As many of you know I am co-leading another trip back to Uganda in July to hand auger clean water wells! We will be partnering with Mission4Water once again; this year our goal is lofty and exciting!

Please consider supporting us financially.. but not until you read more about what we are doing and why!

Below are lots of questions and thoughts that I have been getting as I share about going to Uganda this summer… There’s a good chance some of your thoughts or questions are answered here too!

Why water?

I mean… I like water don’t you?

Who doesn’t like cooking with water?

Is there anything quiet as refreshing as a cold drink of water on the hottest of days or after a hard workout at the gym?

But really, if you have known me for a few years, you will remember that I donated a birthday to charity:water to help them drill a clean water well!

I take water for granted. So do you.

Trust me on this; we take water for granted every single day (even in Flint!).

So, ok, fine… Water. But why Uganda?

It started with a breaking heart, and then finding an amazing organization with Mission4Water.

But, that doesn’t really answer the question does it?.. Why have *I * chosen water and Uganda? That’s a really long story that written words won’t do appropriate justice to, so, let’s FaceTime, Skype or get dinner to talk about this, cause that would be more fun!

The short answer is that God broke my heart for what break’s His in Africa in 2008, and in 2016 I had the opportunity to do something that makes a physical difference in the lives of hundreds of people in Uganda. Why would I turn that down?

Don’t people need help here?

Yes, they do.

There’s no way around the fact that people need help everywhere.

My choice to go and support an organization that is giving clean water to those in need in Uganda is not at odds with the ways and needs locally and nationally that I care about or support.

The most common question I get challenged with is, “Why are you going since people need help here too?” – Let me assure you, people needing help here is not an appropriate excuse for me not to go; instead it is a reason for everyone to do his or her part… If I feel called to go, and you feel a burden for here, then get up, step into the work of relieving the burdens and needs here while I do the same for the things I am burdened for.

However, some people are called to go (anywhere), others are called to stay, while still others are called to support financially.

Paul went. Timothy went. Jesus went (along with so many others)…. Jesus also told us to go too (locally, nationally, and internationally). Ergo, we should go.

We are supposed to go… If God has not called you to go anywhere, then He has likely burdened you for the people or causes here that you should get involved with, OR He equipped you with the ability to give so that someone else is able to go.

Throughout Paul’s letters he consistently references how one church was funding him so that he could go to another church and not burden them. As a body and community of people, together we can actually change the world, clean water in Uganda is just one of many ways that I am doing my part.

Please, won’t you join me? Please consider supporting my team of 15 people changing the lives of over 1,000 people in just two short weeks of work in July!

What is the money ask and why?

Our crazy huge goals is to raise the money for 5 clean water wells!

In order for us to reach our goal of digging three clean water wells, and leaving money for two additional wells (so their work can continue after we leave), we need to raise just over $72,000.

We are well on our way with 22% raised already by the end of February! (Thank you to everyone who has donated so far! *dance party*)

How does the cost breakdown?

It will cost us $4000 to build each clean water well.

Each well serves an average of 350 Ugandans.

~ $12 gives 1 Ugandan clean water for the rest of their life.

~ $24 gives 2 clean water to two…

~ $36 of course then gives THREE people clean water!

~ Meaning that if you donate $48 you have changed the life forever of 4 Ugandan’s!

 

Donate here!

All donations are tax-deductible.

So, here are a few facts:

• It costs $12 to provide a lifetime supply of clean water to one person in Uganda
• On average, Ugandans walk 6 kilometers a day for dirty water
• Typically, it’s women and girls who are responsible for the gathering of water
• Current water sources often cause serious illnesses
• Lack of clean water means a large percentage of young girls are not able to attend school for a large variety of reasons.
• Water born illnesses impact the family groups in dozens of way, causing financial hardships

On this mission to Uganda in July of 2017: 

Our plan is to dig three clean water wells simultaneously. Each of our three teams will be composed of five US team members, and two Ugandan drillers.

Our team will dig 3 wells, meaning during our time there, we will supply water to more than 1,000 Ugandans.

At the completion of our two weeks, it is our incredibly lofty goal to also provide monies for two additional wells.

That means you would partner with our team as we strive to provide clean, safe water to more than seventeen hundred Ugandans in 2017 alone! – Which brings the three-year total to over 5,000 people having access to clean water!

This mission is being funded by those of us participating in the trip, through donations and fund-raisers.

You don’t have the money?

That’s ok! While we have financial needs, that is far from the only support we need in our journey!

Follow along with our story via our blog and my personal social media.

Pray for us!

• We need prayer for health: physical, emotional, spiritual.
• We need prayers for safety, no illnesses and no injuries.
• We also desire prayers for the right hearts, humility in our approach to learning, and for connections to be made.
• We need prayers to hit water THREE times!
• And, of course we need prayers for God to meet us anew in Uganda, to hit a soul reset, and for each of us to learn what it is that God wants to teach us while on mission.

What if this isn’t your thing?

If clean water is not anything you care about, that’s ok!…

My challenge to you is to find what is the thing you care about deeply, and work towards that passion! Choose something that matters in the biggest scope of eternity; then invest your time and money there!

Thank you!

Thank you in advance for partnering with the 15 of us as we take on this adventure!

Be on the lookout for the sign up for our 3rd Annual Race for H2Ope 6k Run/Walk coming May 6th!

Be sure to follow along in our adventures and share our stories!

#ugandaexcited #onmissioneveryday #threeforthethird