Living Waters for the World - Bringing Pure Water to Those Without

Tuesday, November 6, 2018

Jim

This is my first trip to Ghana without my partner Jim Levernier.

Jim and I have traveled to Ghana 6 times prior to the trip this year and prior to that Jim has traveled to Ghana 7 previous times. So to say that Jim is somewhat of an expert on Ghana, Living Waters in Ghana and our relationships in Ghana in somewhat of an understatement.

To make one of these trips there is a lot of planning that goes into the trip - sometimes a year's worth of planning. The past few years that Jim and I have traveled to Ghana we would "divide & conquer" and "check & balance" all the information, communication, packing, travel itineraries, etc. required to make the trip.

This year Jim assumed a new role and became that coach, reminder or voice in my head when it game to planning the trip, the installation at Kwahu Praso and the people. Jim was not on the trip - but Jim was on the trip!

We had some times that it would have been "handy" to have Jim on the trip - like when we were laying out the LWW shirts, hats, water bottles, etc. at Kwahu Praso or when we were figuring out what to do with the 95 kids soccer jerseys that we brought from Idlewild or when I was tracking down the SMP document from Mr. Appah or when we were visiting with Ghanaians that know Jim and asked about Jim (which was a lot)!

It was a great trip and we missed Jim.

Many Thanks

Thank you all who have followed Chalmers and my trip to Ghana this year. Knowing that people care about what we are about and are following our journey with questions and comments, helps make our trip better.

Some closing thoughts about water and Ghana:

Some 6,000,000 Ghanaians still rely on surface water for drinking, taking care of their children and other hygiene related necessities. It is unknown how many of these surface water sources are streams, rivers, lakes, ponds, etc. Through the years that we have been in Ghana - I think it's accurate to say that all of these surface water sources are at the very minimum vulnerable: to pollution, to parasites to disease. Many of the surface sources are not "running" water but pooled water or not moving enough to dilute pollution, parasites and disease. Diseases that can be harbored in this water range from Typhoid Fever to Guinea Worm:

https://www.cdc.gov/typhoid-fever/index.html
https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/guineaworm/gen_info/faqs.html
https://www.hrw.org/news/2014/10/10/mercury-ghanas-poisonous-problem

Only 27% of Ghana's population (29MM as of 2017) have daily access to potable water. This leaves over 20MM Ghanaians to figure out daily how/where to find access to potable water OR more likely make compromises, i.e. lowering volume of personal water intake or accessing contaminated water or just going without.

There is a mission to give back for everyone. No one group or type of mission that give back are superior to the balance of missions that this earth and humanity require. It takes resources - money, time, energy, thought, hope, prayer and much more for those in need to receive life changing impact that might take decades to materialize in some cases.

If you had seen then people that lined up after the celebration on Saturday to get a cup of water or to fill a bottle or just to see the water treatment system - it would inspire anyone to go do something!

Thanks again.

Chalmers & Steve