A Thousand Hills

Rwanda is often called a land of a thousand hills. Our first full week here has been packed with raw exposure to this beautiful country - not only to the breathtaking views of Rwanda's charming, rolling countryside but also to the desolate conditions in which half it's populations subsists, that's about 4.5 million people - in a land roughly the size of Maryland.

Kate and I spent most of last week with Phillip, a Rwandese man who teaches LWI's Hygiene curriculum to villages in his home country. On Monday we drove to a village a few hours from headquarters for our first hygiene training. The drive was absolutely beautiful, the tropical landscape kept my attention as I've never seen so many shades of green. The reality of being in Africa sunk in as we passed village after village reading welcome signs branded with the USAID logo.

We've already had so many memorable and eye opening experiences but what happened on Friday I'll never forget. Kate and I rode with with Phillip to a local village for a small pump repair. As we were driving through the village Phillip stopped the truck to speak with a woman who was passing by. About a mile away we saw a muddy brown river weaving through the lush green forest - the local community used draw drinking water from the river's runoff. This woman shared that she is 44 years old and has been drinking this contaminated river water for her entire life.

About 8 months ago Living Water drilled a well in the village center - now she and her family can enjoy clean - safe - drinking water, a basic necessity of life that we too often take for granted. The woman spoke on the quality of this clean water she now has access to and shared that she and her family no longer become ill from drinking contaminated water.

...My heart was burdened and broken, yet at the same time filled with joy. I felt honored to hear her story and to witness the body of Christ remembering (and helping/caring for) the poor in such a profound and tangible way.

Water is life