World Water Day: March 22, 2009: Sharing Water . . . Sharing Life

The United Nations has designated March 22 as World Water Day.  The theme for this year is about sharing water and sharing opportunities. For the more than one billion people on our planet that lack access to potable water, sharing water is about sharing life. For without access to potable water, people, particularly children, die from entirely preventable diseases.

 

The entire world is struggling with the current economic crisis. Just as in the developed world, the employers here in the Central African Republic have had to reduce the number of their employees. There are more needs and suddenly fewer resources, as NGOs and mission agencies are facing cutbacks because funding sources have less money. If you can give, now is a time when your gift would be most appreciated.

 

Please remember that through your support, prayers, and contributions you are sharing water and life with the people of the Central African Republic.

 

On a personal note, we are traveling to Puerto Rico and the States this summer (May 21 to August 5) for our Home Assignment. We hope to see many of our friends, family, and our supporting congregations. However, these are spread from Puerto Rico to North Dakota and it will be difficult to see everyone. Be watching for additional emails on where we will be when.

 

I will end with a quote from Kofi Annan, "We shall not finally defeat AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, or any of the other infectious diseases that plague the developing world until we have also won the battle for safe drinking water, sanitation and basic health care."

 

Joe, Deborah, and Christa Troester

Baboua, Central African Republic

March 2009