One by one, each student in Johanna’s home-school speech class gave their speeches. The speech of a young man named Andrew particularly caught my attention:
“During the past three weeks, the eyes of the world have been glued to the sudden disappearance of Malaysian Airlines flight 370. Search and rescue teams have been sent from more than 25 countries to search non-stop for any signs of the crash. CNN has reported that this may be the most expensive aviation search and rescue of all time. However, as tragic as this is, it pales in comparison to another serious problem.
“Imagine what you would think if you learned that 17 jumbo jets full of passengers crashed today. And tomorrow you hear that another 17 crashed, and every day of the year another 17. That’s more than 6,000 huge planes full of passengers crashing every year.
“But while there aren’t really jumbo jets crashing at that rate, there is a serious problem that claims 1.5 million lives every year. It is a huge lack of clean drinking water in many parts of the world, especially in Africa, Asia, and South America. 1.5 million people die from contaminated water each year. Often, their water source gets contaminated. As a result, many get sick from waterborne illnesses such as typhoid, cholera or parasites. These illnesses cause diarrhea and dehydration, which can quickly lead to death. In fact, every 20 seconds a child dies from lack of clean water.”
How many times have I treated Gogodala children and adults for diarrhea, most likely caused by contaminated drinking water?
“Water is a basic need of life,” the young man continued. “It should be a human right to be able to have clean, safe water. Without it, millions suffer and needlessly die. No one wants to see even one airliner go down. With the same horror, we should view this water problem as an even more serious, yet solvable, crisis.”
Again my thoughts drifted. Over the past year and a half, I have been thinking more seriously about the challenges our people face getting access to safe drinking water. During one of our elders’ workshops, Johanna shared a video she had made of bacteria under a microscope for a biology experiment. The bacteria were growing in a sample of local lagoon water. One of the workshop attendees saw it and exclaimed, “That is growing in the water I drink?!” Quickly, an idea came to me. When the workshop resumed, I spoke to the men about the importance of clean drinking water. I told them that if they only have river or lagoon water available to drink, there is something they can do. They can take a clean t-shirt or tea towel and pour the water through it to filter out the sediment. Then they can bring the water to a boil over the fire and then let it cool. Once that was done, it would be safe to drink.
“. . . Extensive testing has shown that pasteurizing water at 149 degrees Fahrenheit is just as effective as bringing it to a boil. Compared to boiling water, pasteurizing takes only half the firewood, saving effort and trees.
“I want to share a simple device with you called a WAPI—a water pasteurization indicator—that can help people have safer drinking water. A WAPI is a small polycarbonate tube containing soy wax that melts when water or milk is heated enough to be pasteurized, indicating its readiness to drink. It is reusable and durable, plus it is simple to make and simple to use.”
Amazing! That would be just the thing for the Gogodala.
“We have about 200 WAPIs to make and send with the Ericksons. We would be glad to have help putting them together. Just let us know if you would like to help.
“So you see, when you solve the water crises by providing clean water for villages, you do so much more than stop needless waterborne diseases. You give health to the people. By enabling people to have clean local water, you can then lead them to the Water of Life who can quench the deepest thirst of their hearts.”
My heart was touched as this young man finished his speech. What a wonderful gift! Now the Gogodala can protect their health even when all they have to drink is dirty lagoon water.
Several weeks later, Johanna’s home school speech class members, parents and friends got together to assemble the WAPIs. After our return to Kewa, we can educate our friends about how to pasteurize their water and the health benefits they will gain.
Thank you, Andrew, for your interest in clean drinking water for the Gogodala and other people of the world. We pray that your family’s gift will benefit people physically so they can also taste the pure Water of Life.

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