According to water.org, about 1.5 million children die
each year due to simple water born illnesses such
as diarrhea. Not only that, but at any given time, one
half of the world's hospital beds are occupied by
patients suffering from diseases associated with lack of
access to safe drinking water, inadequate sanitation and
poor hygiene. This is extremely unfortunate, as the cost
of bringing clean water to a person for a lifetime
averages out to around $25 per person, or about 1/2 of a
monthly water bill for the average American.
Unfortunately, about 1/2 of all clean water projects
fail in the first few years, because money is simply
thrown at a project instead of partnerships being built.
That is why Jefferson Street Christian Church is teaming
up with Mioche Rock, a missionary in Pignon, Haiti and a
Lincoln Christian University graduate to help dig a well
in Haiti. Mioche pastors a church and leads a Christian
school in Pignon, where access to clean water is hit or
miss. In order to better minister to his community and
to provide clean drinking water. The total cost for the
well project and an accompanying water purifying system
is around $8,000. In order to help raise the funds
associated with the well, the church is hosting two
events in the coming week.
The first is a 5k run/walk, dubbed "Run for the Well" on
Saturday, July 23 at 8am at Kickapoo Creek Park in
Lincoln. This event already has over 130 registered
participants. The suggested donation is $15 for an
individual and $25 for a family, with all proceeds going
to the well project. Those wishing to participate may
download a registration form at www.jeffstreet.org, or
simply show up at the park a half hour before the race
begins.
The Hatian Well Project will also benefit from
JeffStreet's annual Vacation Bible School program, which
starts Sunday, July 25 and runs through Thursday, July
29 from 6pm-8:30pm each evening. This year's theme is "PandaMania:
Where God is Wild about You!" It is open to 1st through
8th grades. Those wishing to attend the VBS program may
register online at www.jeffstreet.org, or by showing up
a few minutes early to the nightly program. An offering
will be taken each evening for the well project. The
organizers have set an offering goal of $1,000 for the
week.
Through these events and special gifts to the church,
over $4,000 has already been raised for the Hatian Well
Project. Some church members have even found special
ways to raise funds. Jason Farr, a church member and
Head Volleyball Coach at Lincoln Christian University,
has incorporated a presentation and a special offering
throughout his three weeks of volleyball camps. Farr
challenged the campers to give up a night of pizza and
to kick in what they would spend on the pizza to the
well fund instead. After the first of three weeks, over
$250 was given.
