...after a lot of paperwork and phone calls and meetings and discussing and praying, one of our families, RT, got running water in her home for the first time since 1997. For fifteen years she caught rainwater to flush toilets and to do dishes and carried jugs of spring water to the house to drink. Remembering how difficult the few days during Hurricane Sandy that we didn't have running water were, I can't even imagine being without such a basic thing for a time equivalent to 3/4 of my life.
This project started with a small thought of "I don't think anyone should be without running water" and then turned into this real...thing. The effect that ASP has on people has been clear to me for quite a long time, but this just feels like a really big deal, and I'm proud to have been a part of it. Okay, so by "part of it" I actually mean "I pretty much did all of the work for it".. it was my "baby" project for so long that now I am FULL of astonishment that it's actually all complete and that this could even be possible. Done with the selfish excitement now, sorry! (But only kind of done, I've been shouting from the mountains about it these past few days and will probably continue.)
Talking with R just hours after she got her water turned on was amazing. I am so blessed to be the hands and feet of a God who is giving us these dreams and these volunteers and changing all these lives. I don't know that I'll ever fully know and understand His love, but I'm pretty sure I saw a little bit of it in R's face when she turned away from me, tears in her eyes, overwhelmed by all that we were doing. And then again when she turned back for one of the most sincere hugs I've ever received.
In sum, I have a full heart.
Now just gotta work on my eyes because as we all know: "Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose." Thank you, Coach Taylor. Updates soon.
"But whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water up to eternal life." John 4:14
Carly,
ReplyDeleteYOU are amazing! God is smiling in heaven for the disciple He has put in charge to ensure that others less fortunate receive love and tender care. As always, I am proud to call you my one and only daughter and blessed that both God and I get to share being your father. Love you! Glad you will be coming home soon.
Dadxoxo