I've grown up hearing about how blessed I am and how many people don't have nice living conditions or even the most basic necessities such as water. But I don't think I ever understood what that meant. A few weeks ago, one of my favorite singers, Brooke Fraser, gave up her birthday in order to ask for donations to bring wells and sanitary water to people in developing nations. Finally, as I read her story and found out more and more about charity: water and what it does, the weight of the situation began to sink in.

Almost one billion people do not have access to sanitary drinking water. That means almost one billion people do not have the most basic necessity that we need to survive. That means almost one billion people do not have something I can easily get and often turn down because the water fountain is lukewarm and I can buy a soda instead. And that's not fair.

I know, we hear about a lot of huge crises and problems nowadays and how a bunch of people want our money to help poor people far away from our everyday lives. But I have done research and heard the story of the founder of charity: water and I am so excited about what they have accomplished and how much more can be done to help solve this huge yet simple problem. If a community can get a well that can provide safe water, diseases can be stopped and prevented, parents can stay alive to raise their children, families will have more time to work and earn money, and leaders can grow up to change their society and communities around them.

What tipped the scale for me is this: “So this is my prayer: that your love will flourish and that you will not only love much but well.” (Philippians 1:9 MSG)

I don't need your money. It's not about the numbers, and I'm not trying to get fame or popularity points by doing all this. Can I just ask three things?

1. Do research, read, watch videos, and don't pass up this opportunity to find out about what is affecting a huge portion of our population. It's not the only problem around, but it is a huge one.
2. Think and pray about giving money to this campaign I started through charity: water. $20 dollars can provide safe drinking water for one person for 20 years. $5000 can build a well for a community in a developing nation. Whatever you can give can help a lot!!!
3. And most importantly, speak up! Raise awareness, tell everyone you know about this huge problem, and that there is a solution. But the fact that you yourself are contributing to the solution (whether with your time, money, prayers, ect.) will speak the most to the people around you.

Let's go live our lives to LOVE WELL, and I am praying that God would use us to build a well to not only give water to those in need, but most importantly to show them the love of Jesus Christ. Thank you!