Water is life....

But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people" -Luke 2 : 10

My name is LeeAnn and I am a woman on a mission. My goal is to bring fresh clean water to as many families as I can in Africa. From a recent study taken there are 1.2 billion people that don't have access to clean water, and as a result of that there are 2,500 children losing their lives everyday because of tainted water. Unsafe drinking water can carry deadly diseases such as malaria, trypanosomiasis, intestinal worm infections, dengue, and - as well as bacteria that can lead to deadly diarrheal infections. These sicknesses and diseases lead to children not being able to attend school and schools being forced to shut there doors because all their teachers are sick. Children always have to quit going to school because there days are spent in search of water for their families. That is why African's today have little or no education. Mother's are forced to leave there children and walk several miles to get water to bring back to their families that is likely to be carrying the deadly diseases that are killing them. Without water there is also no hope for farmers to grow crops or raise livestock, leaving villages starving for the very resources that we take so lightly in this country. 

"Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of over coming it"- Helen Keller.

I recently signed up to run a marathon on 13 October 2013 with Team World Vision. World Vision is a relief, development and advocacy organization- it has grown to be one of the largest relief and development organizations today. They are inspired by Christian values and they work with the most vulnerable people in the world. I love World Vision because they focus on integrated water programs. They go in communities and help them build water piping systems, clean water wells, rock catchments, irrigation canals, and latrines. In the last 25 years, million people have gained access to clean water through World Vision's water programs.  There are many great charities and inspiring organizations and I am very grateful for being able to be a part of such an amazing team. So far through family and friend's donations we have raised enough money to supply three people with water for the rest of their lives. That is so incredible. I am starting off this journey so inspired and motivated. I can't wait to see what God has in store for me. 

If you would like additional information on World Vision or would like to make a donation to my team you can click the link below and it will connect you to my website. Any donation will be greatly appreciated. It only costs $1, for one of our neighbors in Africa, to drink fresh water for an entire year. 

LeeAnn Hilker - Team World Vision

The Picture above is a fresh water well one of the World Vision Team's helped make possible.