A dear friend sent me a photo today of a bubbling brook and
peaceful rushing waters. She texted me
“as I watched the crisp fresh water bubbling from that spring it reminded me of
Makiah, and I grasped my necklace of her Living Water Well that I wear 99.9% of
the time. It made me smile as I
remembered all the sweet little girls that are now able to go to school and
live somewhat normal lives because of Makiah’s dream. This photo makes me happy and helps me to
remember her beauty. It has no filter or
editing, simply God’s creation in all its splendor.”
Tears sprang to my eyes.
Happy tears that Makiah still comes to my friend’s mind. Joy that the money Makiah gave from her piggy bank shortly before her death to help build a well at church
has multiplied into many wells. And
amazement that this text came today, when today was the day I planned to blog
about all the new wells!
Yes there are more!
There are eleven wells in all now! Saturday I gathered all the well pictures and info that had been
shuffled around in the move and prepared to write but nap time was too
short. Yesterday I had a sick child and
a mega headache, so this morning when I got the text I knew this was well
writing day! If you are new to the blog,
you can read the original well story HERE.
Let’s hope my children sleep long…
In the scorching African sun, 500 high school students
attended the well dedication in a village in Ghana. The new well meant the children’s school
would no longer have to collect rainwater as their main source of water, and in
the dry season they would not have to miss class anymore to make treks outside
the village in search of water. It also
meant that all 500 heard a clear presentation of the gospel, and 50 students
made decisions to serve the Lord! 
In Manzibomvu,
South Africa a
village of 60 people who desperately collected rainwater before, gave thanks to God for their new well. These two wells have something in
common. The money for them was raised
entirely by a preschool class at Oak Crest Baptist
Church in Greenville, South Carolina
in Makiah’s memory! And they have
already sent in the $1800 for a third well and are almost finished raising the
money for a fourth! Can we make a
difference in this world? Can a
child? Can we impact eternity? This group of little ones and their amazing
leaders and my mother-n-law who shared Makiah’s story with them have shown us
that we can!
In Viswanadhapally, India 500 people are benefiting
from the well that many of you, my friends and family, and my dad’s coworkers
built. A local pastor shared the gospel
of hope and explained how the Lord Jesus is the only one who can quench the
spiritual thirst we all have. He prayed
with several villagers to receive Christ.
One lady told a worker that her family suffers from skin infections because
they previously could not get enough water to bathe or wash their clothes
in. She said the well has brought great
relief not only to her family but also to the others in her village. We can
be the bringers of relief for them!
In Erukalawada,
India most of
the people walk barefoot in the hot sun for miles every day to secure a bare
minimum of water. The water they
normally get is highly contaminated and many suffer from, gastroenteritis and
other water borne diseases. Today,
Jyothi, a 27 year old resident of the village, is thankful that she can spend
more time with her family instead of waiting for hours to catch water dripping
from a pipe that passes by the village.
“Thank you for this wonderful gift!”
she exclaimed to a worker. Her
words are a reflection of the hope brought to 500 villagers because of many of
you!!! We can be the bringers of hope!
And friends, we do not know how many days we will have that
opportunity. Cameron’s mom was sharing
Makiah’s story with a sweet couple, the Bryants, that have known him all his
life. They knew of Makiah’s death but
not the Well Project. Their hearts were
so moved that they wrote a check to fund an entire well. They took their earthly wealth and spent it
on an eternal investment. And the
people of a South African village, Esipahleni, were changed because of their
generosity. Little did this couple know that almost exactly one year later, Mr.
James Bryant would meet Jesus face to face and have a chance to lay that
heavenly crown at His master’s feet. 
Our life is but a breath the bible says. It is like the grass of the field that fades
away, but the Word of God stands forever.
When we are Jesus with skin on, we take our perishable lives and sow
them into something incorruptible. We
trade our pennies for His treasure.
Thank you for turning my Makiah’s pennies into treasure that will
last! I will so enjoy the day I get to
introduce you to her and we are able to meet those face to face who have been
changed! May we sow our pennies wisely
until that day!
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where
moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in
heaven…” Mathew 6:19-20
Only $1800 builds a well. Tax deductible donations to the Well Project can be made by mailing a check to:
Operation Blessing International
Attn: Christine Coughlin, CSB 322
977 Centerville Turnpike
Virginia Beach, VA 23463
*Mark your gift clearly on the check for Makiah King and it will be credited to her account.
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Thank you for making her life count over and over again! |
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