Water for Reza

How much water do you use in one day? 

Think about it for a minute. 

On average in the United States, one person uses upwards of 80 gallons of water per day.* Water that can be accessed simply by walking to the sink. For most of us, we don't have to worry about gathering, collecting, or storing the water we need for each day of the year. 

But for Reza and his family, water had to be collected by carrying as many plastic jugs as they could carry down a hill to the river, fill them, and make the trek back up the hill.

The eight-month-long dry season in rural Indonesia saps the life from the rivers and streams that provide a steady flow of water during the rainy season from December to March.

Gathering water during the rainy season took Reza and his siblings 45 minutes per trip and had to be done multiple times a day. In the dry season, when water is difficult to find, it could take even longer.

This kept Reza from being able to attend school. It kept his community from being able to successfully grow crops during the dry season. 

Things like showering, washing hands, and doing laundry were all a challenge. A lack of water impacted the way women went about their daily lives during menstruation. It kept people from being able to attend church and connect with Jesus. 

A lack of water was holding everything and everyone back from reaching their God-given potential. 

Children often have to carry water for long distances, up and down hills, and are unable to attend school as a result.

But then things began to change—for the better.

Kingdom Workers arrived at Reza's village and worked with the local community to create water storage tanks. One of the community members who took a lead role in building these water storage tanks was Reza's father.

He worked hard to use the technology knowledge supplied by Kingdom Workers to make life better for himself, his family, and his village. 

Before long, 4 water storage tanks had been constructed, giving the community easy access to 20,000 liters of replenishable water. 

Men from several villages in rural Indonesia practice skills they learned in training to build water storage tanks and sanitation units. 

A new future thanks to water

The physical impacts of having access to water have dramatically changed life for Reza and his community. He now attends school and is learning how to read and write. His community's gardens now grow healthy food that have helped Reza grow stronger. Reza's constant stomachaches from drinking unclean water have since disappeared. 

Reza's father has been able to attend additional trainings on how to build sanitation units. In just a few months, he and his neighbors constructed eight sanitation units, providing families with a place to shower, use the bathroom, and wash their hands. 

Reza, left, and his family with a sanitation unit his father built.

But perhaps the greatest blessing has been watching Reza experience a new future through getting to know his Savior Jesus.

One of the local trainers had this to say about the water solutions,

“Through Kingdom Workers many people have been blessed. Sure, many people have received blessings like water filters, but we also have a chance to share the name of Jesus with others. That truly makes me happy.”

The dry seasons still come to Reza's village, and the rain stops falling for eight months out of the year. But now the community has a way to collect, store, and manage one of life's most vital resources during the difficult times of year. 

They also have a way to handle the spiritual dry seasons of life thanks to the gospel outreach of this program. In Indonesia, water is one of the unique ways that the Holy Spirit is spreading the uplifting message of the gospel. 

*United States Geological Survey

This work is possible because of you.

There are more villages like Reza’s who need access to clean water and the gospel. Will you help by making a donation?