Missions

This year’s VBS Mission Project: Every child needs clean water to live. So we will help build a well in ethiopia.

 

Humans cannot survive without water – around 60% of the human body is made up of water.  But humans can’t drink just any old water.  Humans need clean water to live.  Yet, 1.1 billion people don’t have access to clean water.  

 

Young children are the most vulnerable to water-borne illnesses.  Vomiting! Diarrhea! Cleaning up is a mess!  But death?  Yes. Unsafe water is the world’s second leading cause of death for children under five.   Children, mainly girls, are often the ones who have to walk long distances to get water for their families.  When children are walking miles and miles for water, how do they have time for school?  They don’t.  443 million school days are lost each year. 

 

This year in Vacation Bible School we will be learning about life giving water in our faith.  We will be learning about the children in Ethiopia who don’t have clean water. Only 42% of Ethiopians have access to clean water.  We will be learning how each of us can make a difference.  And finally, we will be helping build a well for some Ethiopian children and their families.

 

We will build the well through an organization called Lifewater International.  Lifewater has a thirty year history of helping people in over 40 countries gain access to clean water.   Lifewater was listed in the Water Lenten Series (“WASH for Lent”: water, sanitation and hygiene) endorsed by the General Board of Church and Society of the United Methodist Church.  And Lifewater has been given the highest rating by Charity Navigator.

 

If we want a world where every child has access to clean water (you know God wants this!), then we must help make such a world a reality.  Does it seem an impossible goal?  “Nothing is impossible with God”, the angel Gabriel told Mary (right after Gabriel told Mary she would give birth to Jesus!)  Can we hear a messenger of God giving us similar words of encouragement?  “Yes, it is possible for every child to have clean water to drink.  God created enough water for everyone.  But you must help your neighbors access the water and you must share.” 

 

So let’s believe – All things are possible with God.  So let’s share – Bring in our pennies, our dollars, our checks (made out to Glenn UMC, with “VBS well” in the memo line).  And let’s give thanks to God – thanks for Life Giving Water.