The Gift of Clean Water

When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst, I the Lord will answer them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.

- Isaiah 41:17, NRSV

Today is Blog Action Day coordinated by Blogger which are the folks who provide the template and all of resources necessary for me to be able to write this blog. Each year they pick a topic and ask bloggers around the world to blog about the topic as a way to raise awareness about issues facing our world. This year's topic is the need for clean water in the world.
When I found out what the topic was, I did what any good and faithful United Methodist does, I went to the United Methodist Church's Board of Global Ministries website to see what United Methodists are doing to help people around the world gain access to clean, drinkable water in their communities. As always, I was overwhelmed by the current statistics regarding the lack of access to clean water that so many people have. Here are some examples:

•Less than 1% of the world’s fresh water (or about .007% of all water on earth) is readily accessible for direct human use. (World Health Organization [WHO])

•At any one time, more than half of the poor in the developing world are ill from causes related to hygiene, sanitation, and water supply. (Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council [WSSCC], 2008)

•3.575 million people die each year from water-related disease. (WHO, 2008)

•43% of water-related deaths are due to diarrhea. (WHO, 2008)

•88% of cases of diarrhea worldwide are attributable to unsafe water, inadequate sanitation, or insufficient hygiene. (WSSCC, 2008)

•98% of water-related deaths occur in the developing world. (WHO, 2008)

I also found myself feeling deeply grateful by the amount of work that UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) is doing to help in this area. UMCOR's work focuses on providing people access to water filtration units, the rehabilitation or construction of community wells, and appropriate sanitation facilities. You can learn more about what the United Methodist Church is doing to help bring clean, safe water to people at this link: http://www.10-fold.org/projects/75/Day-8--Clean-Water-and-Sanitation  There's even a link on this page that will allow you to donate to United Methodist clean water projects.
I hope you will join me in praying for those who struggle from day to day to obtain what most Americans take for granted: clean water. I hope that the next time you turn on your kitchen faucet or take a hot shower or use a drinking fountain, you will join me in giving thanks to God for the gift of clean water.