Remembering Rachel

By now, you've likely heard the story of 9-year-old Rachel Beckwith, who decided to forego birthday gifts, asking friends and family to donate money to charity:water.  Read more about her story here.

As an update, her fundraising page shows that she's raised more than $850,000 at this point.  This money will be used for clean water projects that will change the lives of thousands of people, even saving the lives of some.  And her story has showcased the water crisis and the need for people to give generously to better the lives of others.  It's inspiring to remember how one seemingly small decision made in love can have a long-lasting and life-changing impact.

Get Ready to Go Forth

Tomorrow Levi's will introduce a campaign on facebook, encouraging its fans to support water.org.

See more of the story here, and get ready to go forth!

Home stretch

I just completed my last long run of 8 miles, which was actually shorter than some of my during-the-week runs just a couple of weeks ago!  Marathon taper time is bittersweet.  It's been nice to look at my marathon training plan and see that I'm responsible for completing much less milage.  But I was feeling a little nostalgic when I realized that time marches on, and this season of training is nearly over.  I will miss my weekly morning long runs with my friend Val!  We felt really thankful as our husbands watched our kids while we ran through the beautiful Lancaster County countryside and shared meaningful conversation.  Val runs her first marathon in the Outer Banks tomorrow.  Go Val!

A quick fundraising update... I'm 76% of the way to my goal of raising $2,000 with one week to go until the marathon!  Thank you so very much to those who have donated money to this cause.  Your generosity overwhelms me (in a good way)!  Thanks also to all who have supported me with kind words, thoughtful questions, and prayers.  I feel so grateful and hopeful as I move into my last week of training!

If you would still like to donate money to World Vision, please visit my fundraising page.  Your money will be used to fund clean water projects in Kenya and Ethiopia.  Most of us in this country are really blessed with financial resources that we can use to care for others... what an awesome privilege it is to share and to give!  I hope that, as you give with the desire of helping others and changing lives, you are changed too.

Please check back later on in the weekend for a blog entry related to the cost of water.

The Weight of Water

Have you ever had the opportunity to walk in someone else's shoes?  Halloween was yesterday, so lots of us have recently pretended to be someone (or something!) other than ourselves.  Most times, it's fun to put on a mask and, for a moment, to forget about worries, fears, or pressing deadlines.  Sometimes we daydream about being someone who possesses something we don't have: perhaps someone with a special skill or talent, or someone who has a coveted job or relationship.  But have you ever imagined yourself to be someone who is suffering in some way? 

Yesterday, in an effort to imagine life for millions of people in this world who lack access to a close and reliable source of clean water, we took some time to walk to get our water.  Our first journey was with the kids of Crossroads Mennonite Church.  They've spent the last 8 weeks learning about water issues using the Mennonite Central Committee water curriculum.  We walked about 1/3 mile to the house of a couple of the kids' teachers, collected water, and walked back.  Then they made hot chocolate and tea with the water and sold it for donations to World Vision for clean water projects in Kenya.  The kids raised $44.02!!  I'm hoping and praying that this experience, along with the last 8 weeks of lessons, makes a lasting impression on the children.  Their excitement and encouragement certainly made an impression on me!  (Thanks again so much Ken, Hadia, Alice, Fenny, and many others at Crossroads Church for your generosity, hospitality, and encouragement!)

After the hot chocolate, Ken, Hadia, Kiri, Dave, our kids, and I made our way down to the river to complete our own water walk.  This journey was nearly one mile (0.85 miles to be exact!) each way.  We filled 14 gallon-sized milk jugs in the river and then carried them back up the hill using backpacks (was this cheating?), hands, and even our heads for a short time.  The weight of one gallon of water is 8.34 pounds, and most of us were carrying 3 gallons, so we were lugging around 25 pounds per person.  Based on the statistics I've read, it's common for women to carry 40 pounds at a time for distances of 3-4 miles from the water source, so we were a little short on both weight and distance.  It was enough to give us plenty to consider, though.

