Suyapa's Water Story

“Imagine the difference this will make for us—a whole $8 a month that we won’t have to spend on water to drink!  We can buy more food…I can save for the children’s uniforms so they can go to school...  This water filter doesn’t just help us obtain clean water.  It helps us to improve our lives in many ways.  And for some of my friends, they couldn’t even buy the drinking water—so it’s the first time they have had clean water for their children.” 

Suyapa is a Honduran woman who is a member of Divine Mercy Catholic Church.  She was one of the first ten women to be chosen by lottery for the Living Water Women’s Ministry, in February 2009.  As a member of the ministry, Suyapa attended a training session in which she and her friends discussed the dangers of impure water, assembled and decorated their own filtration systems, and made a commitment to share the filtered water with at least three other neighbor households.

The day after Suyapa attended the training, we visited her in her home, where she enthusiastically explained the wonderful benefits of the filtration system.   She went on to show us several large blue plastic containers:  “Here is the first five gallon jug that I made for my family—see, it is covered and I am keeping it clean.  I have already made another five gallons for my neighbor friend, Pastora Sandra (the Methodist pastor who lives next door.)  Right now, I am making a jug-full for my Evangelical friend.”  With these words Suyapa was witnessing to a critical component of the ministry: the women are encouraged to share and work ecumenically, as an avenue to healing neighborhood divisions that can be caused by competition between congregations.

Suyapa lives in a marginal neighborhood overlooking Tegucigalpa, the capitol city of Honduras.  She is well-regarded as one of the most animated leaders of her congregation; her ready smile and authentic warmth are life-giving and hopeful in an environment marked by desperation. 

The water filtration system that Suyapa uses is simple but effective.  A donation of $50 from an Epiphany member allowed us to purchase the filter kit from Sawyer Point One Filters, along with a bucket and the few other program materials that were needed.  The system is approved by the World Health Organization.  It requires no electricity, replacement parts or technical know-how, and the maintenance is simple.  As a micro-project in the hands of a motivated mother who has made a sacred promise to share the water with her neighbors, it is virtually immune from issues of control or access.  The filtration system, if regularly maintained, will probably last throughout Maritza’s life.

Last month, Suyapa and seven of her co-ministers of water accepted training to become trainers.  As our program expands, they will train other women at the first level.  We are now ready to radically expand the Living Water program, so that many more women will be able to provide clean water for their families.  No longer will they have to make the heartbreaking choice between food and pure water for their children.