Here is an update from Chris Swift on our water-fast project, which raised more than $1,200 for Blood:Water Mission.

Back in mid-spring, a small handful of friends from The Rock were planning how to present a two-week water fast to our church and to the students at Mizzou. Rather than drinking coffee, soda, juice, etc., we challenged ourselves to drink nothing but tap water and saved the money we would have spent. Then at the end of the fast, we collected the money and donated it toward Blood: Water Mission and their “1000 Wells Project” that is taking place across Africa, in hopes to provide clean water to the millions of people who have no access to clean water.

There were two purposes:

1. To break our dependence on our usual convenience of drinking what we want, when we want it.

2. To show God’s love to our brothers and sisters in Africa through our small act of sacrifice, though we may never see them.

The fast went better than we thought. Some folks from RUF, another ministry on the Mizzou campus, jumped on board with us, and together we set up a table in Brady Commons six times during the fast to collect donations and raise awareness. Through the table and money saved through fasting, we raised more than $1,200. At the end of the fast, we threw a “Water Party” to celebrate everyone’s efforts. Breezy Torres displayed an art project that she had made that represented the contaminated water that millions of Africans are forced to drink daily. We also spent some time discussing how the fast went - what was difficult, what we learned, how thinking about the issue messed with our hearts, etc. Finally, we committed the money to prayer, asking that God would use it in powerful ways.

I was greatly challenged and encouraged throughout the fast. I was challenged constantly because every time I was thirsty for something besides water, I thought of my brothers and sisters who would love to have a glass of what I had to “settle” for. I was greatly encouraged because of dozens of friends who got excited about the effort and decided to sacrifice for such a beautiful cause. Thank you very much to all who participated, volunteered and prayed for the effort - lives are changed forever from such a simple project.