Upgraded Pumps Are Building Bridges to the Gospel
We love success stories. They help us know that our work is making a difference, that we’re on the right path, and that we’re changing lives for the better. And we’re especially grateful when we hear that our work is bringing people closer to God.
In July, Design Outreach traveled to Mwayasunka Village and United Church of Zambia to check on the performance of an India Mark 2 (IM2) hand pump that was upgraded as part of the IM2 MaxLife™ pilot program.
This pump serves approximately 1,300 people in a community that is home to more than eight churches. According to Reverend Christine Siantwala Banda, this upgrade was about much more than water.
“When there is no water, no one comes to church because they know sanitation is compromised,” she told us. “Having water in this area is really a blessing to the people around us and helps people to worship their God freely.”
She said it gives her joy knowing that people will be “safe to worship with a free mind, knowing they have access to water greatly available.”
“I’m really happy to have partners in this area that are really taking life seriously, knowing that water is life,” she said.
The partners Reverend Christine is referring to are Design Outreach and Living Water International, which joined forces to upgrade IM2 hand pumps in Zambia. Pastor Dennis Mizhi, who has lived in this community since 2001, told us why this upgrade was so important.
“I came to this place when there was no water,” he said. “We used to fetch the water under struggle.”
Pastor Dennis told us the community was given this land by a farmer as a place to spread the Gospel and worship the Lord, but they needed water. The government eventually drilled a well and installed a pump, but the metal pipes rusted quickly. The pump was also breaking down after just a few months, and it would take two to four months to repair it each time. Fortunately, these struggles are behind them.
“When they replaced the metal pipes [with MaxLife components], we could now start drawing water for human consumption,” he said. “From the time it was installed, the pump has never broken down, which is giving us hope and faith.”
Pastor Dennis said his congregation is growing, thanks to safe water.
“The [upgraded] pump has given us more life,” he said. “People can come and have access to water. We are very much thankful to our Heavenly Father for bringing on board Design Outreach and Living Water International.”
Quoting Psalm 68:10 from the New International Version Bible, he said, “Your people settled in it, and from your bounty, O God, you provided for the poor.” He told us he believes the goodness of God was seen through Design Outreach providing water to the community of Mwayasunka Village and United Church of Zambia.
According to Design Outreach CEO and Co-founder Dr. Greg Bixler, the MaxLife upgrade is a tremendous improvement.
“Previously, the pump had galvanized parts, which would rust very quickly and create brown water that people didn’t want to drink,” Greg said. “Then other parts would break, which led to a lot of downtime, since people had to raise money for repairs, and that takes time.”
Since this pump was installed in February, there has not been a single breakdown. Greg said the community is extremely excited to have safe, reliable water, and that impact reaches far beyond the pump.
“We’ve been told by pastors and church leaders that there is a higher attendance in church,” Greg said. “This is a huge success story of how MaxLife upgrades are making clean water possible and helping to spread the Gospel.”
Learn more about the MaxLife Program here.
