Next week is the anniversary of the terrible earthquake that shook Haiti. The tragedy hit close to home for me because I was getting ready for a mission trip to El Salvador in just a few weeks. The purpose of our trip was to build a well in a tiny community called Monte Rico. I couldn't help but think what if something similar happened while I was in Central America. I was hesitant last Christmas when my church's mission director asked me to go and video the experience. I remember telling him it wasn't my "season" in life, because I had young children. But after my husband encouraged me and offered to make sure everything was taken care of at home, I decided to go. I'm so glad I did.
Living Water International drills wells all over the world and was one of the first on the scene in Haiti restoring fresh water after the earthquake. The organization worked with our team in El Salvador, teaching us to drill and helping us lead hygiene lessons in the community. I was so impressed by our Hygiene Instructor, Katie, who left the states to work for LWI and live in El Salvador. She left many luxuries behind and works in the blazing sun travelling to remote areas to bring water and education to people daily.
Before the trip, I was feeling a little bored driving the same streets and seeing the same sights I've seen for years. In Central America, the beautiful landscape with tropical trees and rugged coastline is contrasted with widespread poverty. My eyes were opened by a first-hand look at the hardships people endure in other countries. I had reported about those conditions in my career as a news anchor, but here, the pictures became real to me. Life's most precious resource, water, is not readily available in most places. We saw women washing their clothes in the river, children swimming, cows walking and people drinking from the same water. Chronic diarrhea and death are all too common there, and yet the people are so resilient, even joyful and always thankful.
It's amazing how clean water can change a life. I left El Salvador with a new resolve to never take water for granted again. This week, when we relive the images from Haiti, I will have a new perspective on human suffering and on those who leave the comfort of their homes to help others.
