If you have followed my writing in the past you know that we are involved with an organization called Wells for Life which provides bore wells and fresh water to rural Indian villages. Besides providing life giving water which alone would save lives; it provides an opportunity to share the gospel and water that you will never thirst from. (John 4: 13-14).
Going to a rural village is an exciting process. After you leave the main highway you often run on semi paved roads and you never know quite what you might run into:
traffic of all sorts usually delays your travels. Distances that normally take 30 minutes by highway are often 90 minutes or longer due to these delays. If the livestock doesn’t get you, the monster craters will. Pot holes in America are just a little bump here in rural India.
The real excitement begins once the village comes into sight. You see the villagers come 
out and are ready for a party! You are greeted in ceremonial lei’s and led down the main “street” usually no more than a dirt road, to the well head which is then dedicated and primed all with eager users watching on. After the first pails are drawn, they are
taken by the women (who normally are delegated to carry water) and the singing and sharing begins! The crowds range from the very interested in just the water, to those interested in more. The sights of these beautiful Indian people is really amazing.
After the celebration ends, it’s usually off to another village as we have anywhere from 2-10 wells to dedicate in a day depending on travel. Good byes are said, but leaving isn’t usually as easy as that. Many times people are so moved by the generosity of the gift of life giving water, they are moved so much as to ask you to pray for them…literally!
In the end, you come away from this experience of giving water to somebody and think you are doing good; when in fact you get so much more in the perspective that your life changes in how you think and act and react in the world around you. If something like this moves you to look deeper, then my trip was a success in more ways than one. If you’re interested in learning more about water and wells, take a look at the link in the first paragraph. It will take you to the homepage of this organization; one both Sandy and I highly recommend! Thanks for reading and all your thoughts and prayers.
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