The love of Christ is stronger than terrorism, or hate.

Chibok, where 276 schoolgirls were kidnapped on April 14 by Islamist militants.

By now just about everyone has heard about the terrorist activity in northern Nigeria. Boko Haram, as they call themselves, has been responsible for the death of thousands over the last few years, but only gained national attention with the recent abduction of over 200 young girls from a school. Boko Haram’s activity has hit close to home in recent days with deadly attacks on villages in the Chibok area of

Nigeria Kidnapped Girls

southern Borno State where we have associates, and on this past Saturday June 7th when a suicide bomber killed herself and others at the military barracks in Gombe city in Gombe State, Nigeria our home base of operations.

 
Our well drilling operation and recent assistance to a local community in the completion of a maternity clinic continue to build relationships with both Christian and Muslim communities alike. Rambi Ayala, our Director of Operations for Africa, filed this report.

 
“Sir, our work continues to generate a lot of interest and goodwill from members of the public. At the weekend precisely on Saturday 7, 2014, I was called upon to receive an Award of Excellence in community service at the university of Jos by the Gombe State Students’ Association. It was an impressive gathering where the Senior Special Adviser to the President on Social Development and Special Duties, Mrs. Sarah Pane, delivered a keynote address at the occasion. Other dignitaries included Dr. Danlami Arabs Rukuje, Senior Adviser to the Governor of Gombe State, who doubled as the Executive Secretary of the State’s Emergency Agency. It was quiet humbling to know that what we are doing is creating impact and noted in several quarters.

 
Hope Springs International continues to gain more and more recognition by the day. We are inspired to do more in spite of

Kalkulum Maternity Clinic under construction

the daunting security challenges Nigeria is facing. There was a suicide bomb attack in Gombe yesterday at the Army barracks by a woman. Our country needs prayers for God’s intervention, mercy and grace.”

 
Although these are challenging times we continue to move ahead in our efforts to bring lasting change to the lives of those in need.

 

We have been blessed to work with a local commercial drilling company that has agreed to drill wells on our behalf for only $3,000 each. That is half the normal cost for a well in this area. We have requests for wells from at least 10 more remote villages that have never had a well and are presently drinking from ponds and streams they share with their animals. We have funds on hand for one of these requested wells. Would you be willing to provide or help provide one of the nine left?

 
I want to join Rambi in requesting that you keep this work in your prayers. These works continue to speak of the love of Christ for those in need and serve to open doors for others to learn about the One who loves them and was willing to die for them. The love of Christ is stronger than terrorism, or hate.

Partner with us! You may donate here: http://www.hopespringsint.com or by mail: Hope Springs Intl., 118 Wessington Place, Hendersonville, TN 37075.

What Can One Person Do?

Michael is a singer/songwriter who moved his family to the Nashville area some years ago to be closer to the music industry. Although Michael has had some limited successes he continues to search for that illusive number one hit. Michael’s day job is home construction and remodeling.
Michael learned about Hope Springs and contacted me a couple years ago wanting to learn more about our well drilling work. He had done his own research and was seriously touched to learn how many people did not have access to clean drinking water. After we talked Michael decided that

This was their source of water for humans and animals before the new well.

he wanted to raise awareness and funds to drill a well. Since that first meeting Michael has been responsible for two wells and we are now preparing to drill a third as a result of his efforts.
How does he do it? Michael contributes on a regular basis from his own personal income, but he also talks to people about the need and asks them to help him provide a well. Jerry is one of Michael’s co-workers. Jerry has now caught Michael’s excitement and gives on a regular basis for wells too. Another friend of Michaels is making periodic donations to his fund for wells. It is simply a word of mouth effort with great results.

 

Clean water, it was there all the time, just under their feet, but they could not reach it with out a well.

783 million people in our world today do not have access to clean drinking water. You may not be able to get your mind around that figure, but like Michael, you can make a difference in the lives of hundreds of people by providing or helping to provide just one well. Through a special arrangement with a commercial well driller in Gombe State Nigeria we are able to drill one well for only $3,000. The normal cost is twice that much. Here is how simple it is.

 

• Find 29 people who will join you in giving $100 each.

• Do a Facebook Challenge for 300 of your friends to give $10 to save lives through clean water.

• Do a multi-family yard sale with proceeds going for clean water.

• You can do a combination of all the above and add your own creative ideas.

 

The point is, YOU, ONE PERSON, can make a difference in the lives of hundreds and in some cases thousands of lives. Will you? I hope so! If you accept the challenge to provide one well here is what we will do. When that well is completed we will send you pictures of the well and the faces of the people whose lives you have changed.

If you will accept the challenge email me and let me know. hopespringsintl@gmail.com

I think Matthew West hits the nail on the head in his song, “Do Something!”