Castro Family Mission- Operation Water Well

Last summer, Neil and I both read a book that our church was going through together. It is called The Hole in Our Gospel and I think will change the life of anyone who reads it. At least that is what it did to us. It convicted us very deeply and left us asking, "God what can we do?"

We decided that one thing that we are going to do in response to that question is to do what we can to help build water wells in Africa. For those of you who don' t know, as many of 5 million people die every year of water-related illnesses. "A child dies every 15 seconds of a water-born illness which creates a no win sitution for millions of parents- they can watch helplessly as their children die for lack of water, or they can watch them die from diarrhea, because the only water they have is tainted." The Hole in Our Gospel

This left me with a haunting thought. What if I was not blessed to be born to Stan and Margo Papi? What if I had not been born in America, but in Africa?? What if I were the widowed mother of 3 boys living in Africa with no clean water, watching helplessly as my children kill themselves with the only water they have to drink while another mother of 3 boys in America wastes water getting the bath just the right temperature for her children? How can I sit by here in the comfort of my warm home with a water flowing freely from the faucets and not do anything for my sister who sits in agony in Africa??

The answer is: I cannot. I must do something. I know that I cannot provide clean drinking water for everyone in Africa, but I can for one woman, for one family, for one village at a time. So, Neil and I decided to make this our mission. We have decided to set aside a certain amount of money each month and put it toward the funding of a water well. When we get enough money, we will have a celebration, send in the money, and start over again.

Our desire is to build one water well a year for as many years as God allows. Did you know that one water well will provide clean drinking water (600 gallons a day) for an entire village (about 150 people) forever!!! The cost of a traditional well is $2,600.

Unfortunately, at this time, it is not within our means to be able to allot $200 a month to reach our goal of one well a year. But as Neil and I processed this, we realized that we know other people that are concerned about the same thing and that if 5 families decided to join us and set aside $40 each month (or $500 a year), then we could make one water well a year a reality. And if that number becomes more than 5, praise Jesus, we can help more communities!!

So, that is where we sit now. We have a jar above our computer that holds our monthly water well deposits and we pray that others would want to join us on our mission to build wells so that instead of it taking 3 1/2 years to reach our goal, we could have an annual celebration!!

Please join us in praying for those less fortunate than us who do not even have the luxuries that we take for granted daily. Or, you can join us in praying for 5 families to step up and join us in making our mission a reality.



God Bless!!

Matthew 25:

For I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink.

Lord, when did we see you thirsty and give you something to drink?

I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine,

you did for me.