There are so many luxuries that we take for granted, living in such a blessed nation as the United States of America. These are things which we are accustomed to in everyday life, that many cultures around the world would consider luxuries. Peace is one of them. Electricity is another. School, church, the freedom to do these things, warmth in the cold, coolness in the heat, adequate food supply. None of these, however, are as central to life and healthiness as clean, sustainable water. Sadly, this would be considered a luxury in many places around the world.

Most of us could leave the faucets in our homes running for a week and the water would continue to flow as strong and as pure as when we first turned them on, but clean and sustainable water in Africa is a full blown crisis. Did you know that an average American uses about 175 gallons of water each day? In Africa, most families exist on just 5 gallons of water daily. An entire family! Women and Children in Africa can work up to eight hours each day obtaining water. They must walk and haul the water back from mostly polluted sources which are shared with the animal population (including hippopotami and crocodiles). They must use this limited amount for everything one would use water for; cooking, cleaning, bathing, and drinking. Drinking the water, however, could lead to their death.

Tanzania is the largest of the East African countries, with a population of 42.5 million. Despite its large lakes, many areas are very dry and cannot support agriculture. Only 54% of the Tanzanian culture has access to improved water supplies, and only 24% have access to adequate sanitation.

Currently, in Africa, about 600 children die each day because of the lack of clean water. It’s really that simple. 600 children…dead…daily…because there is not clean water. Perhaps we should remember this the next time we turn on the shower, or the faucet for a drink, or to get ice out of the ice maker.

The results: 20,000 children per year die as a result of poor water supply. That equals 1 out of 5 children under the age of 5 years old.

One man has begun a mission. Al Pulis was diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer in June of 2011. After surgery, he personally took on the challenge to bring a commercial water well drilling rig and truck to Tanzania. With the support of his family and church, he and two other men will climb Mt. Kilimanjaro in January to raise the needed funds to bring the equipment to Tanzania.

100% of your donations will towards purchasing the necessary equipment to drill wells for the impoverished families.