Do any of us actually know what it's like to be thirsty?

To walk hours for water that is filled with the potential for disease?

We have plenty of water to drink -- even the water in our toilets is clean! Not to mention the water we use to wash our clothes, take showers, brush our teeth, wash our hands, cook our meals, and make our coffee.

I have taken the water in every faucet and facet of my life for granted for too long.

This is why I am donating my 22nd birthday to charity:water.

When I think of Jesus and what He says following Him truly looks like, this story of His comes to mind: "For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

The access to clean water charity:water provides changes lives. It means kids not walking hours for water and instead getting to be in school regularly. It means moms that get to feel beautiful too because there is enough water for them to wash their own bodies after taking care of the water needs of everyone else in their families. It means more time, which means more small business and better economies. It means health, no longer being exposed to the dangers of dysentery and other dirty water diseases. It means a better world for these human's made in the image of God.

For my 22nd birthday, I want to be able to provide access to clean water for 22 people through $22 donations! Though I will, of course, be thrilled over whatever amount you can donate, whether it be more or less than the $22.

Take the time and watch some of charity:water's video's. Read up on some of the thousands of projects they've completed in developing countries. This organization is changing the world and doing it right. The way charity:water operates means that 100% of our money will be used to build clean water projects, and when they’re complete, charity: water will send us photos and GPS coordinates so we can see the exact community we helped.

Every human being should have access to clean water. The water crisis is a solvable problem, but only if we're willing to be a part of the solution.

Thank you for being a part of changing valuable human lives and making this my best birthday yet!