A special needs family in Bolivia has clean drinking water thanks to a filter installed by Samaritan’s Purse
Alex Wann works with Samaritan’s Purse in Bolivia as a water, sanitation, and hygiene monitoring coordinator.
We visited Francisca and Henry’s community one morning to talk with their leaders about water. While passing the home of this grandmother and grandson, we noticed their BioSand water filter, so we stopped in to say hello. Francisca shared that her village received these filters from Samaritan’s Purse in 2012. We’re encouraged to see the filter serving its purpose for this family two years later.
Francisca is thankful for the clean water from the filter that provides for her and her grandson, Henry.
We asked Francisca a little bit more about her situation and were surprised to hear that she pays 24 Bolivianos (about $3) each day for someone to bring her water from a nearby pond. She isn’t strong enough to travel there herself. Although she has safe drinking water because of the filter, she also needs cheaper water. We’re working on that now.
We then asked about Henry. She cried as she talked about taking care of her grandson’s special needs in a tough community. We asked if we could pray with them both and then gathered around Henry’s wheelchair. That’s when he started to smile.
It was a privilege to pray with and for them. I love water projects because we meet real people whose lives are changed.
As we left, Francisca invited us to return for their town anniversary in August. She said she might prepare a nice pork roast. I think we’d love to come back.
