Inspired by a vicar friend in Essex, I decided to take it in church and use the IBC to make a point or two. The children came forward and verified to their great excitement that the water was indeed absolutely freezing.
Having chilled down in our chest freezer for a few hours and topped up with ice cubes it certainly was. Then five young people from the Youth group did the honours. Man, that was unpleasant.
Nominating Tearfund's water and sanitation projects as my charity of choice, partly due to my complicity in this reckless waste of good, clean water, I gave my church two challenges.
Firstly, that the entire congregation was spared of being nominated by me on the basis that they are baptized and therefore exempt. However, if anyone present believed in Jesus but was not yet baptized they should be. It is a question of obedience, not choice, because the Bible says "believe and be baptized, then you will be saved."
Secondly, that the entire congregation should use this opportunity to review their own giving. Christians should be aiming in faith to be ever more generous so that the love and grace of God can be felt and experienced throughout the world. When was the last time you took a good look at your finances and asked whether you could give more away? Christians should do this regularly, annually is a good rule of thumb.
Tearfund is extremely easy to donate to online. On sending my donation, I received an immediate automated reply which was really moving to read.
Thank you so much for your gift... Your donation is hugely valued and will support our work to provide clean, safe water and sanitation to poor communities across the world. Your generosity is not only helping to improve people’s health, but providing work, dignity and hope for the future – thank you.
Tearfund’s partner the Diocese of Kigezi’s Water and Sanitation Programme (KDWSP) is helping rural communities in south west Uganda in all these ways. Recently KDWSP has been training women from Kagorora Church to construct rain water collection tanks to improve the community’s access to safe water. They have been busy installing water points and working on a 4000 litre capacity tank to help households in the area access safe water easily.
Previously women and girls had to travel over 3 km to fetch water, but now they feel empowered and able to put this burden to an end. Women not only have better access to clean water but have also improved their incomes and livelihoods as they are paid to construct the tanks. They have been able to pay school fees for their children, and even build improved houses. During their training they also learned entrepreneurial skills, and so alongside their husbands they have also been able to begin other income generating activities.
It also means that instead of spending time fetching water, children can be where they should be, in school, strengthening their prospects for the future.
Thank you again for your partnership, which is releasing people from poverty and empowering them to reach their true potential.
Receiving that e-mail was well worth a little indignity and discomfort.
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