I’ve been really thirsty lately. I get a total of 24 ounces of water a day… That is a lot, considering I am living in a drought. This is my first time in a drought and it has been eye opening to see the way others live everyday. Mozambique is usually experiencing it’s rainy season right now, but not this year. This year, there has been almost no rain.
I just learned that we are the only ones with any water in our well. The communities surrounding have no water. We have so little water that we are only taking one shower per week. We drink one water bottle per day. We wash our dishes in dirty water. We go swimming in the marshy swamp to cool off. We only flush the toilet a couple of times a day (that’s a lot of built up poop). And we rarely wash clothes. Water, a vital part of life, is a shortage here… And we are blessed by the amount we have, when we consider the amount others have.
Here’s how having little water changes your life:
- The other day, I walked down to the well with a bunch of the orphan boys, the wheel barrel, and the buckets. Wearing my clothes, they poured the water over my head while I washed myself. We then filled up the buckets to take back to the house for others.
- I had to walk to the well early this morning to get a bucket of water just to flush the toilet.
- I had rather use the bathroom in the woods so that I don’t have to worry about flushing.
- I have to wait to brush my teeth till the well has filled up enough for it to come out of the faucet.
I have taken for granted how easy we have it in the states. We can simply turn on the faucet, and water at the perfect temperature comes flowing out. I can drink water strait from the tap. I can wash clothes whenever I want. I can shower twice a day. And I can brush my teeth whenever I want. I can go swimming in a huge man made pool, clean and free of leeches. I can flush the toilet after every use (Even double flush if I need). I don’t have to leave my bathroom to get water… I turn a nob with my hand.
Realizing how vital water is to life, has made me think a lot about the words of Jesus: “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life” John 4:13. I can see why the woman at the well was more than excited to drink of this water. She said, “Please sir, give me this water so that I may never have to return to this well again”.
I love how the water that Jesus supplies is far greater that the coldest glass of ice water. While my tongue is thirsty here, my soul is completely satisfied.