A couple of things were particularly surprising.  One was that the walk back didn't seem so bad.  It's not comfortable for me to carry 2 gallons of milk from the convenience store that's just a few blocks from my house, so I was expecting the water walk to be more of a struggle.  I'm wondering if things would have been different had I completed the walk by myself.  I think that having others to share in the effort made it bearable.  I was reminded that I can complete difficult tasks and make it through hardships if I know that I'm not alone, that someone is walking with me.  I also realized that our simulation was also much different than the real thing.  Our trip to get water was a one-time event.  I imagine that it is wearying to think about using this method to get water day after day after day.  We had no threat of violence on our journey, like some women and children do.  We weren't going to use our water for drinking or cooking, so for us, there was no risk of getting sick.  We didn't lose any significant amount of time for school, meaningful work, hobbies, or rest.  These are some of the real burdens for those who lack easy access to water; this is the true weight of water.

I was also curious why no one stopped us to ask what we were doing.  I'm sure we must have looked a little out of place in our caravan with our large backpacks and our water-filled milk jugs; I expected some questions or at least some puzzled looks!  Maybe this was the part of the simulation that most resembles real life.  How many people are stopping to ask why, when there is so much wealth and so much technology in our world, are there so many people who are still truly suffering due to a lack of clean water?

After a mile in someone else's shoes, I'm feeling especially grateful for my water today.


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In case you're wondering, we used the 14 gallons of river water to flush the toilet in our house!

If you would like to donate money to fund World Vision's clean water projects in Kenya, please visit my fundraising page.  Thanks!

Getting Involved

In my last entry, I wrote about a book.  I was unable to walk away from what I read on the pages of that book and not do something, so I joined Team World Vision, which for me involved registering for the Philadelphia Marathon and starting an effort to raise money for water projects in Kenya and Ethiopia.

I would love it if you would join me on this journey in whatever way(s) you are able...words of encouragement, prayer, marathon training advice, news about water to add to my blog, etc.  You can also take part in changing the lives of others by going to my fundraising page and donating whatever you are able...any amount is helpful.  Thanks so much for considering this invitation, and thanks to those who have already been so encouraging!

Dishwashers, Dunkin Donuts, and Distance Running: reflections on 24 hours without water

So what does a dishwasher replacement have to do with me signing up to run a marathon?

Good question.

It all began this past May.  We wanted to replace our very old (like as old as us) dishwasher and found a good deal during an Earth Day sale.  Dave insisted on installing the new dishwasher by himself.  We estimated that it would involve some minor inconvenience and limitation on our use of the kitchen for one Saturday afternoon.  No big deal.  As Dave pulled our old dishwasher out from the wall, he discovered that there was no water shut off valve to the dishwasher.  We would have to turn off the water to the house for a couple of hours, tops.  OK...most house projects turn out this way...a little more inconvenient than we initially thought.  But we are flexible!  We can make this work!  Again no big deal.
 
As Dave delved into the project, he discovered more and more issues.  I was getting very anxious.  When could we turn the water back on?  I still hadn't showered after running in a race that morning.  I had a pile of dishes waiting for me in the sink from a post-race get together.  The kids would need baths before church.  We would need to figure out what to do about dinner. 

How could I get a shower and some drinking water?

I swallowed my pride, called some friends, and asked if I could use their shower.  They of course said yes and even sent me home with some water.  Awesome! 

But the next morning, I had another pressing question...where could I find a toilet that I could flush?  I drove across town and found an open Dunkin Donuts and was able to use their bathroom.

I am blessed.  While my mind was consumed with coming up with ways to gain access to water and its associated conveniences, which was uncomfortable, I had some options.  And my problem was short-term.  Others are not so privileged.  There are many places in the world where there is currently no access to running water.  Some walk miles and spend hours to gather water that is not clean, healthy, or life-giving.

I recently signed up to run the Philadelphia Marathon this November to raise money for Team World Vision.  This money will be used to finance clean water projects in Kenya and Ethiopia.  Please consider becoming a part of the Team by donating money toward the clean water projects.  Visit my fundraising website for more information.

Back to my dishwasher story, a couple of hours after my visit to Dunkin Donuts, Dave successfully installed a water shut off valve, and we were able to turn on the water to the rest of the house.  I arrived at church just in time to hear a couple talk about their water projects in Bolivia.  They began their message with a question: have you ever thought about what it would be like to go without water for 24 hours?

What about you?  Have you thought about what it would look like to have your water turned off for just 24 hours?  Maybe some of you have experienced this and have a story to tell.  I would love to hear from you!