A few months ago our oldest son Joshua went to Africa on a mission trip. This past week I had to opportunity to attend Springcreek Church in Garland where he is a staff pastor and hear as they shared their experiences of what took place on this trip. Before World Vision started going to this particular location the people were in very poor health. What was taking place is they were drinking the water from the streams and the streams were contaminated. The children in Kitito Africa were missing school extremely often thus causing them to struggle with their grades.
Springcreek church linked with World Vision a couple years ago and started a project to the people in Kitito. As they surveyed the area they noticed the great need for clean water. After some planning, it was decided that the water would be placed at the school since the school was the central location of the towns people. They moved in a very large tank and a way to purify the water and set up the piping so that everyone in that area could access clean drinking water.
The individuals that helped in this project probably received as much excitement and joy as the people in Kitito. It was such a blessing to see people with extreme joy in spite of thier bad living conditions. These people do not have all the things we call luxuries. It's easy to see when we compare ourselves to them that we have let all of these wonderful things bog us down. The very things we thought would bring us joy actually causes stress thus robbing us of our joy. The individuals that went to Africa found they had a greater passion within their hearts to do more. This church is now sponsoring close to 1,000 children. They are able to write to these children, send and receive photo’s and be an encourament to them. Many of the sponors are able to take a trip to Africa to meet their sponsor child which only enhances the bond between them.
The key thing that stuck out in my mind listening to the group share their experience was that after the water well began to supply fresh water to this village something awesome took place. The children that attended the school started attending more regular. The grades of the students improved and they became much healthier than the other children not attending. What ended up taking place is the parents in the village seen the improvement and began to desire that their children attend the same school. Thus being a tool in order to reach the whole community and be a witness and testimony to them.
Jesus being the living water has done the same thing in our lives. The moment the blood began to flow from his side as he hung upon the cross was the moment that our lives could be changed forever. No longer bound down to drinking from the well of satan but able to run to the fountain. Those who drink from this fountain are able to live forever. They are filled with wisdom and knowledge. The world will be able to see the difference this water makes in your life. We must keep a steady diet of this water and not turn back to the old water filled with contamination.
What a blessing they received as they showed compassion to these families in Africa. Compassion can change your life at the same moment it is changing the lives of those receiving it. If you don’t believe this, travel to Garland, Texas and visit with the team at Springcreek Church and let then share with you what compassion has done in their lives.
Love your reminder that we receive blessing by giving it away. As we serve, our capacity for blessing grows. I was reminded of this very clearly while we were visiting Katito.
ReplyDeleteBTW, I'm running a half marathon in October to raise funds for our friends. Would love to have help and would love to have a few new friends on this journey.
http://support.worldvision.org/site/TR/TeamWorldVision/General?px=1242452&pg=personal&fr_id=1730