By Wayne Rowe, World Hunger-Tangible Love Team member

Our congregation in Kasompe, Zambia, is at the heart of the community, serving 200 households and 1,400 people. Access to clean water often has been difficult.

A few households have shallow wells near their homes. Unfortunately, during the dry season these shallow wells dry up. The only other source of water for the community is the nearest river—a three-mile walk.

An average family in Kasompe needs at least five gallons of water daily for drinking, washing, and cooking. Women and children walk the dusty road to the river, sometimes twice a day. However, river water can be contaminated, and children often become sick.

The church provided a Tangible Love grant to the Kasompe Congregation, allowing people to drill a deep borehole, or well, near the church. Fresh, clean water now is accessible not only to the congregation, but to the wider community.

“We are so grateful that Tangible Love has given us this pump because water was very difficult for us,” said Temwani, a Community of Christ member and Kasompe resident. “Now we are giving thanks because it is so much nearer and cleaner.”