Did you take a shower today? Did you drink clean, clear water today? Did you change into a new pair of clean clothes this morning?
Here in Ethiopia, I’ve seen and met people who wouldn’t have the privilege of saying “yes” to those questions today.
My squad and I are living in Harbu Chulule, Ethiopia on our ninth month of the World Race! We are partnering with a ministry called HOPEthiopia. HOPEthiopia is an orphanage that houses and feeds over twenty orphans! We spend our time making bricks from scratch, playing soccer with the kids, and helping people get water from the well. We are in the middle of nowhere! The closest WiFi is three hours away, all of our neighbors live in huts with no electricity or running water, and we have the only well with clean water. Since being here, my eyes have been opened drastically to the poverty and how differently people live here. But what has opened my eyes the most is the fact that people(mostly women and children)walk for miles, sometimes with no shoes, to fill up a big jug of water from the well and carry it home on their backs. While, my whole life I’ve always been able to turn a faucet on and have hot or cold running water anytime I wanted. Living here at the orphanage, we have to hand wash our clothes in buckets with hose water, but when I go to the well, people are washing their clothes in a muddy stream that other people and animals walk through. Having clean and running water is a bigger blessing than I realized. It’s one thing to be told or read articles about how other people around the world don’t have clean water, but it’s another thing to be with those people at the well filling their jugs for them.
In John chapter 4, a story is told about Jesus and a woman at a well. The woman came to the well to get water. Jesus told her that He could give her living water, but those who drink the water from the well would become thirsty again. People in ancient Israel made clear distinctions between “dead” water (standing water that was stored from the collection of winter rain) and “living” water (moving water that came from streams, rivers, and springs). Jesus used the common term “living water” with the woman at the well and filled it with special meaning. He offered more than high-quality well water. He offered the Holy Spirit, who would quench spiritual thirst and give eternal life.
I think that there is a lot of talk, especially among highly religious people, about eternal life and what will happen after death. I wouldn’t consider myself as religious, but I do believe that we are given eternal life once we put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ.
BUT THATS NOT ALL!!!
Yes, we are offered eternal life, but we are offered that “living water” RIGHT NOW! A life with Jesus is a life of freedom and fulfillment. No matter what your living circumstances are.
This woman may live in a hut and may not have running water, but she is valuable, worthy, and offered “living water” just like me and you.
Same goes for these kids that were by the well. They may not have even one article of clothing that isn’t ripped or dirty and they may not have any shoes on their feet, but they are lovable, teachable, and purpose-filled kids who are offered “living water” everyday.
One thing that I’ve learned on the Race is that we as humans, we’re not all that different. Sure, we have different ways of living and we share different struggles. But deep down inside, we all just want to love, be loved, be peaceful, and be happy. I think what we want and need is simple, but we complicate our needs by searching for and doing things that don’t fulfill or truly satisfy us. So instead of reaching for a temporary pleasure or a moment of instant temporary gratification, reach for the “living water” and you will be thirsty no more.
