International(MNN) ― The World Health Organization estimates 80-percent of all sickness and disease in the world comes from inadequate water or sanitation.
It was a 'back burner' problem until 1992, when the United Nations General Assembly designated March 22 of each year to be World Water Day. The goal of this day is to promote awareness of the 1.1 billion people without access to clean, safe water.
On World Water Day, people are encouraged to make water the only beverage (all day) and then donate the monies that you would have spent on soda, coffee, juice to LWI for clean water. (To read more about World Water Day visit www.worldwaterday07.org.)
On any given day, women and children in developing nations will spend half a day or more getting water to meet their family's needs. On that same day, more than 13,000 people will die from water related diseases and 6,000 of them will be children.
Living Water International's Jerry Wiles says they're trying to fix that. This year, they'll complete roughly two wells a day. A 40% growth rate means they need to 'Share the Vision'. "We're also establishing these volunteer networks around the country, and we are doing these 'Share the Vision' events. People hear about us, they may find us on the internet, find our website, and get involved in some way, going on a mission trip, or just taking interest in how they can make a difference in people's lives."
Wiles says as they mobilize prayer and financial resources, it's important to remember the 'WHY'. "The most important thing is recognize that the 1.1 billion people without access to clean, safe drinking water are the people living on less than a dollar a day and they've had the least access to the Gospel...so, we're talking about the neediest people on the planet, both physically and spiritually."
LWI believes clean water is the first step toward that development. They're taking their message to Washington DC later this month. Rather than a protest, though, or even testifying, LWI will share their message with the people who move governments on March 29. The Living Water International Gala, under the theme 'Carry the Vision Forward' , includes a keynote address from Ambassador Tony P. Hall.
