Article submitted by Jim & Sue Brannan, Field Coordinators in Peru
Everyone agrees that clean water is a basic need and thanks to many people through MV, upriver communities along the Madre de Dios River in Peru are learning how to build their own safe water supply. Many people upriver, including the tribal people, have access to a lot of water; but it is in no way safe to drink!
This grayish-chocolate colored river water is being used daily for bathing, playing, washing clothes and dishes, defecating, disposing of garbage and, yes, drinking. If they have rainwater or fuel for boiling water, the communities would use those first as Plan A and B—however; this water would still be their Plan C.
We are always looking for ways to help these people upriver who are living such a rugged life. They have many physical needs; however for missionaries to just give them “things” (and in doing so, looking like we are buying our way in) has caused more problems than it has ever helped in the long run. However, in the Amazonian jungle when the rain stops falling or dry wood for boiling water becomes scarce and there is no other alternative, the children see no harm in drinking directly out of the muddy river whenever they get thirsty.
What is the solution? How could we help these families living in extremely isolated areas, improve their health without just handing them an easy flow water filter with disposable cartridges only available in their nation’s largest cities, hundreds of miles away?
Whenever we ask for help, God touches hearts and minds in places so far away that most people here in Peru don’t even know exist. MV sent us a short term team, trained to help build water purifiers designed to clean river water by running the water over pebbles and coarse sand enclosed in a barrel type container—or a simple garbage can. This solution came from a design by Aqua Clara Water Purification out of Michigan and used natural materials and items that could easily be brought upriver to the communities to build a system that could provide over 5 gallons of water, twice daily, for each home. Ten gallons of pure water a day will make a big difference in the health of a native living so far upriver that even emergency medications can take 3 days or more to arrive.
We set up clinics in 4 different areas upriver and together with the local pastors and men of each community, we all learned how to build a reliable system to clean the water well enough to drink without having to boil it. The system is affordable and each pastor has directions to build more as the communities realize the value in the project.
These kinds of learning projects help to meet the people’s needs, while giving us credibility. Afterwards, it is not by accident that it’s necessary to return periodically to check on the purifiers’ maintenance, as this gives the missionary a reason to pass through the community, visit each water purifier location and build relationships with many people in these villages, tribes and communities.
These water purifiers are a blessing to everyone who has one, plus they give us a chance to share about a deeper need for the pure spiritual water in the people’s lives as well; that only comes from Jesus Christ. So, really this is only the beginning…