One of my very best friends in the whole weird world lives 700 miles away, but every time I visit her blog I feel like I’m sitting right there at her little blue desk with her.
A few months ago, she created something that we could all be a part of together, and I wanted to share her idea here on our blog today.
She’s wants to dig a well together, y’all.
She says it costs $10,000 to dig a proper well large enough for a community of roughly 500 families, and look how many friendly folks have already joined in to help:
The fundraiser is set up for six months, and to think that it’ll only take another $3,545 to bring clean water to a community that has none is pretty amazing.
To donate, simply click on the badge below to be re-directed to the Flower Patch Farmgirl fundraising page through Samaritan’s Purse.
And like Shannan says- Let’s pray it up and beg for changed hearts. Let’s take hold of this opportunity. Let’s give back. Let’s give water. Let’s give life!
(Photo by *amazing* Esther Havens)
Here’s to smiles spreading like wildfire.
PS- Although, heartbreaking and hard to watch without getting a lump in your throat and tears in your eyes, the beginning of this video really shows how badly folks need fresh water in other parts of the world, so I thought I’d attach it to today’s post…
The video is heartbreaking to watch. It is hard to imagine that in our advanced world that anyone lives that way. Shannan is an angel. She has an incredibly kind heart and soul. The world would be a far better place with more people like her. I hope that each of your followers finds it in their own heart to make a small donation. Imagine if each one of them donated $10. Thank you Layla for making people more aware.
Thank you for your kind words and gracious heart, Ginger!
Just cried my eyes out. It’s just so sad, we all have so much in comparison to these people, it is unbelievable. Thanks for sharing such a great cause
I know…it’s really hard to imagine until you see the pictures and videos. 🙁 But did you notice how many beautiful smiles there always are in them? I love that, and it really puts things in perspective. 🙂
I know, you are right, because kids are so beautiful, and they see the joy and wonder in life, wherever they are. We donated and then I liked it on Facebook too, so hopefully some of the wonderful people I know will donate too!
Thank you SO much, Jen. You rock for helping spread the word! 😀
I’m a sobbing mess here. Just watched the video with my kiddies. Thank you so much, El. I adore you to the moon.
I adore you (and your kiddies!) so much too, Ess. Thank you for creating this opportunity, and for having such a beautiful heart. XO
Just found the perfect gift to give “in the name of”. Thank you Layla and Shannan.
Thank you so much, Judi! Your thoughtfulness is appreciated SO MUCH! 😀
Layla, thanks for sharing. In the year 2011, there should be no one in the world with dirty drinking water. I will share her page! “Let there be growth!”
Thank you, Theresa! Sending you a great big e-hug today! 😀
This really puts a lot of things in perspective around the holidays. It is heartbreaking to think about how many people go without basic necessities like water, food, and shelter. This is a great cause! I’m going to talk to the hubs tonight and see if we can come up with something to give.
It really does, and thank you for taking the time to talk to your hubby about giving. Sending you guys lots of love this Christmas! 🙂
Back at you, girlie!
I let my 8-year-old son, Luke, watch the part of the video which showed their drinking water and their classroom (his eyes about popped out of his head at the sight of their school seats and floor) to show him how good he has it and that there is a much greater “need” elsewhere. As a typical child, he says he “needs” this gadget or that video game all the time. However, once he saw this…
He wants to donate $50 out of his OWN account! <3 that little guy
Thank you for posting…and great timing since Christmas is this week.
Deidra- you have got us all choked up over here! Kevin and I would both like to send a HUGE note of thanks to you and Luke. Luke, your $50 will help SO MUCH! Thank you, thank you, thank you and we wish you a very Merry Christmas!
Yeah…I have to admit I have a pretty neat kid and he continues to amaze me all the time. I’m choked up now too!
I told him I will match his donation. 🙂
I am totally goose-bumped! God can melt little hearts just like he melts the big ones. I am so honored that you’re coming alongside with us. That son of yours is something special. (His mama must be, too!) Merry Christmas!
Where’s the “Like” button when you need one?
😀 Thanks, Amy!
This is so SO awesome!! What a great Mom for sharing it with her son and what a great boy for being so generous! My heart is all aflutter!! 🙂
Thanks…he keeps my heart aflutter!
Hey Layla- thanks for posting this!!! My church (and many others around the nation) have been committing to the advent conspiracy. You can watch the (seriously like 2 min) video on my blog:
http://aaronandkristenwindle.blogspot.com/2011/11/different-kind-of-christmas.html
It is an incredible movement to give more at Christmas to others and less to ourselves, to take care of the orphans and widows and the poor in the world around us. Praying that you have an incredible Christmas and that this well is funded and dug quickly for the people in this community! xo
Hi Kristen!
I saw that video last Christmas, and I too, was really shaken by the message. Thank you for your giving heart, and for taking the time to leave such a sweet comment. Praying right back for ya, sister! XO
I love seeing bloggers use their voice for charity. My readers donated close to $2,000 to help end SMA, the #1 genetic killer of infants while I was training for a marathon. My 4 year old daughter’s best friend is fighting this terminal brutal disease. Asking for help was definitely the most important blog post I have ever written, and it was amazingly touching to see complete strangers giving. Thank you, Layla for sharing this story.
