Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink.

Today marks the birthday of my daughter Kara. She entered heaven 8 years ago at the age of 25. This year I am a bit more melancholy and teary than normal.  When someone you love dies, they never leave you. When a child goes before you, a part of you is torn from your heart.   Though you may heal to a degree of functioning without the one you lost, a scar remains forever.  Scars are reminders of a wound that healed, but a memory of pain that has left its mark. 

I became a part of Hands of Hope (handsofhopeonline.org) because of a water project several years ago.  The thought of not having water to drink hit a very big chord with me.  Water, apart from air it is the most critical element of life. A healthy child's body is 77% water!  Adults percentage drops just a bit but it is always over 50%!   

Water is what kept Kara alive for many years.  She was severe diabetic with blood sugar levels for several years averaging 500-800.  Water, water, water was what she craved.  She drank it, she had it pumped into her with saline solutions and electrolytes  but water was the critical life link. 

When I became aware of how precious and scarce water is to so much of the world I wept.   Kara would have died by the age of 10 or 11 had she lived outside the western world.  She had plenty of water. Water, clean fresh water, she had only to ask and it was there for her.  How blessed and fortunate for us to live here where we could meet that one simple, vital need for her. 

With knowledge comes responsibility.  How could we just put our blessings on a shelf and ignore that  'Kara's' in other parts of the world needed this vital element of life.  Typhoid, diphtheria, malaria and a myriad of other water born diseases are killing children daily!  Mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers too, mourn the loss of a family member and in their situations clean water could have avoided these deaths.

Beginning today, should you choose to follow my blogs, making people aware of the needs for wells will be a resounding message, theme and plea.  Right now my focus for wells is in the Western Provence of Zambia.  The need is world wide but I cannot affect the whole world, so I will focus here.

One well that will give a village fresh water costs mere $5000!  My mission is get money for 8 wells this year, 2012. Why 8?  Because it is cost efficient to dig more than one well at a time and this number just scratches the surface of the need.   10 is the target # we have money currently for 2.   

It is such a simple mission.  If 100 people donate $50.00 a village can get a well!  That is all!   My personal mission is to have at least 2 'Kara's Well' sites.   What I would love to see happen,  is if a neighborhood, a youth group, a scout troop, a diabetes support group or ??, help me raise money for your own well.  You will get a plaque, it is yours to honor someone you love.  You will know where your well exists, you will know that you have helped to keep people alive!  When I go back next year I will show you 'your well'.   What do you think? 







Spend a few minutes contemplating these pictures. I am forever changed having watched this water collection unfold.  This could be your daughter, niece, your sister.  When you give a well you give a beginning to life.  
 
We cannot all do great things but we can do small things with great love. -- Mother Theresa

Interested?  I do hope so.  You can go on line and give (handsofhopeonline.org)  If you want to get your own well, let me know!  Is there someone you want to remember by giving life to another? Christmas is a great time to give this gift. Bring your family into the process. 

Every dollar you give will go to the well project!  We have no employees or buildings here in the US.  We have no overhead.  It is awesome.  Will you pass this plea on?  Will you join me in providing such a simple but dire need to others just like this little girl?  

Thank you for taking the time to read this and allow me to share such profound and life changing moments.  I am responsible to share what I have seen and engage others to join in helping to change the lives who have no hope without our help.  If you want to help with the "Kara's Well" project that too would be a gift.  This is a mission I must fulfill.  I cannot do it alone but $50+ from lots of people will get the 10 wells dug by summer.  :)

For it is in giving that we receive.  Saint Francis of Assisi

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