Gift of water blesses African lives
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KATAPOR, Ghana — In distance, the village of Katapor is only 40 or so miles from Ghana's capital city of Accra, but about a two-hour drive, the last stretch over a narrow and bumpy dirt road.
Going to Katapor is like taking a backward journey in time. There is no electricity. Villagers find entertainment in the playing of drums, joining neighbors in traditional West African dances and songs, and visiting one another. All in all, it's a pleasant place, with views of gently sloping hills in the distance, a school to educate the children, and very friendly residents.
With no display of timidity, children run to greet visitors, smiling and waving them forward.
On Jan. 8, everyone seemed to be in a festive mood, and for good reason: it was the day Latter-day Saint Charities handed over to the village two refurbished boreholes, or fresh-water wells, marking the end of villagers having to walk a half mile or so to draw from a polluted river water for drinking and cooking. It was an occasion for celebration, or a dubar, complete with drums, dancing and singing, as well as a brief program of speeches.
No Latter-day Saints live in the village of Katapor, yet the opening hymn was a Church standard, "The Spirit of God." The program began and ended with prayers.
Over the years, the biggest problem confronting villagers was the lack of clean water. In the handing-over ceremony, Nii Ato Kwame, a chief of the Ga Traditional Tribal Council, said that he had heard about the Church and its project to drill boreholes and was grateful that this village was recipient of two wells. "In Kapor, the community lacks amenities and grocery goods," he said, and expressed gratitude that this "charity organization offered to help our community. . . . In the past we have not had the benefit of enjoying good water. We've been drinking polluted water; now we can drink pure water."
Ike Ferguson, Africa West Area director of Welfare Services, said that the boreholes were a gift from members of the Church worldwide, and were "provided by donations of individual members to bless other people." He told the villagers that they now have "good clean water." He spoke of the Savior's teachings about living water and said that while the scriptures provide a source for spiritual water there is also a need for physical water.
Sister Erna Walker, who serves with her husband, Elder Derl Walker, as LDS Charities directors for Ghana, told the villagers that she is a nurse and knows that clear, fresh drinking water will help them have better health. She also presented books for schools in the district's villages.
President Charles Sono-Koree of the Accra Ghana Lartebiokorshie Stake spoke of how essential water is to sustain life. He encouraged parents to teach children how to use the pumps properly so the pumps will last several years, and commended the people for helping each other.
Members of the village performed dances for the visitors and, apparently, for their own enjoyment.
After the speeches, singing and dancing of the program concluded, visitors and villagers walked a short distance down the road to the boreholes fitted with hand pumps. It was here that the official "handing over" of the boreholes from Latter-day Saint Charities to the village took place. As everyone crowded around a concrete square where the boreholes are located, Brother Ferguson removed a cloth that covered one of the hand pumps.
With solemn, yet joyful ceremony, a youngster began pumping; water flowed into a plastic pail which, when full, was lifted by a young woman onto the head of another girl, who then walked with it to the Ga chiefs and tribal council members. In turn, the village and district officials dipped a glass into the bucket, held it up to observe the clear water and took a sip. One by one, each nodded, pronouncing the water "good." Villagers then lined up to get a drink of water.
It was a day for rejoicing.
The rejoicing was not limited to Katapor. Earlier that same day, on the campus of the University of Ghana where a new borehole was being drilled, workers struck water. Students living in the hall to be serviced by the new well had been without water for drinking or bathing for weeks at a time.
"Water is very scarce here," explained Kwadwo Aseno-Okyere, vice chancellor of the University of Ghana. "We have 20,000 students. When the school was established, there were not many people living in this area, but the community has multiplied over the past 20 to 30 years. There isn't enough water. Students have to spend a lot of time fetching water. This borehole will help a lot of people. We were very excited to hear that the Church was coming here to drill a borehole."
Charles Nyarkoh, the hydrogeologist working on the project, said, "We struck water this morning." He described how everyone was smiling and felt it was a cause to celebrate. "Water is life. When we get water from the ground, everybody is happy," he said.
Latter-day Saint Charities drilled some 80 boreholes during 2002 and early 2003, in the first two phases of projects in Ghana. During 32 days of the third phase of the project — from late 2003 until early January 2004, the Church refurbished 70 boreholes. The work is continuing.
How you can help
Because of advance preparation, the Church generally is ready on short notice to send humanitarian relief to the far corners of the world or close by as emergencies occur. In addition to emergency response, Church Humanitarian Services is also focusing on four major initiatives: clean water (including the projects in Ghana), wheelchair distribution, neonatal resuscitation training and vision treatment training.
The initiatives are designed to make a significant impact over an extended period of time.
One of the most helpful things members can do to help those in need is to contribute a generous fast offering through their wards and branches.
However, members who wish to do more may donate to the Church's humanitarian aid fund by checking "Humanitarian" on the Tithing and Other Offerings form. These humanitarian donations are not used by wards but are forwarded to Church headquarters as part of the Church's humanitarian aid fund.
For more information please see "Humanitarian Service" on the Church News web site: www.desnews.com/cn/humanitarian/index.html.
E-mail: gerry@desnews.com
