regard the United Nations reported that India is rated 120th out of the 122 nations in terms of water quality.
To make things worse, if you are a Dalit, one of India’s “untouchables,” you will likely be barred from drawing water from a village well because of your inferior social status. Believers in Christ, who are considered untouchables, especially suffer as persecution commonly comes in the form of being banned from the local water source. That makes them especially susceptible to water borne disease.
Matching Grant Now Available
The good news is that God is providing wells for such communities through our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. One well supplies enough water for an average of 1000 villagers and can cut a community’s child death rate by as much as half! A plaque bearing Jesus’ words in John 4:13-14, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst,” is attached to each well. In that way, the wells not only provide families with a life necessity, they also point them to Jesus, the true source of Living Water. These wells give missionaries an opportunity to share the love of Jesus with people in need of that true Living Water. In 2013, our ministry partner’s goal is to drill 100 new wells. They have already reached the 50 well mark through the gifts of friends like you. You can provide a Jesus Well for an entire community for $1000. And right now, thanks to a special gift from one of our donors, a matching grant of $5000 is available to double the value of each gift up to that amount. Every gift, no matter how large or small, makes a big difference.
New Believers Blessed with Well
This story of digging a well in a village of Rajasthan shows the handiwork of God. Sugma, shown here with her family, was very ill for almost six months. The family tried traditional medicines, went to local doctors and spent a fortune for her healing but there was no cure. She became so sick that the family looked for a place where she could die away from the eyes of their four daughters. Then Sugma asked to be taken to our ministry partner’s church she had heard about in a neighboring village. She somehow felt she might find healing there. If she did not, she knew she would die in peace. Even though the family did not know anyone in the church, as a last resort they took her there.
The Christians graciously received her and began caring for her. Though Sugna grew worse and seemed close to death, the steadfast believers continued praying for her and provided for her physical needs. Through the Lord’s healing powers, Sugna fully recovered! In the process she and her husband both gave their hearts to the Lord. When they returned home, they were the only Christian family in their village. No one wanted to have anything to do with them. Sugna and her three oldest daughters had to draw water each day from an open well located outside the village. But the day came when our partner organization was able to dig a Jesus Well right in their village. Now Hakman’s family had not only immediate access to water but also the opportunity to share it and God’s love with those who refused to help them! Today a vibrant church community is growing in their village which will become the source of Living Water for all who want to drink. Just as Jesus went to a well in the first century to draw thirsty hearts to Himself, He is still using wells today to lead the lost to Life. Join with us and our ministry partners in India in this strategic ministry of love and redemption.
Yours in Christ,
Lance Thollander
President, Hope Builders International