Wow, Marina! It’s so inspiring to hear you were able to raise so much money while you were training! I will say a prayer for your daughter’s best friend. Hearing about what she is going through truly breaks my heart and I really hope she is going to be okay. Thank you for sharing your story with me. XO
What a lovely and necessary mission! So many people want to help others, but don’t know how or even where to begin– your post will be a guide for so many!! Thrilled to tweet this out this afternoon; God willing that goal will be reached shortly.
Much Christmas love! xoxo
What a heart-wrenching video… just made my donation. I can’t think of a better thing to put my money towards this holiday season. Happy holidays!
Hi Jennie 🙂
I watch that video from time to time…just to keep things in perspective. It makes me cry (and smile because the people in it seem so happy at the end) every time!
Thank you for donating to the cause, too…I know we can do this, together!!! 😀
Layla, thank you so much for posting this! It is SO true! The need in Africa is immense. I’ve been there {to Malawi, Africa} and to see how something we so often take for granted, like a blanket or WATER, can change their lives is a very humbling experience. Your friend sounds like a very special person, and everyone supporting this project, is a blessing to those people. I just got a call this morning asking me to go back to Malawi. I’m am praying about it, but, wow, this post put it right back in my heart. Thanks so much and Merry Christmas. xo, Reannah
It’s amazing how much we take for granted. We are so blessed here. If we were all able to give just a little. I’ll be sharing your link on my Website Facebook page and my personal Facebook page. Thank you for sharing!
Luke is an amazing kiddo! I never “got it” when I was younger…even as a young adult. I always had a roof over my head, food in my belly; we didn’t have much in the way of extras, but because I was comfortable, I never really understood need.
And then I had kids.
Oh my. Our paycheck to paycheck status all of the sudden felt like wealth and riches beyond compare. Social media opened up this whole world of really *seeing* and putting it right in front of us, and I am so grateful for it. We started giving a little, and then a little more, and truly saw God’s blessings through it.
We are trying to teach our kids about wants vs needs; it’s hard, since they are “comfortable” as well. And very often *I* slip back into that comfortable-ness. I’ve always tried to reign in Christmas presents so we have some extra to give, and then today while I was out and about I wanted to splurge on my boys in a BIG way! I guess every parent would like too…but I’m glad I didn’t go crazy…I think this video was the reason why. Thanks so much for the post; much to discuss with the family tonight!
And blessing, Deidra, I hope my boys can find it in themselves to respond in the same way!
Thanks! I have three boys and Luke is the oldest. I am proud of the example he is setting for his little brothers.
Layla,
I work in water systems and I know how important clean water is for people. We in America take it for granted that we can open a tap and have clean wonderful water spilling out at our command. Clean, available water is what separates most first world nations from the rest – really! You need to have a look at this website. I love the technology at work here: http://www.waterforpeople.org/extras/playpumps/update-on-playpumps.html . Essentially, a merry-go-round works as a pump to bring water to an above ground gravity-fed cistern, and the overflow system takes it back to the aquifer. The children have a fun piece of playground equipment and it helps to bring water to the community. I think it’s a win-win-win! Love to be onboard with this effort!
I love Samaritan’s Purse. They are a wonderful organization. I love doing the chicks and goats, but a well?!!!! That is the best endeavor yet!!! Thank you Layla for posting this. The site was easy to use. I hope by Christmas we can get them this so basic necessity that we take for granted most days. I can’t imagine walking 8 miles round-trip everyday for dirty water.
My husband and I have been wanting to do this for a while now, so thanks for sharing the opportunity to give to help a community have clean water. It’s humbling to be able to give such a small thing that will make such a difference in the lives of a whole community. What a blessing to be able to help!
Blessings, Grace
It makes you really sit back and look at your surroundings and groan inside at how well we all have it over here….we’re all so blessed…spoiled really. Those beautiful little children, with smiles so bright, drink water we wouldn’t let our kids step in…let alone drink, it just breaks my heart. We sponsor a little girl in Honduras and this video just makes her plight in this world just that much more real to our hearts. I can’t wait to help her more and also give more to Samaritan’s purse.
Thanks for posting Layla and to Shannon for starting the ball rolling with setting the goal. Both you girls have smooshy, melty, kind hearts and I adore you! Hugs!
Missy
If Luke can spare $50.00 then I can too! I just donated in memory of my mom- we didn’t have much but we DID have clean water!
Luke says, “that’s cool!”
i too have been moved by the water crisis
in our world
our church is hoping to raise enough this Christmas
to build 5 wells in Ethiopia
and my family is doing our little bit
to help make this happen
and i can’t wait to see the mighty plans
the Lord will put into action
to impact the lives of those who most need it
thank you for sharing.
alison
Luke wants to say: “Thanks to all…and have a VERY Merry Christmas!”
