Friday, May 30, 2014

Turning 5 Miles into Water…

Here in our rural Oregon community, we are surrounded by water.  The North Umpqua meanders in front of our house, picking up a little speed behind Esmé’s school a few miles downstream.  We pump all our water from that river without fear of running out.

Unemployment rates are crazy high in this county.  Esmé goes to a Title I school, bespeaking the poverty level of many local residents.  We don’t have a lot.  But we have water.P1090884

So I find it pretty sweet that this little community, less than 2,000 people, partners up with a African community thousands of miles away, making sure they’ve got water, too.

Two years ago was Glide’s first Walk for a Well event, organized by a Glide High School senior.  In two years, this community has raised over $15,500 to fund water projects in Africa.  Here is a shot of last year’s Uganda project.

Back when we were in Mozambique, we had the privilege of seeing firsthand the impact wells have on the immediate community.  They are truly life-giving.  Here is 1yo Esmé high-fiving a group of kids at an AIDS orphan center that received one of our organization’s wells.

Miss Esmé is hoping to make a difference in this year’s Walk for a Well event tomorrow.  She is planning to run five miles, with sponsors pledging for each lap.  (This photo is just before she ran 5 miles for a school fundraiser last fall, so we know she can do it.)

And she is challenging YOU to make a difference.  How can you help?

  • Support Glide’s project!  Donate online here: https://thewaterproject.org/community/profile/caroline-brown It is tax-deductible, and you can put Esmé’s name in the Message box if you’d like to specifically support her run, but really, it’s just about the project.
  • Challenge your own community to take on a similar project!  And get out there and run!Run For a Well

“Run for a well!” she says…

If Glide can do it, I bet any community can.  If a 7yo can do it, I bet any person can.

“I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink.”  ~Matthew 25:35

1 comments:

www.retiredandcrazy.com said...

What a wonderful project. And how amazing that Esme is so involved. There's hope for the world yet!

Our church sponsors similar projects and missions. Every year the children raise funds to visit Southern Sudan where they help erect living units.

The people in the refugee camp say they are the only white people that have ever been there and got their hands dirty! There totally amaze me.