Safe Water Projects

Story of the Month – Safe Water Flowing in Mozambique 

Two women fetching water from the well both ran towards me and one said: “We have seen Christ! Christ has risen! We would like to join this congregation from now on, for you brought hope and love and above all, good health through provision of potable water! In the past, we walked for 4 hours to the nearest source of unsafe water. Now we are relieved!” MI Representative, Ezequiel Nhantumbo.

To donate to the Safe Water Projects click below. In order to get church credit please write your church name and number where specified.

 

Every year, unsafe water, coupled with a lack of basic sanitation, kills at least 1.6 million children under the age of five years around the world. World Health Organization - WHO

Give Water, Make Disciples for Christ and Save Lives

By Ezequiel Nhantumbo – MI representative

While attending the malaria day event in Golo area, pastors of Inhambane West district and many others from other districts who noticed my presence in the event, came before me with both words of thanks and of concern saying: “We know it is happening! We see true fruits of our covenant relationship. We thank you for the efforts in bringing water to our communities. We would nonetheless be happy to see similar projects in other communities that are still thirsty and need your help!”

Extreme poverty remains widespread, with low life expectancy and a high child mortality rate. The government estimates that over half of the population does not have safe water to drink. This situation, combined with inadequate sanitation, means that water-related illnesses become killers, with diarrhea causing around 10% of deaths in children under the age of five. - WaterAid

Pastor Rodolfo Carlos Baloi guided me on the vast Inhambane West District tour. It was a challenging safari through the dense bushes where we had to find our way because of tall and thick trees and shrubs, and on very sandy and stony rough roads. There was no way to avoid the tree branches and cactus full of thorns sang while scratching through the new MI Toyota. We got lost in a number of occasions even though Pastor Rodolfo had walked through these places, because of changes in geography of the areas, especially when there are more than two rough roads in the bush. Crossing an old bridge made of lumber was the fascinating but dangerous experience in the trip. It was also wonderful to see the sun setting through the bush on an extensive valley and also watching the moon rise from east through the bushes. We could see monkeys, snakes, birds, squirrels and other wildlife enjoying the freedom of God’s creation.

Herds of cows were observed grazing on vast valleys and we realized rice production on the shores of lakes and marshlands. We had also seen children running away from us as we tried to stop the vehicle to ask for the right road to the well sites - we learned of increased awareness from children’s parents on child traffic - an issue of concern in southern Africa. We then realized what the clergy had told me on previous day – many communities are still thirsty for clean and safe water. We saw people fetching water in rivers and lakes for human consumption, where cows and donkeys were drinking from the same water and where people were washing clothes and bathing. We had seen school children carrying 20 liters jugs of water, carrying from long distances to their homes - surely they had missed the time to go to school. Ah, we could not take them photos for fear of dropping the containers and disappear through the bush. Darkness came. We then saw bats and owls and about 8 rabbits running in front of our vehicle. We really loved seeing them! We would have seen gazelle and kudos if the moon was not up.

The Missouri conference came to these 4 locations in Inhambane West, not only by receiving information, but by way of safe water, warming the hearts of Mozambicans and relieved their suffering. A lot has changed with regard to health quality in many families, and time of children to attend school.

Four communities of this district are already drinking from safe water since February 2011 (another, Mafuiane had been completed in January).

The first project visited was the Mughowo well, 42kilometers from the village of Homoine. People had fetched water early in the morning and had been to their fields. They would come late in the morning for worship service. They needed to take care of rice and other field crops. Birds were eating rice reducing harvests - the harvests they would need to feed their families and sustain church activities. Carlos Maganda Manguele, 70 years old, and his wife came running towards the well and before we said a word, he said as tears rolled down his face: “thank you for I know you are the ones who helped drill this well. You may have seen some people washing clothes on an open well down there. That was our past. We used to drink from that water. Today, things have changed. A great number of diseases reduced drastically, diarrhea and stomach ailments, even though we do not have a health post nearby”. For sure this community walks for 3.5 hours to the nearest health post in Panda village. “We lost many relatives due to cholera, particularly children and elderly people, who died on the way to the hospital.” 

