Safe Water For All

Background Information

Unless a water main in our neighborhood is suddenly broken, we tend to take an abundant supply of clean water for granted. However, this is not true for many people in the world, particularly in underdeveloped areas. Carrying water for all their needs from a distant river or spring is a way of life for thousands of people. They may not think of it as a particular hardship -- unless they realize that much of the water they carry and use is contaminated and is the cause of many illnesses, particularly among children. Also, the scarcity of water leads to insufficient water intake each day for the physical well-being of themselves and their families. An adequate supply of clean water is a basic need for good health.

Water is obviously necessary in our lives: to wash, to clean, to cook, to drink. Water is essential for the proper functioning of the human body, including the brain. Objectives of this mission study are:

  • to help students recognize the importance of water and its conservation
  • to help students realize that many people around the world do not have safe or good water
  • to motivate students to support projects which will help people have an adequate supply of safe water

Conserving water in our country will not provide water for people in another country, but it will help us to be better stewards of God's gift of water to us. There is a finite amount of water on earth: no "new" water is being created. All water is recycled through the natural processes of evaporation, rainfall, snow, floods, and so forth.

Founded in 1987, Global Health Ministries, based in Minneapolis, MN, provides assistance in funds and material goods for Lutheran health care programs overseas. Through its Safe Water Project it gathers funds to help build wells in Senegal, Tanzania, India and Madagascar. It also has provided new water pipes for a hospital in Nepal. Offerings from this mission study will go to the Safe Water Project. For additional information about the work of GHM or specifics as to where your offering might go, call 763-586-9590.