Day 6 Reflection from Carol- Mutual Gifts

I had long wanted to spend time in Africa to do my small part in helping the less fortunate. When I heard that one of my golf heroes - Betsy King - and her organization Golf Fore Africa were on an incredible mission to bring clean water to remote villages in Zambia, the stars were aligned. So I headed to Zambia on a goodwill mission to dedicate a water well and spend time with people in these communities. What I did not expect is that the wonderful people of Zambia would return the generosity threefold.

It is impossible to convey in any meaningful way the level of poverty in the remote villages we visited.  Imagine walking almost a mile round-trip multiple times a day to gather polluted water from a ditch so that you can bathe and feed your family, hoping to avoid diarrhea and infant death. Also consider housing a family of eight in a single room with a detached makeshift cooking area and latrine, all set on a dirt floor without access to electricity.  This is the reality for millions of people in Zambia. So, the impact of contributing a water well to people in Kapuka village took on a far greater meaning once I visited the community. 

The dedication of the water well opened yet another door for me into the souls of the Zambian people. The villagers greeted us dressed in vibrant colors singing and dancing their hearts out.  Their spirit and warmth were only surpassed by their overwhelming appreciation for the water well they were given - a borehole with a manual pump for running water, often situated as far as fifteen minutes from their homes. As you talked to the people in the village, you came away believing that they would persevere through any adversity to make things better for their children and communities. 

Of course, the much needed work of bringing clean water to remote communities could not be done without the broad footprint and lasting trust established by World Vision.  It is not a relationship based on handouts but exacts accountability and integrity.  In real terms, before a water well is drilled, all villages in the community must incorporate hygiene and sustainability into their day-to-day living.  As teachers and mentors, the good people of World Vision are heroes in these communities. 

No doubt, the people in Kapuka village will benefit greatly from now having access to clean water.  But I gained so much more from spending time with them.  I was reminded of the power of perseverance, the true value of appreciation and the spirit of life in its purest form.  A water well was a small price to pay! 

Carol Ann Petren