My team and I have been in La Vega for about 2 weeks and time is flying by. We’re partnering with Global Effect this month and we’ve been able to participate in a few of their ministries. We’ve had the opportunity to hand out water filters and help build a home for a woman named Chave.
Global Effect gives out micro loans to people who would like to start a small business. Chave is a woman who has received a micro loan and has opened a small restaurant. She cooks delicious food and has a successful restaurant business.
She’s been able to make her loan payments and save some money for a new home. Along with her savings and a generous donor, she will no longer live in a termite infested house. We’ve been working hard to construct a new house for her.
It’s been a lot of physical labor, but it was fun to tear down the house and start building a new one. Chave is a hard worker and generous woman. It’s been a pleasure to get to know her and her family. We also eat really well at her restaurant and it’s crazy cheap for all the food we get (salad, rice, beans and meat).
Water filters are another important ministry for Global Effect. We go to various neighborhoods around La Vega and minister using them. The water filter attaches to a 5 gallon bucket and will last more than 10 years (if cleaned weekly) and filter 150 gallons/day, which is more than they’d ever need.
They’re very simple to set up and use. Most people we’ve spoken with have access to tap water, but it’s not treated and it makes them sick. Some people will buy purified water and others will drink from the tap water because they simply can’t afford to buy water. Everyone is so grateful for the water filters.
My favorite part is when we show them how the filter works. We add a little dirt to the tap water that will be filtered so they can visually see how well it works. Their reactions are always funny when we ask them if they’d drink the dirty water. We then filter it and drink that same water and they are always amazed and in disbelief.
These ministries have been fun and have kept us busy. We’ve gotten to meet a lot of people and learn more about them and their needs. We’ve been able to pray over the people and bless them with encouragement and clean water.
