Water is Well??

I can't expect anyone to get excited about a ministry until they fully understand the problems that the ministry aims to combat. After all, if we were to be putting a community center with free water, showers, and a soccer field into North Scottsdale, I don't think anyone would be over eager to support the cause. It is the needs of the community that will drive the direction of the ministry. Obviously, every aspect of the ministry is to share the love of Jesus Christ. But what tangible means are going to be used to do this?

I hope you have watched the video. I can tell you from my experience, the video does not even begin to the do the problem justice. I stayed in a guest house that was close to the small river which winds through the city. We had clean water at the guest house, but not drinkable. And a block from the guest house was this river. You could tell you were approaching it because there was a stench that could not be mistaken. You see, right next to and all around the guest house were slum shacks, homeless people, and small homes. None of which had any water or sanitation facilities. And then there was a stair case that parted between them down to the river. There were ditches on either side of the stairs and flat bricks that lined the edge of the stairs. People would urinate and defecate while standing on these bricks and then it would run down the hill into the river. The smell was enough to knock a person over. And the stair case went on for at least 100 steps.

The river was small. It wouldn't be called a river in Arizona. It would be a small creek. It was not even close to transparent. It was dark brown. Trash of every kind lined the banks. Remember, there are no trash cans or public waste facilities for the average person. Also, most people can not buy much that comes in packaging so it isn't anything like what it would be like without our trash services in America. None the less, trash lines the water. The original post on this blog, with the woman and children on the bridge, they were above this creek. The little girl that was so sick with a form of dysentery... it is likely from that water.

You see, the capital city of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia has an estimated population of over 3 million people. There are over 13,000 people to one square mile. Only 31% of these people have access to an improved water supply and only 11% have access to sanitation services (toilets and showers). So if only roughly 300,000 of these people have a toilet, where do the rest of them go? Yes. 2,700,000 people are going to the bathroom in the streets, ditches, and the river. And if roughly 1 million have access to pumped water, then were do the other 2 million get their water? THE RIVER!

In Addis, you will find children and adults alike carrying these yellow buckets. They are often tied to one's back. They are carrying a water supply to their "home". Many people, when they can afford it, will purchase a cleaner water supply. But as you can imagine, many more can not even come close to affording it. Diarrheal and water-related diseases are among the principle causes of death in young children in Ethiopia.

Carpenter's Kingdom has water at the top of the priority list. In building a community center, we will be able to provide clean drinking water for people that otherwise would not have it. We can provide septic system based sanitation services, and clean showers. By providing clean drinking water and bathing water for the community, Carpenter's Kingdom will be able to prevent over 75% of the most common diseases afflicting the people in Addis Ababa. WOW! Isn't that staggering?

A well is top priority for Carpenter's Kingdom. Contact has been made with another non-profit organization called Water for Our World. They are considering partnering with the expense of the well and awaiting more information following Jason and my's trip to Ethiopia this winter. We will be nailing down firm numbers based on the land we are allocated.

Please consider joining us in prayer and financial support. Carpenter's Kingdom can not happen without the support of many people. Supporting Carpenter's Kingdom will fill people with clean water and provide opportunities for the indigenous to hear about Jesus Christ. We thank you in advance for your consideration.