journey onWord with us

What quenches thirst more than anything else?  For me, it is always water! There is just something about cool, clean, clear water that is refreshing, nourishing and often life changing.  Most Americans reading this article have all the cool, clean, clear water they need readily available. Around the world, that is not always the case. And that is where my story begins. It is a tale of seeking to hear God’s will on a Christmas project and looking beyond our borders to provide cool, clear water.

For Christmas every year, our Bible Study group seeks to give beyond ourselves to help projects that can change lives and spread the gospel message. This year, in my struggle to find the right project(s) for the group, I was praying for God’s clear direction. In my quest, I had found a potential need in Romania and called a couple who work in Romania and beyond. One of my struggles is, am I listening and God, or just following my own inclinations, and I wanted to sense the Spirit’s leading.

When I called my friends to ask about Romania, it took about 10 seconds to find Romania was a hard no. But they told me that a strong leader from the Congo just happened to be in their truck (as we spoke) and had a need. Well of course, tell me more! They are trying to build a well on mountainside in the Congo that would give clean water. And oh, by the way, it would help provide water to 5000 people. I learned in that conversation that on one of their medical mission trips, a doctor shared that 90% of the children’s illnesses he treated were water-born. It made sense to me that if you bathe, use the bathroom and drink water from the same stream- who wouldn’t get sick?

So, on that day, discussing water played a role in what I wanted; to hear God’s direction! I am constantly learning that to hear God is not as hard as I make it. I just need to be sensitive and listen! You may struggle with hearing Him also (just be sensitive and listen). What started with feeding kids in Romania, became building a well on a mountain in the Congo that will  help serve 5000 thirsty (physically and spiritually) people. There was no doubt that our group should attack this relatively inexpensive project. Our goal this year is to “Change the World” with our projects. Clean water in the Congo can change the world.

And not coincidentally, I was taught once again that if I am thirsty to listen to the Father (not always my first response), He knows how to communicate with me. And in this case, just maybe 5000 souls get clean water and have an opportunity to hear the gospel and “never thirst again.” Jesus’ words to the woman at the well say all we need to hear.

Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”
John 4:13-14 (KJV – my emphasis added)

God loves for us to listen, to be world changers and eternity focused!