We still had a long way to get to Phaphu local church of the Panda UMC. We made our U-turn towards the main road. We had crossed a number of tiny rivers and seen monkeys playing and jumping from tree to tree. Driving to Phaphu was the second test as we our safari took us through very thick sand. The population had never seen a vehicle in the area, but a tractor and recently the drilling rig carried by a heavy traction vehicle. We arrived! Behind us and from afar there was a group of curious people from the community, wanting to know why we had made ourselves to that area. “There they are!” Said Pastor Rodolfo Carlos Baloi, pointing to a tree shade where people were singing praise songs. We were lucky to share the final moments together in the worship service under a cashew nut tree. We sat on tree logs and immediately were given time to greet the congregation.

They had been waiting for us. Immediately we all walked to the well site. There were two women fetching water from the well and they both ran towards me and one said: “We have seen Christ! Christ has risen! We would like to join this congregation from now on, for you brought hope and love and above all, good health through provision of potable water! In the past, we walked for 4 hours to the nearest source of unsafe water. Now we are relieved!” Inocência Mario, aged 30, was welcomed by the Pastor Rodolfo who defined water as the true and visible sign of evangelization and church growth. He thanked Missouri for helping make disciples of Christ and invited the congregation for a prayer around the well saying, “we dedicate this water to Your people!” He closed, blessing the water for the community use.

About 800 people drink from this source, and like other wells in the district, they have structured a functional committee that monitors health issues and maintenance. They make some contributions for maintenance ($0.50) per family per month. Like other regions, Phaphu lacks a health post, as it is located at about 40km from Panda village. The community also lacks means of transportation, schools and shops in the area. They shared willingness to continue in covenant relationship with Missouri partners. The plan is to grow horticulture crops near the well, developing a self-sustaining project.

Examples of renewed lives were present with the congregations of Mucocane. The experiences we lived in these areas were unforgettable. The congregation and members of the community had waited since after the morning worship service. Stories of presence of crocodiles down in the nearest flowing river, elephants and hippo’s threatening communities, crops and infrastructures were heard as we made our way Mucocane. Poverty still creates enormous dependency on outside the Panda district support. We all believed we would be safe while there.

The congregation sang songs of praise for hope and for a better future. “Your coming back with the well helped our church grow in membership. Five more families joined us at once! Signs of diarrhea have considerably reduced. We have more women actively participating in agriculture activities and our children no longer have problems with their academic performance at school. We never expected that one day this could happen. Our children and women were threaded by wild animals in the past as they went down the hill to fetch water. With diseases such as rheumatism it was very difficult for an elder to walk distances to fetch water. You have chosen to bring a well here rather than in another area. Let God bless you so much, so that you can be an instrument of salvation to many other people who are thirsty of water. Thanks for representing our covenant partners and helping address needs out in communities. You have taken us half-way in our priority needs. We will be concentrating on other needs as we try to improve our parsonage and build a semi-permanent chapel. We say thanks to Missouri through the scripture readings on the Book of Philippians 4:6-7” - Pastor Rodolfo closed his remarks.

Both the Mauaela and Mucocane UMC members conveyed the same message. They guaranteed the protection of this resource. In their final remarks, Pastor Joana Aminossse of the Mauaela UMC said: “Oh Lord, your children are no longer thirsty! Your children are no longer sick of diarrhea. Your children are no longer late at school. Our mothers now have time to go to their fields and the productivity in our local sectors of activities increased. We are made of the same body of Christ and this is why our relationship will never vanish. May God continue blessing us all, and let the joy be yours and ours as we share prayers and as we support each other in our daily ministry activities.”

To donate online to the Safe Water Projects in Mozambique click below. In order to get church credit please write your church name and number where specified.

 

To mail your donation for safe water projects in Mozambique, send your check payable to Missouri Conference, marked 8820 Mozambique safe water project fund, and mail to the treasurer’s office at 3601 Amron Court, Columbia, MO 65202.

Now to [God] who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish far more than we can ask or imagine, to him be glory. Ephesians 3:20-21 (NRSV)

Safe Water Flowing Again in Mozambique

The Mozambique Initiative reports that safe water projects have resumed in Mozambique using private contractors to drill or repair wells.

2010 Safe Water Projects
  • Hanhane Women’s Shelter
  • Gondola Training Center
  • Chiphongo UMC
  • CBO Boys Dorm Water System
  • Chongoene well repair

After a successful well at the Hanhane Women’s Shelter in April 2010, followed by wells (donated largely by Grace UMC in Cape Girardeau, MO) at the Gondola Training Center in the north (donated largely by The Gathering UMC in St. Louis, MO) and Chiphongo UMC in the south (donated by Webster FUMC in St. Louis, MO), the Mozambique Initiative began having success with this new approach.

