So, today was one of those days. We all started off a little bit tired and sore from the many days of driving and not really wanting to go out anymore, but like troopers the guys strapped their boots on, grabbed their hand sanitizer and backpacks and jumped into the van again to begin our “15 – 20 minute drive” . We all were a little stiff an hour later as we pulled up to the first site and saw about 100 people from the village that the well in front of us serviced. They were so happy and singing and it kind of made us all forget the ride, the dust and the early rise.


Our “problems” kind of melted away and then I just heard God say “just listen".” About that time I saw Gebre. This Young man caught my eye because he had the biggest smile on his face and he was running around just trying to get us coffee, sugar, popcorn and whatever we “needed.” I asked if we could talk with him and he got the biggest smile and sat down almost with a thud he was so excited. He went on to tell us that he was so happy because of the fresh water that we had brought and how much it meant to him, his village, and his family, which included a new 36 day old infant. I asked him to tell me his story.
Now 29 year old Gebre lost his father at the age of 14 and his mother left shortly after this time, leaving him as the sole provider of his 6 younger siblings. Over the years Gebre has worked the fields and produced crops and fed, clothed and raised his younger siblings. At a young age he saw some guys working in a field and went to see what was up and ended up learning about electricity and how to hook up electronics and the like. He now serves as a deacon in the church and teaches the local villages what he knows about electricity, health, sanitation, better living and farming vegetables. When I asked if he felt like God is watching over him, he just smiled that huge, infectious smile that makes the whole group just feel happy and he says ” God has been with me all of my life and so I am very happy, just look around. I have a family, clean water and food. Yes, I am very happy.” I could not help but tear up a little and think, If we only saw life this way.

We had to leave Gebre and go to the next village which is not far away, but due to access we have to hike down into a pretty long steep and sometimes hard to get to gully with about 300 chanting, dancing and singing men, women, children, priests and young and old. We make our way again to hear thanks and welcome and then an elderly man spoke up and told us how much it means to him to for the first time see his grandchildren have fresh water. He has never seen this and he says it is so special to see before he goes.
I had to talk with him so as we left the site, I followed him, or tried to follow him as he easily made his way up the cliffs, hillsides and rough terrain. I ask (slightly out of breath) for his story. He easily explains that at 85 years old it is hard to remember everything and he would also like to see if I have a medicine for that. He tells me that he has seen many people come and go and has seen wars, famine and sickness, but now he sees hope and a future and is so happy to see this before he passes on with his other already deceased friends. I ask what the happiest day of his life was and he says. “ the day we saw the first stream of water from the new well, since it brings life.

So, today started with the thoughts of another bumpy ride and ended with us looking at the problems around us and wondering why we thought we had any in the first place. Being so close to being home it is hard sometimes to put our own needs aside and realize that this is not just about us. It is about them and us. It is about them and their joy that they display in such a harsh environment, It is about fresh water, change and a chance at a new start. And for us it is also a chance. A chance for us to put aside our wants, needs and desires. It is a chance to hear, to learn, to understand to be quiet and maybe for just a moment, Just Listen.

Mike Koch

  So, today was one of those days. We all started off a little bit tired and sore from the many days of driving and not really wanting to go out anymore, but like troopers the guys strapped their boots on, grabbed their hand sanitizer and backpacks and jumped into the van again to begin our “15 – 20 minute drive” . We all were a little stiff an hour later as we pulled up to the first site and saw about 100 people from the village that the well in front of us serviced. They were so happy and singing and it kind of made us all forget the ride, the dust and the early rise.


Our “problems” kind of melted away and then I just heard God say “just listen".” About that time I saw Gebre. This Young man caught my eye because he had the biggest smile on his face and he was running around just trying to get us coffee, sugar, popcorn and whatever we “needed.” I asked if we could talk with him and he got the biggest smile and sat down almost with a thud he was so excited. He went on to tell us that he was so happy because of the fresh water that we had brought and how much it meant to him, his village, and his family, which included a new 36 day old infant. I asked him to tell me his story.
Now 29 year old Gebre lost his father at the age of 14 and his mother left shortly after this time, leaving him as the sole provider of his 6 younger siblings. Over the years Gebre has worked the fields and produced crops and fed, clothed and raised his younger siblings. At a young age he saw some guys working in a field and went to see what was up and ended up learning about electricity and how to hook up electronics and the like. He now serves as a deacon in the church and teaches the local villages what he knows about electricity, health, sanitation, better living and farming vegetables. When I asked if he felt like God is watching over him, he just smiled that huge, infectious smile that makes the whole group just feel happy and he says ” God has been with me all of my life and so I am very happy, just look around. I have a family, clean water and food. Yes, I am very happy.” I could not help but tear up a little and think, If we only saw life this way.

We had to leave Gebre and go to the next village which is not far away, but due to access we have to hike down into a pretty long steep and sometimes hard to get to gully with about 300 chanting, dancing and singing men, women, children, priests and young and old. We make our way again to hear thanks and welcome and then an elderly man spoke up and told us how much it means to him to for the first time see his grandchildren have fresh water. He has never seen this and he says it is so special to see before he goes.
I had to talk with him so as we left the site, I followed him, or tried to follow him as he easily made his way up the cliffs, hillsides and rough terrain. I ask (slightly out of breath) for his story. He easily explains that at 85 years old it is hard to remember everything and he would also like to see if I have a medicine for that. He tells me that he has seen many people come and go and has seen wars, famine and sickness, but now he sees hope and a future and is so happy to see this before he passes on with his other already deceased friends. I ask what the happiest day of his life was and he says. “ the day we saw the first stream of water from the new well, since it brings life.

So, today started with the thoughts of another bumpy ride and ended with us looking at the problems around us and wondering why we thought we had any in the first place. Being so close to being home it is hard sometimes to put our own needs aside and realize that this is not just about us. It is about them and us. It is about them and their joy that they display in such a harsh environment, It is about fresh water, change and a chance at a new start. And for us it is also a chance. A chance for us to put aside our wants, needs and desires. It is a chance to hear, to learn, to understand to be quiet and maybe for just a moment, Just Listen.

Mike Koch