The daily burden of unsafe water
It’s a long and arduous journey. Several times a day, women in rural Eastern Zambia walk along dirt paths to collect water from streams or shallow, hand-dug wells, the only water sources available. The average distance to the closest water source is more than one and a half miles, with each trip taking up to two hours.
The women balance heavy buckets of water on their heads as they fight fatigue and navigate the rough terrain, trying to keep a steady pace without too much water splashing out of their buckets. School-aged children regularly accompany their mothers to assist with gathering water. The water is filled with bacteria and often leads to sickness when consumed.
Grace’s life used to revolve around the never-ending chore of collecting contaminated water. Though the water frequently made her and her kids sick, she had no choice. It was a matter of survival.
The single mother of four tells us, “The absence of clean, safe, and sufficient drinking water exposed my family to preventable illnesses, robbed me of time and my self-esteem as I used to spend long hours fetching water.”
Because of the valuable time Grace sacrificed daily on trips for water, she missed out on paid work opportunities that could have provided reliable income for her family. She felt stuck in an endless cycle, with no end in sight.
But even in the midst of hardship, Grace had faith. You see, she’s a regular churchgoer who trusts in Jesus. Sadly, the church building where she attended collapsed years earlier, so the congregation had to meet for worship under a tree, which was especially difficult in harsh weather conditions. Children had to stay home because it was unsafe. For years, the church members dreamed of a new building, but shallow wells didn’t provide enough water for brick molding and construction.
Everything changed thanks to believers stepping up to help from across the globe. Through the support of faithful partners like you, Cross International installed a borehole well in Grace’s village of Sokonombwe. Finally, the community had access to safe and clean drinking water. Grace no longer had to worry about water making her kids sick. Her time was freed up so that she could work and provide for her family, allowing her kids to attend school and creating future opportunities for them.
Grace also joined with fellow church members to construct a brand new church building, allowing families to worship together in a safe and dignified environment.
Grace shared with us: “With reliable access to water, my home is healthier, my time is my own, and my voice is heard. My children now join me in worship, and the community is united in purpose. The borehole well didn’t just quench thirst, it reignited hope, restored dignity, and empowered me to become a beacon of transformation.”
Her favorite verse is John 7:38, in which Jesus says, “Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”
Upon completion of a new well in a village, a special celebration marks the occasion and Bibles in the local language are distributed to community members. For many, it’s the first copy of God’s Word they’ve ever owned or even held.
Lasting transformation only takes place when Christ is at the center. Cross International works closely with our local ministry partner in Eastern Zambia to not only provide Bibles and devotional resources, but to train and equip church leaders and establish home-based Bible study groups and church-led community outreach. As the love of Christ is demonstrated in tangible ways and spiritual growth increases, the impact on the wider community multiplies.
A key component of Cross International’s water projects is sustainability. That’s why the community is tasked with the responsibility of managing and maintaining their new water system. A committee of twenty community members, ten men and ten women, is formed to lead this effort. Part of their role is to oversee sanitation and educate others in the community on proper hygiene techniques. The result is a vast improvement in health over the long-term. By taking ownership of the project, local leaders are empowered to create change in their own communities in a way that’s sustainable.
Your compassionate generosity is empowering women like Grace, providing stability for her family and so many others, and building resilient communities in the process. And it’s pointing people to the Living Water, Jesus Christ, the only source of eternal life.
Water is just the beginning.