WASH

Clean Water, New Hope: WASH Ministry in Malawi

aheckman — Fri, 23 Aug 2024 18:48:54 +0000

Clean Water, New Hope: WASH Ministry in Malawi aheckman Fri, 08/23/2024 - 18:48

Clean Water, New Hope: WASH Ministry in Malawi

AUGUST 23, 2024 - AMY HECKMAN

In Malawi, new water wells, a key component of WASH (Water, Sanitation, Hygiene) compassionate ministry projects, are revitalizing communities and inspiring hope among congregations and their leaders.

Pastor Singano of Liwonde Church of the Nazarene expressed his joy when the church’s well became operational: 'I am thrilled to see that our church now has access to safe water,' he said. 'Our prayers have finally been answered!'

For many decades, people near Pastor Singano’s church struggled to access clean water. Sickness from contamination was common. Tragically, one woman even suffered a miscarriage due to an illness contracted from the contaminated water supply.

“As a community, we didn’t know that bad water can lead to miscarriage,” Pastor Singano explained.

The renewed health experienced in his community is helping to magnify the message he strives to always preach—that of Christ’s gift of help and hope in this world and the world to come.

“Thank you again for the water!” he exclaimed.

Pastor Marcel came to Malawi as a refugee from Rwanda. Once a resident of a refugee camp, his calling to ministry brought him to a Malawian village to live among a poverty-stricken community and provide care for their spiritual needs.

“I know being a refugee, we also have our problems,” Pastor Marcel shared. “But, when I came to this community, and see how people are struggling to have access to water, I felt bad for them knowing all people, especially women and children, need safe water to maintain their dignity.”

Recently, Pastor Marcel has been fighting for the chance to stay and serve this community, despite government pressure to return to his former refugee camp. The drilling of a well has done more than provide improved health to his neighbors. Now, it’s changed how they view his presence among them.

“I started praying for this community, and see how people are struggling to have access to water ... the coming of water has cemented my relationship with the community,” said Pastor Marcel. “I am thankful to God that the opportunity to minister to this community is still open.”

Malawi

WASH

Clean Water

Water

Coming Together for Health & Wholeness

aheckman — Mon, 22 Apr 2024 16:12:52 +0000

Coming Together for Health & Wholeness aheckman Mon, 04/22/2024 - 16:12

Coming Together for Health & Wholeness

APRIL 22, 2024 - GINA POTTENGER

“If you are not interested in the community, the community will not be interested in you,” says Christelle Bossina, national director of NCM for Cote D’Ivoire.

As our taxi navigates around deep potholes filled with rainwater, Christelle interrupts herself to say, “Look!” She points at a group of young men shoveling garbage and mud from the city’s deep cement gutters. A broad smile crosses her face. She explains that the people of the Andokoi neighborhood are cleaning their streets—something they didn’t do before the Grace Church of the Nazarene began its monthly street cleaning project.

Called WASH, the project’s objective is to improve residents’ health and prevent reoccurring illnesses caused by daily exposure to sewage and standing water.

Kickstarted through a two-year grant from NCM, WASH stands for Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene. Grace church’s WASH program also includes educational initiatives, empowering people to more effectively care for their own hygiene, sanitation, and clean water.

By modeling how to improve their immediate environment, the short-term project has grown into a movement that has taken on a life of its own—as attested by the young men mucking out the gutters without coordination through the church.

Andokoi is an economically struggling community adjoining Abidjan, a large city near the coast of Cote D’Ivoire. Grace church was founded there as part of a Nazarene-run health clinic. Decades of treating community members for preventable diseases at the clinic next door have led the church community to seek to address the source of those diseases.

In 2016, Serge and Christelle Bossina joined Grace church. A lawyer at a local bank, Christelle quickly gave her free time to volunteer in the church’s compassionate ministries. Serge became the NCM coordinator for Abidjan, while Christelle took on the role of national director.

“So we sat down and said, ‘OK, why treat the problem at the end? We must, in addition, treat the problem at the source,’” Christelle explains. “That is how we noticed that our surroundings, our environment, was not healthy.”

Homes and businesses line the gutters. Abidjan’s torrential, equatorial rainstorms rush through Andokoi’s unpaved streets, sweeping trash, sewage, and mud into the gutters. Without adequate wastewater infrastructure, the gutters overflow with each new storm, occasionally flooding homes and businesses. Mosquitoes and bacteria breed in standing water. People walk through sewage on their way to work and school.

All that sewage and standing water was making the church’s neighbors sick.

As she pondered, Christelle came up with an idea: What if the church leads the community in cleaning up our own neighborhood? She and some other leaders traveled to Ghana to participate in an NCM-sponsored WASH training. They learned about the impact of water on people’s health and how to educate them to improve sanitation conditions.

With this new knowledge, the congregation organized home visits to convince their neighbors to join a cleanup project.

