When Cyclone Nargis struck Myanmar in May 2008, some 2.4 million people were left without basic necessities and access to clean water. Lu, who lives in Myanmar's Irrawaddy Delta, was pregnant when the cyclone devastated her small agricultural community.
"I was worried (the baby) would not live," she said. "People were getting sick a lot."
The few water sources that were scattered around the village had been polluted when the waves reached more than 8 feet in height. The floods brought a mixture of salt water and deadly bacteria.
When Samaritan's Purse came to Lu's village, staff quickly set to work cleaning and restoring the community's primary water source. Pipes were laid to provide easy access. "When the water came out of the spigot, it was so beautiful," said Thein, the village's leader. "I don't think I've ever seen water so clear."
When Lu saw the water, she knew her daughter would live. After the child was born, Lu now bathes her in clean water and said she isn't afraid of the water that comes from the cistern. "My child is healthy and happy," she said. "I am hopeful that my baby will grow to be strong."
Clean water not only allows families like Lu's to thrive; it's also helping a devastated community to reemerge. "Now, everything is better than it was before the storm," Thein said. "The Christians who came gave us more water than we had ever had."
Before the storm, women would walk for hours to gather dirty water from ponds. With the help of Samaritan's Purse, increased availability and access to safe water will now allow residents to dedicate more time to their small farms and the rearing of their children. Clean water is also an important element in keeping children well nourished. Diarrhea caused by waterborne illness is one of the leading causes of death among children in this region.
The work of Samaritan's Purse has given local Christians a platform to share the Gospel with their communities. "When Samaritan's Purse told us they would help us with our water, we were hesitant to believe them," Thein said. "We did not know about Christians. We grew up thinking that they were bad. You could not trust them."
But after providing food, temporary shelter, and clean water, the attitude among those living in Myanmar has changed dramatically. "We don't just trust the Christians now; we love them. After that, so many of the families tell me that they pray to the Christian God."
It all started with a cup of clean water.
