America just doesn’t understand water and how central it is to life. We can turn on our faucets and let an endless stream of water just flow, never second guessing the safety of the water or when it’s going to run out. We can stand under a shower head and let hot water pour over our bodies until the heat runs out and not think twice about it. (Think about how incredible it is next time you shower. Really. It’s incredible to experience a hot shower after weeks of using buckets to pour water over your heads).
Every morning in Swaziland, I go out to a 2500L tank of semi-clean water (clean enough to bathe in, wash dishes and clothing in and cook with…sort of clean enough to drink) and knock on the side of it to figure out where our water level is at. In a house of 16 girls, you have to stay concerned about when the water’s going to run out…because there’s 16 bucket showers being taken daily, 16 cups, plates or bowls being washed every morning and evening, and 16 loads of laundry being handwashed once or twice a week…not to mention all the water used for tea and cooking throughout the day. 2500 liters sounds like a lot, and it is, but sixteen American girls use that up a lot faster than I ever expected us to. Water has become much more precious to us this month, but not nearly as precious as it should be (mainly because we know that at any point, we can pay to have it refilled within 24 hours).
Last week I got to go out to Bheveni Care Point, where Gene’ (the AIM intern we get to hang out with this month!) leads a Bible study. We arrived mid-afternoon, expected to roll up to preschool and elementary aged kids running around like we had become accustomed to. Instead, all we see are the missionary kids. Strange.
Almost immediately we learn that there’s a lack of water, which explains the lack of children. The water pump was straight up broken, which meant the cooks can’t make lunch for the kids who usually come to the Care Point. No water. No food. No kids.
We decide to hang out with the missionary kids while we waited to see if the high schoolers would show up…and I’m not going to lie, I felt like we were wasting an afternoon. It was fun playing with the MK’s, and they definitely have had a fascinating life thanks to their parents following and teaching them to follow the call of God…but if the high schoolers don’t show up for Bible study, what’s the point?
I wasn’t hopeful that they’d venture out to the Care Point knowing there was no water…so when the first few came straggling through the gate, I was shocked. I just knew they’d realize the water was still gone and the food was not being prepared and they would turn around and go home.
They didn’t. They stayed, as did every other high school kid who walked through the gate.
And I just couldn’t wrap my head around that. I just could not.
At least I couldn’t until a few days ago when I was reading the story of the woman at the well in John and then later listening to a sermon my college pastor once preached on the account.
They came and they stayed not because they were after a drink of water and a meal that would leave them satisfied temporarily.
They came and they stayed because they were after living water.
Water is completely essential and central to these kids’ lives, yet they have figured out a fundamental truth that I still struggle with daily: the living water of Jesus Christ is even MORE essential and central to life.
Oh, that I would not be satisfied by a simple trickle of truth any longer, and that we would not just long for the things the Lord can provide for us, but for the Lord himself.
Sidenote: Prayers for Bheveni were answered almost immediately. The water has been restored and the kids are not only finding satisfaction for their spiritual needs, but physical ones again!
We leave Swaziland on the 31st and head to Coleraine, Ireland (or United Kingdom, if we’re being picky) for 2 weeks of all-squad ministry, 1 week of parents (SEE YOU SOON MOM & DAD), and a week of debriefing.
