Carry the Jerry

This past weekend we had the chance to participate in a water walk to help raise money for a well in Rwanda.  We learned they were trying to raise $5,000 for the well.  This event was put on by a small group of college students who are eager to help make a difference in the lives of a few people who they have never met.  It was inspiring.

When we got there, we were greeted kindly and handed a jerry can to carry to a near by pond where we would fill it up.  The walk was nice. We were on a paved track, some trees helped to provide shade, we had our tennis shoes on, and it only took us fifteen minutes to reach the pond. We all gathered and filled up our jerry cans. We had the option to fill it to the top or half way.  Whatever would be easiest for us. It said on the side of our can that it was the equivalent of 2.5 flushes.  Mark choose to fill it up all the way and we were on our way back to the where we started.

The walk back took a little longer since we were now carrying a very heavy jerry can.  We joked that we could take Emma out of her stroller, hold her, and push the can.  But we continued on!

In Africa, most women and children go and fetch the water.  They walk 2, 5, 7 miles multiple times a day.  I honestly don't know how they do it.  I tried carrying that jerry can and it was really heavy so Mark ended up carrying it most of the way :)

On our twenty minute walk back, we talked a lot about how different our walk was compared to the walk these women and children take. We had sunglasses on, socks and shoes on, we were walking on pavement, we got to push our baby and not wear her on our back, and we had our water bottles to help hydrate us. We were reminded, in our tired and sweaty state, of the many who still need access to water.

Just think about it, if the children spend most of their day walking to fetch water, there is no time for school.  The time that the women spend fetching water could be spent in more care for their family and with other necessary tasks. They walk so far just to fetch contaminated water, sometimes leading to sickness and death.  It just breaks my heart.  We are to be His hands and feet in the world. If we follow Jesus, then we will love those in need.  If a physical need is clean water, shouldn't we help the locals provide it?

We are told to "carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ" (Galations 6:2).  When we join God's family, we join the family business and that is a life of serving others.  Jesus set the example for us throughout scripture.  As Good Friday approaches, I can't help but think about how Jesus died on that cross carrying my burdens and your burdens.  He did it because He LOVES us.  And if He can do that for us, I think we can take His request to heart and look after each other, help build each other up, and love each other in a way that makes us lay ourselves down at the feet of the cross daily.

Will you carry the jerry for someone today?