charity: water

illustration by james steinberg



"Everyone has the power for greatness--not for fame but greatness, because greatness is determined by service." Dr. Martin Luther King


This weeks' class focused on spring water. We all tasted the spring water that Cali had harvested from the spring that day. Fresh. Pure.

. . .and Cali shared this video.

about charity: water.

and we were reminded that we have so much to be grateful for because many do not have pure water.

"Almost a billion people on the planet don’t have access to clean drinking water. Unsafe water and a lack of basic sanitation cause 80% of all disease and kill more people than all forms of violence, including war." (from charity: water website)

I had heard about charity: water last year when a popular photographer, Tara Whitney, had raised over $9,000 to build wells.


How do we make a difference?

By being His hands.


With this talk by President Uchtdorf in mind, I actually broke off the hands of my small statue of Christ as a visual reminder that: "As we emulate His perfect example, our hands can become His hands; our eyes, His eyes; our heart, His heart. . .

As we extend our hands and hearts toward others in Christlike love, something wonderful happens to us. Our own spirits become healed, more refined, and stronger. We become happier, more peaceful, and more receptive to the whisperings of the Holy Spirit. . .

. . .every day, as we contemplate with reverence and awe how our Savior embraces us, comforts us, and heals us, let us commit to become His hands, that others through us may feel His loving embrace."

Throughout the classes Cali talks about "love" being a key ingredient in anything that we prepare for our families. That blessings over our food are powerful. That the words we say to others and ourselves leave an imprint--negative or positive. Cali showed a picture of the words that she writes on her food containers. Words like, "gratitude, love, abundance." Do we feel differently as we reach for a container or almonds and see gratitude written on it? When we drink from a water bottle that reads, abundance? Truly we have an abundance. I stayed up until 2:00 in the morning watching and reading about charity: water. I cried more times than I can count that night as I watched mothers gather water from dirty ponds for their children as I saw the children suffer from lack of nourishment.

I know that I have access to clean and safe foods to nourish my children with and the desire grows each week as I learn more about the best foods. Mother Teresa said, "Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do but how much love we put into what we do." I have some containers to label this week. Containers full of beautiful whole foods to prepare with love for my family.