Streams of Mercy building wells, saving lives

Streams of Mercy Water Initiative members: Pastor Mark Bankson, Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church; Leslie Hughes, volunteer; Michael Hughes, cochair; Joyce Zeigen, co-chair. In an effort to raise awareness and financial support for water scarcity and sanitation issues in Kenya, Streams of Mercy Water Initiative invited the public to attend a fundraiser dinner on Saturday at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church.

The group’s initial goal of raising $2,500 to construct a water well in Kisii, a village located in southwest Kenya, was met and surpassed.

More than 100 people attended the event and approximately $4,000 was raised, bringing the overall total in the campaign to $6,000. The group expects to hit the $7,500 mark for donations by the end of the year, enough money for three water wells and six latrines.

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, co-sponsor of the water initiative, provided $1,200 in matching funds from the event.

(L to R) Edward Wanambisi, Lucy Wanambisi and their 17-year-old son, Jecksen, sing in Swahili on Saturday night during the Streams of Mercy fundraiser dinner. Initial funding will cover costs of training two community health volunteers in sanitation and hygiene techniques. In addition, training in soil enhancement practices leading to better water retention and improved crop production is included.

“We want to reach out by addressing a clear need,” said Michael Hughes, co-chair, Streams of Mercy. “This project will have a direct impact.”

The project was inspired by Dan Haskins, Our Saviour’s council president, after he completed a veterinary mission in the area.

“While serving in Kisii, I was amazed by the amount of time and effort families put into collecting and hauling water,” said Haskins.

It was not unusual to see women and children hauling five-gallon containers of water over several miles of hilly terrain, he said.

Stanwood residents Edward and Lucy Wanambisi are assisting the initiative by offering personal insight regarding water issues in Kenya. The Wanambisi family emigrated from a village north of Kisii last year.

“Our people are getting sick from water-borne diseases because they can’t gain access to treated water,” said Wanambisi. “You are putting your life at risk when you reach down in that dark water, but you know you really have no alternative.”

“The outpouring of support for this humanitarian outreach initiative has been so heartwarming and will impact so many lives. We owe a great deal to Edward and Lucy, who have been extremely integral in making this effort a huge success. They have served as an inspiration to us all at Our Saviour’s in answering God’s call to help those in need in Kenya,” said Hughes.

The community dinner featured Kenyan cuisine and live music performed by the Wanambisi family.

Many people, including children, in attendance at Saturday night’s fundraiser dinner emptied 20-ounce water bottles filled with coins into a large, makeshift well in the middle of the church fellowship hall.

“This served as a dramatic gesture of our commitment to the belief that our change will change lives in Kenya,” Hughes said.

Donations will be collected until the New Year through Streams of Mercy water bottles located at local businesses. Donations can also be dropped off at the fellowship hall “Streams of Mercy” station in Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, 27201 99th Ave N.W., 629- 3767.

“This project will not only improve the quality of life for people,” said Hughes, “it will save lives.”

Staff Reporter Adam Stewart: 629-8066 ext. 115 or astewart@scnews.com.