Wells of living water

Mennonite Central Committee
Friday, 8 December 2000

Eva Tomas Mulungu patiently drew water with a plastic bucket from a new 23-meter deep (75.5 feet) well and filled her plastic container. Standing in line behind her more than two dozen others waited their turn.

This well, one of two that Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) and the Anglican Church in Mozambique have funded near Catembe, in southern Mozambique, attracts nearly 200 people a day to draw water, some arriving at 4 a.m. every morning.

Also standing at the well was Father Elias Muholove of the Anglican Church, who with MCC Mozambique country representatives, Harold and Christine Wenger, were preparing to dedicate the well.

With the skies threatening rain Muholove lead the group in several songs with the help of the project coordinator, Joao Matsinhe, and his wife Margarita. Muholove told the story of the woman of Samaria and the promise of living water.

Muholove reminded the people gathered at the well the water was for everyone regardless of their faith. Confusion arose at another 23-meter well near Inkasane where one villager said they thought the well was only for Anglicans. This caused some people to use the well late at night, one village woman said. Muholove decided to make another visit to clarify that the water was for everyone and to bless the well in the presence of church and community.

The wells have been placed in communities where jobs are scarce and people struggle to survive on the land, Wenger said.

For the new well in Inkasane, Muholove recommended each person contribute 5000 metacais (about $0.45 Cdn./$0.30 U.S.) per year for repairs and that someone keep a record of the contributions.

One of the women spoke up with appreciation for the well: "We are thankful for the well because we used to have a lot of trouble," she said. "Now we have sufficient water although it sometimes runs out because of so many people."

As the group finished singing the chorus of "Ronga" or "Thank you God" they began dancing and clapping, showing their appreciation for the new well.

The two 23-meter hand-dug wells are the deepest so far of 26 wells done in the well project, and probably at maximum depth for this method" Wenger said. "The cost of each well was therefore much higher than the average, but more wells are desperately needed in the area."

Muholove views the wells as part of the witness of the church, giving the water of life, both spiritually and physically.

For more information, or to contact Mennonite Central Committee, see their website at: www.mcc.org