"The Water That I Will Give Will Become A Spring That is Gushing Up..."

Dear Friends,

“The water that I will give will become a spring that is gushing up . . . !” John 4:15

Maybe you know this verse from the Gospel of St. John. It is from the story of when Jesus met the Samaritan woman who came to a well. At the well Jesus proclaimed that He is the “Living Water.” It is a marvelous story for all of us -- especially during this Easter Season. But as someone who has lived and worked as a missionary in Africa -- this story takes on special meaning. Please read on and I will try to explain.

Recently I received a letter from Sr. Immaculate Mirambo -- a missionary who is living and working in Tanzania in East Africa. As I write this letter to you, Sr. Immaculate is serving in the village of Mshewe -- near Mbeya in the southwestern region of the country. It is an extremely poor region filled with women and children who struggle every day to survive . . . and it is because of them that she writes.

“There is a shortage of water here in Mshewe,” Sr. Immaculate begins. “There are sources of water around -- shallow puddles that might be filled after the seasonal rains or stagnant creek beds . . . but the water there is filled with bacteria and parasites. Yet even though drinking from these sources is dangerous -- too many people risk it, because they are dying of thirst.”

“We have been trying to train people on how to boil any water they might find,” she continues, “so as to reduce water-borne diseases such as typhoid, cholera, diarrhea and dysentery. Some people have also become infected with hepatitis-A, guinea worm and
schistosomissis because of drinking unclean water . . .

. . . most of them are mothers and young children.”

“Right now,” she writes, “all of us in the village -- including our own Sisters -- must walk a very long way in order to get the water we need. There is no central water supply -- no wells to serve the community. We walk however far necessary to fetch enough water to last a few days -- or whatever we can carry.”

“Our hope is that we can raise enough money to drill a borehole . . . a deep well that would tap in to the natural pure water table that is far below the surface. If we can do that what a
difference it would make to all of us living in this area!”

“Life would be transformed! There would be clean water for cooking, for drinking, for washing! Please!! Is there some way you can help us?”

My friend -- just as the woman in St. John’s Gospel was searching for “living water” so are Sr. Immaculate and the people of Mshewe. They are praying there is some way they can get the water they need to live! And I am hoping we can help them.

In her letter, Sr. Immaculate gives a breakdown of the costs involved with this project: $6,000 is needed to get the heavy machinery out to her village and to drill to the depth necessary to access clean water. Another $3,500 is needed for a pump; $2,000 for concrete casing; $1,500 for materials such as cement and gravel and $670 for water storage tanks. In total, the project will cost over $15,570.

I really do not know how much you can afford to send. But whether you can send a large gift or just a small amount -- will you please reach out in some way? If you simply cannot send a gift at this time, would you at least be able to pray for Sr. Immaculate and the people of Mshewe? Perhaps the power of your prayers will help move others to give! As always, I hope you know how much I sincerely appreciate your kindness, generosity and caring for those who are suffering so much. Thank you and God bless you and your loved ones throughout this Easter Season.

Your Missionary Friend,

Fr. John P. Lynch, M. Afr.