Golu trudged home, empty-handed.
He had left his village that morning, jar in hand, ready to gather water for his family. For more than 20 years, he or his wife had made the long, hot walk to the nearest well. Summers in India are sweltering, with temperatures often topping 100 degrees.
Golu, his wife, and three children had to have water. Unfortunately, they often went without it.
“Many times our water-carrying vessels would be [dumped out] by the high-caste people,” Golu said. If he or his wife carried clay jars, they would even be smashed and shattered.
India’s caste system dictates people’s social ranking. Upper-caste people groups often live in separate villages and do not like to share their wells. Conflict between the castes frequently ends in violence, and it is people like Golu who suffer most.
Lower-caste people are prevented from working certain jobs, entering certain buildings, and using certain amenities. They are told from the day they are born that they are unworthy of anything good.
The people of Golu’s community weren’t just thirsty — they were also filled with shame.
If you were to visit, you would see small homes made of handmade bricks and metal roofs. Lined up outside the homes are tall metal jars, ready to collect rainwater or hold water from a well. Too often the vessels are bone dry.
But Golu is a Christian, and he knew that he served a God who specializes in filling up empty vessels. He knew that God was powerful enough to bring water to the driest places.
“But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us” (2 Corinthians 4:7, ESV).
Golu and his family started meeting with other believers in the village. Together they prayed that God would provide them with clean water. God answered their prayers through a compassionate donor; today, the village has its own well.
On the day the well was dedicated, the people of the village rejoiced. They now had water that was easily accessible and entirely their own.
For the first time, they dared to believe that they mattered — regardless of their status or their place of birth.
Golu believes the well is a blessing that will change his community.
“[The well] has saved much time and energy, which can be used for much better and productive purposes,” he said.
Now, Golu and his wife use their extra time to share their faith with their neighbors. Because of the well, those neighbors are open to hearing the Gospel in a way they never have before. The people of the community are seeing love poured out in a basin of water.
Last year, generous World Help donors provided clean water for 64,368 people like Golu in 12 different countries. To learn more, click here to read the 2017 Annual Report.
You can share the love of God with someone like Golu by providing clean water today. For just $15, you can provide clean water for one person — for an entire year!
Your gift will have an incredible impact on the physical and spiritual well-being of a person in need.