In October of 2010, I attended the annual Catalyst conference in Atlanta with my precious friend, Mary. I attend this conference annually, and each year I wait expectantly for the task or change in myself God is going to lead me to.
One of the speakers this year was Scott Harrison from the nonprofit organization charity:water. charity:water is dedicated to bringing clean drinking water to communities in developing nations. He told his story of how God led him from a life of party promoting in NYC to raising money to build wells around the world. Here's a video which offers a snapshot of what he talked about: Scott Harrison - charity:water
He also mentioned a nine year old girl named Riley who decided she wanted to do something to help change the world. Her idea was to give up all food except rice and beans for a month and raise money to build a well ($5000). She built three.
I remember thinking "I could do that" and then filing the idea in the back of my mind. I signed the card to donate my birthday next year to charity:water, turned the page in my notebook, and prepared myself for the next of that day's speakers.
That night at the evening worship service Francis Chan spoke about knowing peace and exuded a joy that I was envious of. When he asked if anyone would like to come forward for prayer, I felt myself being pushed out of my seat. The young woman praying over me mentioned in her prayer that she felt God telling her that I had words in me that needed to written, words from Him that needed to get out. At the time I didn't think much of it but as I walked back to my seat and worshipped for the rest of the service, the idea of writing and raising money like Riley did wouldn't get out of my head. Finally, as Mary and I began walking back to our hotel, it all came together. I told Mary what had happened when I went forward for prayer and I said that I knew what I was going to do. In January, I was going to give up all food except rice and beans, raise money for charity:water, and write a blog about my experience. Mary told me she believed in me and what I was capable of with God's help. And, here I am today.
For the month of January, I will be abstaining from all food except rice and beans. Each day I will be posting to this blog about my project, about what God is doing, and about the water situation in the world. I hope that in some small way my simple sacrifice will prompt others to begin to care about a serious problem that has a very manageable solution.
I am inviting you to participate with me in raising money to build a well for a community in the world that does not have access to clean water. For $5000, we can build a well. But, we can also do so much more. We can cut down on the number of water based diseases ravaging a community. We can get kids back in school because they no longer have to walk miles for clean water or because they are ill. We can restore human dignity to people who have facial tumors or other life changing illnesses that keep them from a fulfilling life. We can give a community a chance to be vibrant, to succeed, to live the life that God created them for.
This project is bigger than me, and it can be bigger than you. It is about a vision and a great God who wants to lead us towards changing the world. Would you, and your friends, and your friends' friends consider becoming part of a movement that has the opportunity to change a serious problem in our world into a beautiful solution?
To learn more about charity:water and how 100% of your donation will go to building wells, please visit:
http://www.charitywater.org/
Thank you. And, God bless.
Claire