And Deidra, tell Luke that this is how a snowball gets formed! Merry Christmas Luke and family!
So awesome to see this! Our church has been donating money to help many villages. Have a wonderful Christmas!!
praise jesus! thanks for sharing this xo
merry christmas!
That is a great cause. I volunteer for Water For People and have been to several trips to Bolivia. Definitely puts things in perspective. Hope she also provides the education on how to maintain the wells after they are installed because that is one of the big problems non-profit communities have. Lots of unfunctioning, abandoned wells in the communities.
$50.
That felt good.
Wouldn’t it be awesome to have the full amount by Christmas!?
Thank you for posting! Great cause that I’m glad to help.
God bless!
Thanks for posting! This video really puts life in perspective. Suddenly, I’m not so concerned about mailing Christmas cards on time, decorating my dining room table or stressed about baking cookies.
I will share this video with our kids. We are so blessed and often take the small things for granted.
Years ago we were doing a gratitude study…just being thankful for something every day. After the kids had mentioned the obvious like parents, siblings, family, pets, we began to give thanks for the overlooked blessings such as water, an amazing sanitation system, sewers, paved roads, etc.
When we appreciate and value those basic provisions we often take for granted, we can look at people/communities around see the need they have and then help out.
Continue making a difference by sharing this. If one person is blessed it’s all worth it!
Thanks for sharing this Layla! We have been contributing to our church missions that have been building fresh water wells. I feel so strongly about what your friend is trying to do that I donated $100.00. $25.00 for each of my 4 children-who have always had fresh safe water to drink! Merry Christmas!
sort of reminds you how fortunate we are to simply have fresh water. Our pastor was just talking about how “rich and wealthy” we are to have FRESH drinking water to sprinkle all over our beautiful lawns! not even to drink, but to water our plants with…
Thank you, I needed to see this. My heart is hurting right now, but I know we can do something about this, and we will!!!!!
I LOVE that you blogged about this great cause that our flower patch farmgirl is fighting for…..
CLEAN, FRESH WATER!!!!!!
We were honored to give!!!!
Yeah.. it’s one thing to talk about it..but absolutely another to DO something about it. 🙂
dee
Besides the usual gifts we would usually do Christmas stockings filled with little treats and a few small gifts – but you know the cost can really add up for filling those stockings and this year instead of filling stockings we are helping build a well instead. I had read about it on her blog but your post confirmed in my heart what we needed to do. Thanks to both of you for listening to the heart of God and making a difference and for letting us be a small part of something much bigger…
I was so touched by this story that I just had to do something. I have donated in lieu of stocking stuffers for my Granddaughter. I am now going to make this a Christmas ritual. When she gets older I will let her decide where she would like to donate, for now she is just going to have to trust her ole Gramma.
I just checked and she is now up to 103%… what the wonderful world of blogging can do.
Merry Christmas Keven and Layla… bless you both.
Hugs, Deb
Thank you Layla,
Each year my little guy and I try to donate a little something to a good cause. Last year we sent a toy to “Kate Crazy Cool Christmas”. This year after showing Logan (11yr old son) the video it pulled at his heart strings. He told me to donate the money that he had been saving in his piggy bank for video games to get these kids clean water. I am amazed and feeling very proud.
I love that Shannan for her sweet heart…and I love that you posted this. Our church just built a well… such an amazing thing that we take so for granted.
Merry Christmas!
Sorry I missed this until now.. truly we do take such things for granted and I so appreciate you making us aware.
Wow . . . Simply put, I am stunned. I believe it is no coincidence at all. that of the thousands and thousands of blogs floating around on the world wide web. I happened to stumble upon yours today. And not just your blog, but this specific post about building a well. Let me explain, and I will do my best to be brief; though, as a writer that can be quite strenuous and occasionally impossible. 🙂
Over this last weekend, my husband and I launched a store. In short, we too, are hoping to bring clean, safe, and drinkable water to those forced to ingest that which is contaminated and diseased. The idea for Crafting Water (our store) came upon us when challenged not to buy Christmas presents this year, instead using the money toward a worthy cause. I was further impelled to give consistently, though I wasn’t sure how I might do that. Then it hit me: In my down time, when I am not writing, I like to unload my busy mind into a craft. So . . . after a couple weeks of labor, we had a small inventory and a store! The business model is similar to TOMS shoes, but instead of giving a duplicate item, the purchases come with vouchers that are redeemed Living Water International. (www.water.cc)
To be honest, I’m not sure why I am sharing all of this; I only knew I had to share. I feel confirmed and validated, knowing that others, such as your friend, are working to reach the forgotten and hurting. If there is any way we can partner together, spreading the word, bringing awareness via the web, etc., I would absolutely love it . . .
If you have time or interest you can check out these links:
http://thislittlelight516.wordpress.com/crafting-water/
craftingwater.storenvy.com
Please feel free to pass them along to anyone you think might be interested.
Okay! I’ve gone on long enough. Thank you for reading! Your blog is lovely, by the way!
Blessings,
Cara