A 13-year-old boy in the U.S. raises enough money to provide clean water for an entire community in Cambodia.
While most 13-year-olds were riding their bikes around the neighborhood or playing sports with their friends, Cooper Brezenski was dreaming of helping people without clean water access.
Many communities around the world are desperate for clean water. They rely on the ponds and streams closest to them for drinking—even if it’s not clean. This is their only option, and they often become sick because of it. It becomes difficult for parents to work and impossible for children to attend school. The cycle never seems to end.
Cooper, though, hoped to build a water well for a community experiencing these struggles. Accomplishing this goal would require $10,000, but he wasn’t discouraged. He knew that God would be faithful to provide the resources needed to build a well. He just had to trust Him.
A Heart Burdened
Cooper’s homeschool curriculum includes reading stories of missionaries who are serving struggling families.
“I’m taken care of, but there are others out there in need,” he said.
At age 10, he started using his Christmas and birthday money to bless people worldwide through Samaritan’s Purse. He never spends the money on anything for himself.
Although his family packs Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts, Cooper still uses his own money to send shoeboxes to boys and girls around the world, giving them the opportunity to experience the love of Jesus Christ in a tangible way.
And in addition to what his family gives through the Samaritan’s Purse Christmas Gift Catalog, Cooper thoughtfully picks out gifts he wants to send. Last year, he saved his money and sent Bibles and chickens to people in need through our catalog.
Cooper was browsing the catalog when the gift item for drilling a well caught his eye. He learned that one well could provide for a community of up to 500 people and give clean water for drinking, cooking, and bathing. Drilling a well would also create opportunities for Samaritan’s Purse staff to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Despite the $10,000 price tag, Cooper felt he needed to raise the money. “God put it on my heart. I wasn’t even worried,” he said.
His parents, Adam and Somer, couldn’t say no to their eldest son when he presented the project to them. They had their doubts, but Cooper displayed an unshakeable faith.
“Who was I to say no?” Somer said. “I had to take a back seat to my fears and doubts and follow his faith.”
A Community Restored
Cooper started raising money by completing small tasks around his neighborhood in Colorado City, Colorado. He would do anything to earn a few extra dollars, including collecting cans and shoveling his neighbors’ sidewalks.
The Brezenskis shared the project with their church, Valley Community Church, and Cooper encouraged the congregation to pray and to give. Adam and Somer also shared the story with a local newspaper to further spread the word in their small town.
Some people suggested that Cooper look into a more attainable project. They doubted he could raise the money, especially in such a small community. But Cooper’s response was always the same: “It’s going to happen. God’s got this.”
It didn’t take long for the story to gain traction. Donations started pouring in, many from out-of-state and from people Cooper had never met.
Exactly 100 days after the project started, all the money had been raised in part thanks to an anonymous donor who provided matching funds.
“We were all in shock. We cried. We were overwhelmed—everyone except Cooper,” Somer said.
Cooper wasn’t at all surprised. “I knew it was going to happen,” he said. “All glory to God.”
Don Jones, senior pastor at Valley Community Church, said that the project has already made a difference in their community. “Cooper showed all of us adults what faith really is and what God can do. It made our faith stronger. The Lord used someone young to show us that we needed to have more faith.”
The money Cooper and his community raised will fund a well for a remote community in Cambodia. Clean drinking water will reduce the risk of waterborne diseases and improve overall health for the village. Most importantly, our team will serve in Jesus’ Name and share the eternal hope of Christ.
We thank the Lord for His provision and faithfulness throughout this project. To learn more about how you can help change lives this Christmas season, visit our Catalog of Opportunities.
“Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:14).
AFTER WAR ERUPTED and water supply lines were attacked and destroyed, residents of a town in Ukraine were left without a water source. Samaritan’s Purse dug a new well that is now producing enough water for the entire community. For about $10,000—or just $20 per person—we can drill a freshwater well in places where safe drinking water is scarce. Your gift will help bring clean water to suffering families and invite them to experience the deep love of Jesus. “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38).
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