JUNE 2010 KUWAA MISSION PRAYER LETTER

I worshipped at Trinity Lutheran Church in Park Forest, IL on June 6, 2010. It happened to have been the same day that the congregation launched its $12.00 Club. The volunteer couple that heads the Kuwaa Mission Project at this church walked up with the only child at church that Sunday. They placed the replica of a well on the baptismal font for all to see. Then they asked the child and the congregation to name things for which we are thankful. We named several things but not once did it occur to any of us to name portable water.

It got me thinking about the times I lived in and visited villages in Kuwaa land. I remember there were times when the source of water dried up the villagers performed rituals for the rains to come. The entire village waited in great anticipation for the heavens to open and pour down rain. I remember times when such rains came and we were provided immediate relief, but then the creeks were so polluted from human and animal waste that over half of the village would get sick from drinking the water – this would delay the farming process. I remember having to walk at least half a mile one way to bring home a pail of water. I remember watching my mother and sisters, after an entire day of back-breaking work on the farm, come home and spend their evenings putting tin buckets on their heads and walking that half mile to and fro in order to supply the home with drinking, cooking, and bath water. I remember how mothers unintentionally increased their children’s sicknesses by providing those children the same water that made them sick in the first place. I remember the shrill cry of mothers in the middle of the night because they lost their children to the high concentration of waterborne diseases in those little bodies.

So I wonder how many in those villages would take portable water for granted. I am aware that people in those        villages would be no different from us after they have had access to portable water for some time. What a day it will be when that day comes! We are hopeful that that day will come.

That is why we, members of the Kuwaa Mission, celebrate the digging of the two new wells and the remodeling of the four old ones among the Kuwaa people since January this year. We celebrate the generosity of our partners around the US who have made this possible. We are still a long way off. But we believe we can do all things through Christ – even this.

Please continue to pray for:

• The Kuwaa people
• The Roads to open
• Yamaha AG100 Trail bikes for our two field leaders
• Transportation for carrying supplies up country
• More funds for wells, schools, & churches
• The speedy recovery of our CEO

Make checks out to: Bethany Lutheran

Address:

Earmark:            Kuwaa Mission & other projects Volunteers

Your Brother in Christ

Rev. Dr. D. Jensen Seyenkulo – Board of Directors Chairman

Website: www.kuwaamission.org

For information contact:               Jensen Seyenkulo (jensen.seyenkulo@elca.org)

Richard Thompson (revdrthompson@gmail.com)

Volunteer Information:                 Diane Stelling (kuwaa5diane@sbcglobal.net)

Work Program Manager:               Stan Olsen (stan1olsen@yahoo.com)