Clean Water for Bulod

My writing on these pages is usually more subtle and nuanced. Today I'm going for blunt and in your face, though hopefully not manipulative. If it ticks you off, forgive me and understand my heart, and come back next week for some nice reflection on the imponderables of life. This week it's all business and there is nary a clever metaphor to be found.

As you may already know, most of my work is done right here in Davao City. Every once in a while I get to escape to another region of Mindanao, but even then it is likely that my experience will be limited to the inside of yet another board room. I miss getting in on the action. Recently the only filters that were distributed locally were installed while I was on vacation in Canada. Go figure.

The reality is that the greatest need is in an area that is just not very safe for me (another white dude was kidnapped recently). Add to that Bethany's work schedule, and my travel options are pretty limited for now. I want to make sure I don't sound like I'm complaining. I'm not. There is plenty to keep me busy here in town and I love the challenge of keeping this whole thing moving forward.

I bring this up because my absence in the field means that our readers no longer get much reporting from me in regards to the biosand water filters and their final destination. These filters are saving and changing lives and sometimes I forget to tell you that. I want you to do me a favor. I want you to check the Impact Nations website (not yet, keep reading). We recently began a project that is in the initial reporting stage right now and I want you to read the reports and see the pictures.

People from all over the world have been donating filters to very poor families who are living in a marsh and have literally zero access to safe drinking water. It costs $40 to bring a lifetime supply of safe drinking water to a family. The first batch of 50 filters are being installed this week and I am 100% convinced that we are rescuing lives.

If you are reading this blog because you are a midwife or are midwife-curious, then you likely have a heart for mothers and children. Imagine a woman drinking nasty, bacteria-laden water throughout her pregnancy. Imagine a child being fed infant formula made with this same water (yes I know breast milk is best, but these folks don't have great midwives like you to tell them so).

This is sounding kinda heavy, but it probably should. Bad water is a big problem. Less than 50% of the population in the Muslim region (that spans three provinces!) has access to safe drinking water. People are suffering from terrible illnesses and some are dying. $40 per family stops it.

I'd like you to click on the link at the bottom of this page and see what I'm talking about. Seeing the reports that are coming in reminds me of why I do what I do. If you'd like to join the effort, consider giving a gift of clean water to a family for $40. If you think I'm not talking to you, then you are probably exactly who I am talking to. If you are already giving to Bethany and I, or have given to the water project, then you've already been a part of the impact and I thank you.

So without further ado, click here to see the project I am talking about (tip: if you sign up for the network and join the group, you will get a little email telling you when we have updated it—we will not spam you and we don't update it so often that it will annoy the heck out of you). In the unlikely event that you have no idea what I'm talking about, you may want to start by watching our short video about the filter.

Okay, I'm done getting in your face now. Thanks for listening.

Tim.