Posted on 12/10/2010 7:08:38 AM PST by greyfoxx39
The group recently met their goal of providing clean water to 1,000 African communities through the organization they founded, Blood:Water Mission, and its 1,000 Wells Project.
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Over five years, they ended up raising nearly $7 million for water and sanitation projects as well as hygiene training, and they made multiple trips to Africa to see the progress firsthand.
What they found is that life with clean, accessible water is much different. Women and children no longer have to walk miles a day to draw water from a dirty source or deal with the stomach aches, skin diseases and diarrhea that comes with it.
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The band members emphasize that water projects are all led by locals, usually the women, who decide what type of water source their village needs and how to implement it.
To raise money, the band relies largely on creative grass roots efforts.
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"We may add a zero to that, make it 10,000 wells or go for another 1,000," said guitarist Stephen Mason. "The challenge with Blood:Water and with Jars is to continue to dream big about what we can do to make the world a better place, and we'll see where that story leads us next."
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
See a need, fill a need utilizing people instead of bureaucracies. Kudos to Jars of Clay.
Ping
Agreed.
***The band members emphasize that water projects are all led by locals, usually the women,****
Years go I saw a film about this. After years of sickness some organization drilled a well, the women used the clean water, the men did nothing.
When the pump broke, a simple fix, the men did nothing and the women had to walk miles to get polluted water again.
Bunch of Calvinists. ;-)
Yes, Jesus wanted us to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, comfort the brokenhearted and of course give drink to the thursty. In other words, take care of those less fortunate. These things are what makes us followers of Christ. Jars of Clay are living out Christ.
If this was a government program they would still be drilling the first well while ‘environmental impact’ statements were being prepared for the 999 other ones.
The thirsty people can wait...
why didn’t the women fix it?
I must give proper credit to a relative of mine. Older brother was in charge of the well project in Uganda for about two years in 2006-7. Yes, he was on an LDS work mission.
At the time he sort of inferred they were the only ones there. Now I see there were many.
This is wonderful. Thank you for posting it.
How can I donate to this project?
Here is a project that is doing the same thing.
I don’t know if it is the same thing Jars of Clay are doing but it provides drinking water to people in that area who are in need of it.
http://www.adventconspiracy.org/
***why didn’t the women fix it?***
It required pulling the well pipe and fixing something at the bottom.
The orgaization who drilled the well eventually sent tools and men to fix it. They left the repair tools behind when they finished the job. If it breaks again the men of the village are expected to fix it, but don’t hold your breath.
Thank you! I will check it out.
Kudos, JoC. Good music, too.
“Now I see there were many.”
And He (Jesus) asked him (the man), “What is thy name?” And he answered, saying, “My name is Legion: for we are many.”
Mark 5:9
The link to this website is on the official Jars of Clay site also:
Great thread. It's good to read about Christians that walk the talk. Also, their music is pretty good.
I appreciate you giving me the link! I will look at my budget and send them some money this evening.
What a worthwhile mission. This story just really struck a chord with me.
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