People protested the church’s attempts since they pay taxes to the government to clean up their surroundings. However, the church moved forward with the project.

After seeing that the church people were climbing into the filthy gutters with shovels and gloves, some neighbors and even bored street children started to help the church members with the tools and personal protective equipment that were provided. Together, they worked shoulder to shoulder, cleaning up their community and sharing a meal together after work.

“One time we were cleaning the gutter, and two young men were walking by…. They were so drunk,” Christelle says. “They stopped and said, ‘What are you doing?’ And we said, ‘We do this for Jesus because, if not for Jesus, none of us would leave home to come out and clean the gutter of a friend.’”

The next thing she knew, one of the young men picked up a shovel and got down into the gutter, joining the cleanup. The following Sunday, he showed up for worship. Now, he’s a member of the church.

“It's extraordinary,” Christelle says. “God just needs us to take action, and then it is like a seed planted in the ground. God takes care of watering the plant and producing its fruit to get the result that God wants. That's it. God simply wants us to be tools in his hands that he will use for his glory. Truly, that is what the WASH program has brought to us.”

Now, residents organize their own cleanups without the church being involved.

Serving others the way Christ would serve has transformed the Nazarene congregation, too.

“Before, I would say that people came to church for themselves,” Christelle says. “They just came to be saved, to pray to God, and then go back home. But today, thanks to this program, I can say with confidence that now the people know their own value and the value of this church to the community.”

Once the church proved that it was interested in the community, the community became interested in the church and its message of hope in Jesus.

“All of these acts, all that we do in the world, [are evidences] of the love of Christ. And I bless the Lord for this church that makes this possible throughout the world.”

- Adapted from the latest issue of NCM Magazine. To read more, click here.

WASH

From the Magazine

Africa

Transforming Lives

aheckman — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 15:10:16 +0000

Transforming Lives aheckman Wed, 03/13/2024 - 15:10

Transforming Lives

MARCH 13, 2024 - LEODY TAN ECHAVEZ III

In the remote corners of Myanmar, the lack of access to clean water has been an arduous challenge for countless families. The journey to retrieve water from distant sources often stretches over many kilometers, leaving individuals grappling with the scarcity of this basic necessity.

The repercussions are dire: waterborne diseases, compromised hygiene, inadequate sanitation, and limited opportunities for education and employment. Against the backdrop of a nation plagued by civil unrest, the struggle for survival has intensified. The ongoing conflict has uprooted lives, with countless civilians displaced and homes destroyed. Farmers find their fields barren due to the scourge of war, while inflation and soaring prices make even basic sustenance a battle. The crisis has given rise to an urgent need for health education, as communities must now fend for their own well-being amid dwindling resources and rising threats of diseases.

Yet, amid these grueling situations, a glimmer of hope emerges. In partnership with Nazarene Compassionate Ministries, undeterred by strife, local Nazarene churches have initiated a life-transforming project to provide clean water, sanitation, and hygiene solutions for the affected communities. This endeavor seeks to quench physical thirst and instill a renewed sense of compassion and discipleship through the local churches' involvement.

The driving force behind this transformative project is a fervent desire to alleviate the community's suffering. After witnessing people travel great distances for a sip of clean water, local churches took on a mission to help the community. The vision extended beyond mere provision; it encompassed trust-building, relationship-forging, and a profound demonstration of love in action. The project was conceived as an embodiment of God's love and an opportunity for the local churches to show the community the same care they experienced from God.

The local churches' engagement with the community was proactive and holistic. Planning, labor, and maintenance of the wells became shared endeavors, fostering a sense of ownership and unity. The once-daunting task of accessing clean water was replaced with the convenience of wells within arm's reach. This transformation, however, transcended the physical realm. Through this compassionate service, the local churches fostered a deeper connection with the community, enabling them to share the Word of God and bring the message of hope and salvation.

TESTIMONY

The story of Maung Sai serves as a testament to the transformative power of the water well project. Initially a non-believer, Sai's encounter with the local pastor, James, altered the trajectory of his life. When asked to contribute to the well-drilling efforts, he willingly participated. As he labored alongside the pastor, conversations about faith and God were interwoven with the physical work. Through these interactions, Sai's heart softened, eventually leading him to embrace Christianity. Sai was baptized by the pastor, and his new life was paralleled by the successful drilling of the well—a symbol of both spiritual and physical rejuvenation.

The local church's support for Maung Sai extended far beyond his conversion. Regular fellowships, prayer sessions, and Bible studies bolstered his faith and nurtured his spiritual growth. Recognizing his commitment to serve, the church facilitated his enrollment at Chapman International College in Yangon, nurturing his potential for ministry. Compassion, as exemplified through the well project, played a pivotal role in Maung Sai's transformation, serving as a bridge that connected him to a deeper spiritual understanding.

