Twice a day, 22-year-old Apolinar Blanco Condori journeyed to a distant source to gather water for his wife and newborn daughter, Daysi Dina. "The work is hard, and my arms would hurt and tremble the whole time," he said. "I could only get enough to cook and drink, but not enough to bathe and wash clothes." Recently. Samaritan's Purse partnered with Apolinar, providing the materials and know-how necessary to construct a well near his home.
Apolinar no longer worries about giving his young daughter a drink of water. The clean pure water that he gathers from the well will keep her from waterborne diseases. Many children in his community suffer from constant diarrhea, the leading cause of malnutrition and death among the young.
Constructing a well is a community-wide event. Neighbors, friends, and family members help the recipient dig and pour concrete. This cooperation fosters a greater unity among residents. And when residents are freed from the grueling task of gathering water, they are free to pursue other economic opportunities, like expanding their small farms. These activities boost the local economy.
In the altiplano, Samaritan's Purse is constructing more than 100 wells for indigenous Aymara families. As we continue to supply water to people like Apolinar and his family, there has been an outpouring of God's grace. Last year, more than 1,400 men, women, and children in these remote communities proclaimed Jesus Christ as their Savior. In an animistic culture, the Aymara believe that life events are beyond human control. A Christian worldview helps residents of Bolivia's highlands to see the freedom God gives to change their circumstances for the better.
It all started with a cup of clean water.
