JUST Water

GIVE US A GLIMPSE OF HEAVEN

Sweet sustaining spirit of the Universe,

Just for a moment,

Give us a glimpse of heaven:

Where the unique and diverse gifts of each human being

from every community and culture are celebrated,

Where parents and the whole village gently guide each child

across the turbulent and sometime treacherous times of youth

to a life that they can joyously claim as their own.

Where each child has healthy food and clean water to sustain them,

A home to shelter them, health care to heal them, and

Education to help them craft both a living and a life worth living

Where we honor those who create beauty, resolve conflicts peacefully, build community, and practice loving compassion

Rather than those who harm others in a quest for power, fame & fortune

Give each of us courage and strength to resist the forces of Empire:

Those who take from the poor and give to the rich

Who glorify war and crucify the peacemaker;

Those around the world who sell us computers and cell phones

That drip with the blood of Congolese women and children;

Those in the Mid East who kill youthful protestors seeking democracy and social change in order to perpetuate their oppressive rule;

Those in the Philippines who turn the leaders of prophetic churches into ghosts

Disappearing in the night because they opposed violence and injustice;

Those in the United States who spare no expense in the name of fighting terror

With bullets and bombs, fences and metal detectors, yet argue that we cannot afford to promote peace

Let each of us, every person who hears this prayer, become beacons of hope and an active participant in seeking JUST peace

Let us not only provide support for those who stand on the front line,

But let us stand on the front line ourselves for justice and peace

We know as the people of India knew, when they chased Empire from their midst;

We know as the women of Liberia, when they evicted a dictator and brought war to a screeching halt;

We know as those in the civil rights struggle knew, when they gave their lives;

We know the power of loving spirit indeed is greater than the forces of evil

And there is no greater joy than seeking to bring JUST peace to this world.  Amen.   

This site is designed to help you learn about how community water and sanitation projects can make a difference in the lives of millions of people around the world.

If you or your group is involved in funding or actually doing community water and sanitation projects, please register as a member and tell us about what you're doing.  If you use the resources on this site or if you use a Drink Water for Life campaign to raise funds for projects, please register as a member and let us know about your campaign. 

We do not accept donations for our work (other than donations to the Clean Water Fund at First Congregational UCC, 700 Marion Street NE, Salem OR 97301 for our clean water projects on the Central Plateau of Haiti).  However, we urge you to identify a water and sanitation project that your group wants to fund and donate directly to the group implementing that project.  This site provides you with information about reputable faith-based and secular organizations that implement projects throughout the world. Send your money to them!

* The cost of water and sanitation projects differs dramatically based on the cost of materials in the project area and on the nature of the project.  On the low end, it can cost $ 1 - 2.  At the high end, it can cost as much as $ 25 - 30.  Note -- this is a one-time cost, not an annual cost.  For more details, check out the How WASH Projects Work  page.