MEETING THE NEEDS

For the local churches, identifying the need to access water was not merely an administrative task but a journey of understanding the community's struggles. Visits and discussions during evangelism efforts allowed the churches to grasp the full extent of the challenge. Their involvement went beyond well digging; they invested in the necessary infrastructure to ensure long-term functionality. Installing electric power meters and a compressor helped safeguard the community's access to clean water.

Through the wells, the churches addressed a multifaceted range of needs. In addition to enhancing physical health, the clean water also sparked trust and relationship-building. This comprehensive approach, grounded in compassionate discipleship, aimed at not only quenching the community’s physical thirst but also satisfying spiritual hunger. The commitment to long-term sustainability extended beyond the project's inception. A dedicated group emerged, tasked with the care and upkeep of the wells. Infrastructure improvements, including walls and roofs, fortified the wells against the elements. This approach transformed maintenance into a communal endeavor, uniting the community in their shared responsibility.

As the community embraced its role in the wells' upkeep, a deep sense of ownership blossomed. These initiatives not only cultivated practical skills among community members but also instilled virtues of patience, care, and responsibility—integral aspects of discipleship. The wells became symbols of the partnership between the local church and the community, illustrating the symbiotic nature of compassionate ministry and sustainable development, which opened doors for deeper connections and evangelism.

A NEWFOUND HOPE

In the face of ongoing conflicts, the water well project became a beacon of hope for both the local church and the community. Clean water was not only a source of physical relief but a conduit for building trust and understanding amid adversities. The wells acted as communal gathering points, strengthening relationships and offering solace in times of strife.

When faced with challenges, the local church found a unique platform for discipleship and evangelism. The well project laid the groundwork for conversations about faith, providing an entry point for sharing the gospel and building trust through compassion. The relationships nurtured through this compassionate endeavor transformed opposition into openness, resulting in a fertile ground for the seeds of faith to flourish. The water well project's impact not only transcended clean water access but also acted as a catalyst for broader development, as relationships formed around the wells paved the way for evangelism and discipleship. The wells became spaces to reduce logistical struggles and remove barriers between the local church and the unbelievers. Once symbols of adversity, these spaces were transformed into arenas of connection, dialogue, and transformation.

LESSONS LEARNED

The Myanmar water wells project offers invaluable insights for churches and organizations seeking to practice compassionate discipleship. Beyond the act of helping those in need, the project showcases the potential for ministry and evangelism, which are not separate entities but intertwined facets of a greater whole, through practical acts of love. The lessons extend beyond the confines of Myanmar, providing a roadmap for replication. Through practical service, the local church ignited a transformative process that brought together physical and spiritual well-being.

As the project continues to flourish, it stands as a testament of compassion’s transformative power, demonstrating that even in the midst of conflict, love in action has the potential to renew lives, communities, and faith.

An Integrated Health Initiative yields Healthy Solutions in Liberia

aheckman — Thu, 28 Apr 2022 20:44:21 +0000

An Integrated Health Initiative yields Healthy Solutions in Liberia aheckman Thu, 04/28/2022 - 20:44

An Integrated Health Initiative yields Healthy Solutions in Liberia

APRIL 28, 2022 · CHET BUSH

Marie Tutu of Liberia had no way of knowing that the way she arranged the dishes in her kitchen would have a direct impact on her children’s health. She, also, could not have known that vectors of disease linked bacteria from the community to her home no matter how clean she kept her family’s living space. When health alliance workers representing the Integrated Health Initiative of Nazarene Compassionate Ministries came to her community in Gompa, Marie learned about strategies for wellness that could protect her family and promote the health of her six children. Now, Marie says she stacks her clean dishes upside down and covers them with linen to protect against insect and airborne disease.

Though this change seems simple, the practice is connected to a broader system of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) solutions that position families in Gompa, Liberia, and beyond, to live longer and healthier lives. NCM’s Integrated Health Initiative promotes these health solutions by facilitating partnerships between clinical and community health services in five countries in Africa: Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, and Zambia. As an expression of the ministry of Jesus, this initiative works through local churches to strengthen existing health networks, thereby equipping members of the community to drive the solutions for public health, themselves.

Health volunteers

Marie’s kitchen organization, therefore, fits within a broader system that works to establish and protect clean water sources, build sanitary latrine facilities, clear play areas for children, and develop the terrain for safe water drainage. That simple act of protecting her dinnerware protects Marie and her family from bacteria spread through contaminated drinking water, open defecation, stagnant wet spaces, and overgrown play areas, all aspects over which she may not have immediate control. As more and more households employ the alliance’s solutions, however, WASH methods systematically challenge the spread of infection and disease. And residents have embraced a core value in the mission of the Integrated Health Initiative: by focusing on children and mothers' health, these innovative methods yield positive results for the entire community.

Vocational skills training