mozambique

Hi,

I am about to go on a great adventure to Mozambique to help more people get access to clean water. Read more about it in my letter below.

Greetings family and friends,

Grab a cool cup of water and read about an upcoming adventure. I am traveling to Mozambique in Africa with Lifewater International, to help Mozambicans get clean water. I have been dreaming of helping people get clean drinking water for the past 10 years. This October and January my dreams will be realized. I feel so strongly about water. It is an amazing life-giving resource and I believe everyone should have access to it.

The timing of this opportunity fits well, as Shelly and I are in the midst of making several transitions. We are moving to the Northwest to be closer to family; I am pursuing work with water and Shelly will continue her nursing program. This transition allows me to be available to go to Mozambique, where I will partner with locals. Specifically, these trips will focus on hand pump repair. Mozambique has a considerable amount of wells and hand pumps, however many of the pumps are in disrepair. In the past, development agencies zoomed through the country to dig wells, but did not teach the people how to make basic repairs on their wells. So when the pump failed, the community returned to contaminated water that made them sick. One of the great things about Lifewater is that it is a training organization. The purpose is not to go and fix a problem, but to go and train people so that they can solve their own problems. This strategy empowers local partners, multiplies efforts and encourages sustainability. In September I will be trained at Lifewater’s headquarters. Then in October and January, I will travel to Mozambique for 3 weeks to train a partner organization of about 10-15 people. Those individuals will take their new knowledge back to communities and train potentially hundreds more.

Mozambicans need assistance. The average life expectancy is only 40, and the child mortality rate is 152 deaths per 1000 (about 20 times the US average). If the children of my friends were dying at that rate, I would ask questions and see what I could do to help. Safe water is available to only 24% of the rural population. Young girls and women are especially affected as they spend many hours walking several miles a day collecting water from a source that is often full of diseases. Water is such a basic need. It is necessary for life, growth, medicine, agriculture, transportation, the economy and much more.

“But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” Amos 5:24.

God caught my attention with this verse a few years ago, reminding me of the importance of caring for others and sharing resources. I am compelled to participate in water development, to let it flow and not prevent a good thing from reaching others.

If you grabbed a cup of water (as I suggested at the beginning of this letter) you are like the 5.1 billion people on the planet who have access to clean drinking water. 1.1 billion people do not share this same availability. I am so refreshed when I sip on cool water. My hope is that all people will receive joy, health and more life from water. You can participate to make this a reality by offering your support. Taking two trips around the world to partner with others and work with water development will cost $7,200. Thankfully, I’ve already received a $2,000 scholarship. I still need to raise $5,200. Will you help?

Let water flow to those in need. Increase the access of water to the people of Mozambique by completing the reply coupon and sending your tax-deductible gift to Lifewater in the enclosed envelope in the next 2-3 weeks. Training locals to repair their wells will enable them to have a lifetime of water. A well with clean water is the beginning of sustained development, health and growth.

Thank you in advance for your support; whether it is financial, a supportive word or prayer I am deeply grateful and cannot do this on my own. I look forward to sharing about my adventures in Mozambique when I return.

Stay hydrated and thank you for your partnership in my life,

Steve Beard

If you have any questions or comments contact me: steventbeard@gmail.com

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