Peru
March 2, 2010
My friend Bonnie and I just got back from visiting four of the wells that Generosity Water built along the Amazon River in Peru. What a great trip!
We took a small plane from Lima, Peru to the town of Iquitos. We were picked up in a three-wheeled motorbike, (definitely a first for me!) and we rode for forty-five minutes down dusty ‘roads’. Along the way we passed many shacks built on stilts in which families lived. These homes had no water source or electricity. These people, while living relatively close to a town, lived isolated from any modern amenities. Eventually we arrived at the edge of the Amazon. We waited until a boat-canoe arrived, and then we climbed in. We spent another forty-five minutes going up-river. “Wow! The Amazon River,” was all I was thinking. (And at the same time hoping I wasn’t going to have to swim in this piranha-infested river!) We arrived at a muddy patch of land and then began to walk toward the village where the Generosity Water well was built.
As I walked, swatting mosquitoes and perspiring greatly, I realized how truly isolated this community was. We entered the village and were greeted by the head of the village and many of the children and families. We were given a fan made from reeds as a gift, (I was very grateful!) and we were thanked for the well. Some of the mothers said how thankful they were that their children had clean water, and that the well would go a long way toward taking care of their future. I looked in the face of these moms and realized that moms are moms everywhere. We all want health and a better future for our children.
As we walked back to our boat, we passed lots of dirty water sources and I realized that unlike the arid places in sub-Saharan Africa, there is water here- after all the Amazon River is just steps away-, its just that there is just no clean, drinkable water. So the need for clean water wells is the same. I am just glad to help be a part of the solution!
- Holly Wagner
