Church harvests rain in rural East Africa

MONDULI JUU, Tanzania — This rural East African community has access to clean water, thanks to a Church of Christ.

The Monduli Juu Church of Christ, near Arusha in northern Tanzania, recently installed a rainwater harvesting system at the Emairete Dispensary, a medical facility. Missionary Ralph Williams led the design and implementation of the project. Members of the Monduli Juu congregation led the construction effort, with other volunteers recruited from the community. Funding came from congregations in the U.S. and Rotary International.

Tanzanians learn about their new water system during a Women’s Day celebration at the Emairete Dispensary.

“Emairete village has had limited access to water, and the dispensary had to purchase water to operate,” Williams said. “Because of this, they have not had a permanent doctor until recently. All this will change as a result of this project, which will allow the dispensary to capture and store 140,000 liters (about 37,000 gallons) of rainwater using appropriate technology and locally available resources.”

The church also built a rainwater harvesting system for its meeting place, which also supplies water to the community. The church seeks funding for a similar system for Imorijo elementary school, which has 700 students and no water supply, Williams said.

Funds for the project may be sent through the Williams Tanzania Mission Facebook page. Checks may be sent to the Hernando Church of Christ, P.O. Box 445, Hernando, MS 38632. Write “Clean Water for Africa” in the memo line.

Dressed in their traditional attire, Tanzanians gather to celebrate the installation of a rainwater harvesting system at a rural clinic.

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