Since that time, the Missouri Mozambique Initiative, working with the MI office in Mozambique, developed an application system whereby churches in Mozambique can apply for funds for a safe water project. Applicants must establish a safe water project committee at the local level and contact their area ministry of health post to register with them. They must report the number of beneficiary households and persons and contribute to the project with an offering in their own parish.

2011 Safe Water Projects
  1. Mafuiane UMC
  2. Mauaela UMC
  3. Mucocane UMC
  4. Panda UMC (Phaphu)
  5. Panda UMC (Mughowo)
  6. Nhagoho UMC
  7. Arnaldo Guibunda UMC
  8. Chissico UMC
  9. Makhate UMC
  10. Macedonia UMC – under way

17 safe water projects have been attempted since early 2010 and only one failed to produce water – at Manyawusela.

Mozambique congregations may now receive grants for a well by obtaining a quote from a responsible contractor and completing a grant request. Several churches in Mozambique have done this by working with their District Superintendent. The grant request asks the congregation to demonstrate the positive impact a well will have on their community, and requires a plan for maintenance and training. It also asks the congregation to make an investment in the well. This has encouraged local responsibility and a sense of ownership. When the grant request is approved, we then establish a schedule for paying the contractor according to documented progress and completion of the well. This has proven to be an effective means of providing safe water in Mozambique. It is also helping to foster an environment of responsibility, rather than dependency in our covenant with the Mozambique Annual Conference.

Two more projects are currently under way – Maratane UMC in Maratane Refugee Camp in the north, and Macedonía UMC in Maputo, in the south. Two more projects are delayed for full development of the plans at Cambine mission station.

These projects make a complete difference in a life in Mozambique! One woman exclaimed, “In the past, we walked for 4 hours to the nearest source of unsafe water. Now we are relieved!”

 

 

Ezequiel Nhantumbo writes, "When I was visiting Maimelane UMC, as I was driving on the main paved road I stopped when I saw some containers lined up along the main road. The soil had received some few drops of rain that morning and the potholes could hardly be filled with this liquid. I found a little girl washing her clothes and filtering some water to take home. She had walked a long way to get to the main road searching for water. For months they did not have rains in that area, and water was and still a nightmare."

The Mozambique Initiative has funded six safe water projects in 2010.

 

Gondola Training Center

Located in Manica Province, just off the N-4 highway, this training center for both laity and clergy will serve the UMC across the country. Safe water on the property makes it possible for caretakers to live there, maintenance of a sustainable farm, and is available for each building project. Pastor Veronica reports, “We were crying to receive a blessing from God. Here we have a blessings from God. For this community a big thing is safe water. We have an advantage to get water in this place. The water at the public school is not enough. We needed water here. Especially for the church because of the project – we have cabbage!”

Hanhane Women’s Shelter

 


23 women living at this shelter had to walk some distance to collect safe water. Indeed, one died while returning from the well early in 2010. Having safe water on site prevents the need to walk the long distance several times daily and simplifies the building of permanent residences for the women.

Chongoene Well Repair at Tinga Tinga

 
 

Home to the “Source of Life” orphan project, the well at Tinga Tinga had a broken pump. Lack of safe water put on hold a self-sufficiency project of raising chickens to sell for meat and eventually purchase layer hens to provide eggs for the children. With the pump repaired the project is up and running again. Students who pass the well on the way to school fill their buckets and then carry them on their return home.

Chiphongo Well

 

 

Dedicated on October 15, 2010, this well was a long time coming. Located at the Chiphongo United Methodist Church, 20 km off the highway north of Massinga, there were difficulties in getting this well drilled. After almost five years a driller was found and successful. The well serves more than 700 families in the area – about 2,450 beneficiaries – who previously had to walk to the Chibukeni river where people also bathed, watered their livestock and laundered clothing.

Manyawusela Well – underway October 2010

October-November 2010 Unsuccessful after three attempts at 90 meters.

Carolyn Belshe Orphanage Boys Dorm

Water system hook-up underway October 2010

Mafuiane Well

In progress - November 2010

Email the Mozambique Initiative for further information.