“If you hold your hand closed, nothing good can come in. The open hand is blessed, for it gives in abundance, even as it receives.” Biddy Mason
One of 20 Liters partners, World Relief, strategically engages churches in a geographic area and encourages collaboration across denominational lines. Through in-depth training and conversations, committees are developed within communities where volunteers from various churches look for needs in their community. They then put to use their new-found knowledge, making a real difference in the lives of their neighbors.
The Jarama Church Network is working toward the unity of the body of believers by bringing together 26 churches to tangibly serve their community. One need identified by the Jarama Church Network was access to clean drinking water. Together, church leaders and volunteers, alongside community health workers and a World Relief staff member, identified who from the community would benefit the most from a 20 Liter water filter.
At 38, Ernestine’s life did not look as she had expected. Having lost her husband, she was left widowed, raising three children on her own. Left with no other option, the family used to drink untreated water from nearby swamps and sometimes collected rainwater or untreated tap water. As a result, Ernestine and her children regularly suffered from waterborne illnesses, diarrhea, flus and colds.
In 2023, Ernestine was chosen by the Church Network to receive a 20 Liters water filter. This gift gave her family a renewed sense of hope and brought transformation to their health and well-being.
“The SAM III filter changed our lives. My children, our neighbors and I are healthier now, free from all the diseases that once plagued us due to unclean water,” shares Ernestine.
Ernestine and her family started to experience the benefits of clean, safe drinking water. It was such a blessing that she could not keep the filtered water to herself. She began sharing the filtered water with four neighboring families, giving them the gift of health as well.
In addition, Ernestine joined the Village Hygiene Club, a volunteer group that helps repair and maintain water filters and offers solutions to keep filters clean. The club’s efforts now extend beyond water. Today, they lead workshops on how to grow kitchen gardens and prepare meals with the vegetables they grow with a focus on nutrient-dense diets to help children and families flourish.
As she shares clean water and her knowledge, Ernestine is creating a culture of generosity and assistance with her neighbors. Ernestine is thankful to God who used World Relief, 20 Liters and local churches in Jarama to bring health and hope to her, her family and her community.
