Thomas Howard spent this summer as an intern with Water to Thrive, traveling to Ethiopia and working on a guide for best practices for water point implementation. This is the second of two posts about his time in Africa.

 

 The driving force behind my journey to Ethiopia was the deep desire to learn more about clean water implementation and to find out whether bringing clean water to those in need was a true passion of my heart — something that I want to do for a significant part of my life.

 

After our journey through the north was complete, we traveled to the south. When I stepped off the plane, all around there was green, a rich green the likes of which I had not seen in the north. And unlike the north, there was water abounding, from trickling tributaries to roaring rivers. This was a detail that I had not expected — I’d never envisioned such a lush and damp environment to be in Ethiopia.

 

 

 

We visited a school in the village of Chucho. There were so many children there. A well was being built on the school grounds and the principal, Adola, was going to be in charge of the committee responsible for the well.

 

Adola stood by the well, hand in hand with his young daughter. I got a chance to interview him, and he only talked about the children of the school. He told me about how the water was going to help the students attend school more often. He also told me about how the students were being taught proper sanitation so that they would no longer get sick. He rejoiced in the effect this would have on the children’s education and their future.

 

 

 

Adola’s passion for the children embodied the passion of all the parents that we encountered. I saw some amazing mothers while in Ethiopia. I could see how much they treasured their children in how they talked to them and treated them when no one was looking. I saw a mother teaching her two-year-old child how to wash his hands before eating. Another woman, carrying a large jerry of clean water on her back, was holding the hand of her little boy as they walked from the well to their home. These women love their children so much, a fact we can see by the hours they spend walking to collect and carry heavy jugs of water on their backs to their families.

 

I related to this situation and these women far more than I ever imagined I would. When I was growing up, my mother would always be at work, often working late nights. My mother wanted to be with us so badly, but our family knew that that was the way it had to be so that we could get by. I remember the pain that my mom had to go through by deciding to sacrifice spending time with us in order to take care of us.

I wanted the mothers in Ethiopia not to have to spend all of that time working so arduously, yet they had to for their children’s sake. Watching those mothers, looking into their eyes, joyful even after facing the greatest of tribulations, and staring into the beautiful eyes of their children, I think I found the passion to serve that I wanted to find in coming on this trip.

 

Ethiopia was an introspective, eye-opening journey for me. I expected to have profound revelations during my experience, but even in this moment of reflection I am realizing the deep impact this trip has had on me.

I always like to say, “You won’t know until you go.” I still think this is true, but I now believe this phrase carries more meaning. “Once you return, you truly realize.” That is the second and more important part for me. Looking back at my experiences with the communities in Ethiopia, I learn more from them each day. I know that I had these experiences for a reason. I am trying to figure out if my heart is still in Ethiopia, or if it has learned from Ethiopia and is looking to reside elsewhere. I am learning to be patient for God’s guidance, waiting for the right time and situation to share my heart with the world.   

 

 

 

 

Thomas Howard spent this summer as an intern with Water to Thrive, traveling to Ethiopia and working on a guide for best practices for water point implementation. This is the second of two posts about his time in Africa.

 

 The driving force behind my journey to Ethiopia was the deep desire to learn more about clean water implementation and to find out whether bringing clean water to those in need was a true passion of my heart — something that I want to do for a significant part of my life.

 

After our journey through the north was complete, we traveled to the south. When I stepped off the plane, all around there was green, a rich green the likes of which I had not seen in the north. And unlike the north, there was water abounding, from trickling tributaries to roaring rivers. This was a detail that I had not expected — I’d never envisioned such a lush and damp environment to be in Ethiopia.

 

 

 

We visited a school in the village of Chucho. There were so many children there. A well was being built on the school grounds and the principal, Adola, was going to be in charge of the committee responsible for the well.

 

Adola stood by the well, hand in hand with his young daughter. I got a chance to interview him, and he only talked about the children of the school. He told me about how the water was going to help the students attend school more often. He also told me about how the students were being taught proper sanitation so that they would no longer get sick. He rejoiced in the effect this would have on the children’s education and their future.

 

 

 

Adola’s passion for the children embodied the passion of all the parents that we encountered. I saw some amazing mothers while in Ethiopia. I could see how much they treasured their children in how they talked to them and treated them when no one was looking. I saw a mother teaching her two-year-old child how to wash his hands before eating. Another woman, carrying a large jerry of clean water on her back, was holding the hand of her little boy as they walked from the well to their home. These women love their children so much, a fact we can see by the hours they spend walking to collect and carry heavy jugs of water on their backs to their families.

 

I related to this situation and these women far more than I ever imagined I would. When I was growing up, my mother would always be at work, often working late nights. My mother wanted to be with us so badly, but our family knew that that was the way it had to be so that we could get by. I remember the pain that my mom had to go through by deciding to sacrifice spending time with us in order to take care of us.

I wanted the mothers in Ethiopia not to have to spend all of that time working so arduously, yet they had to for their children’s sake. Watching those mothers, looking into their eyes, joyful even after facing the greatest of tribulations, and staring into the beautiful eyes of their children, I think I found the passion to serve that I wanted to find in coming on this trip.

 

Ethiopia was an introspective, eye-opening journey for me. I expected to have profound revelations during my experience, but even in this moment of reflection I am realizing the deep impact this trip has had on me.

I always like to say, “You won’t know until you go.” I still think this is true, but I now believe this phrase carries more meaning. “Once you return, you truly realize.” That is the second and more important part for me. Looking back at my experiences with the communities in Ethiopia, I learn more from them each day. I know that I had these experiences for a reason. I am trying to figure out if my heart is still in Ethiopia, or if it has learned from Ethiopia and is looking to reside elsewhere. I am learning to be patient for God’s guidance, waiting for the right time and situation to share my heart with the world.