The End Has Come!

Day 41-

Day 41... ???... That means it is officially over. No more walking around with 80 extra lbs. The joints in my hands still hurt from the excessive weight and strain put on them during these last 40 days. I can only hope that it heals, otherwise, I will always have a reminder of my time with Leah and Rachel, the jerry cans. With as much time as we've spent together, I can honestly say, I will not miss them, not in the least bit. In these last few days, I have grown to dislike them more and more. Every morning waking up, seeing them next to my bed and thinkg argggg... the morning walk from my bedroom to the bathroom, they felt like 100 lbs. each.
But like I previously said, I can put them down. Others don't have the choice. But now, thanks to all the supporters, and thanks to God, many will not have to make that long trek to get water. They will have clean water close by. Not only that, but they'll know that someone they've never met, never seen, on the other side of the world, loves them and cares about them. And that is as refreshing as nice, clean water.
Praise God!

Day 28-

28 Days Later... isn't that a zombie movie...

My walk towards a well in Sierra Leone continues. I have spoken to many about the need for clean water and many have asked about my "jugs". Awareness is being raised, but that is not enough. Unlike breast cancer, it isn't enough to simply be aware. Not that that's enough for breast cancer either, although many times I see walks for breast cancer awareness and think to myself, can't they walk for breast cancer cures or breast cancer solutions... but then I thought about it, and it is good to be aware so that women will go see a doctor regularly to catch it early. With the water crisis, there's no longer an option to try and catch it early... it's here. And it will stay here until we do something about it.

My nephew, Isaac, wanted to help. At least he tried.

With all the downed trees, I lost power... I took a picture.

Count Down

Day 22-
Count down... already? Okay, it may be a little too early. As the days pass, whether or not I can walk the 40 days becomes less of a concern and whether or not I'm going to be able to raise enough money to rehabilitate the well becomes the more important question.
Giving at my office continues to trickle in. With big checks from my big bosses at Torti Gallas and Partners, Inc., one day sponsor donations from principals like Brian O'Looney, I'm sure to make the goal.
Thanks for all the support TGP!
More to come!

Half Way There!

Day 20-
At any given time, half of the world’s hospital beds are occupied by patients suffering from a water-related disease.

Pretty amazing when you think about water. Small problems become giant problems when you don't have clean water.

The other amazing thing is that this problem can be solved. Statistics show 1 Dollar can provide clean water for 1 person for 1 year. This is within our means to do. Many people tell me they just don't have anything to give. Sometimes that may be true. If you're starving and you're not sure where your next meal is coming from, then you're right, you have nothing to give. Although this is probably not the case for most. For most people, if a dollar was taken out of their wallets or purses, they'd never even notice. In fact, I'd even go as far as saying two dollars... maybe even two dollars and 50 cents. Why $2.50? Because that's the amount that a little over 50% of the world lives off of everyday. But before any thinks that I'm trying to give them a guilt trip, please remember, as one finger is pointed at you, three fingers are pointed back at me. I need to remember to think of others more highly than myself and love them as I love myself.

Here's some good news...

Last Thursday, I went to Domino's to get a pizza, and a young man waiting for his food asked me "what's up with the jugs". After I explained the situation and what I was doing, he asked "so what can I do"... This sophomore from Central North Carolina Something College gave me $5.

Last Friday, I was waiting in Downtown Silver Spring for some friends, just standing on the corner across from the Majestic Movie Theater and bam! Two kids give me a dollar each, I think their mom gave it to them to give to me. I shared with them what I was doing too.

Last Saturday, I attended a wedding for my friends Sherry and Andy. Just beautiful. After the wedding while the caterers were cleaning up, one of the the guys gave me a dollar. I guess he read the sign on the side of my jerry can. I shared with him too.

Yesterday, I went to lunch at Woodside Deli in Silver Spring. I love their food. A waitress gave me a dollar after I explained what I was doing. She wasn't even my waitress.

Today, my boss gave me a pretty big check... he's a pretty big guy too.

See it's not how much they gave, but that they saw a need and wanted to act. Many see the need, and turn their heads. What will you do?

"EARTHQUAKE"

Day 16-
I awoke early this morning a little after 5am. The room was shaking, I sat up in my bed, startled. Then suddenly, it all stopped. I got out of bed, looked out my window. It's still a bit dark, everything's quiet. Still half-asleep, I got back into bed, thinking, "Oh it was all just a dream, we don't get earthquakes in Maryland." When I finally got up this morning, I saw this... and knew it wasn't a dream.

http://www.razoo.com/story/Greyson-s-40-Day-Water-Walk-Marathon-Walk-With-Me

"A child dies every 15 seconds because of a lack of clean water. It costs us an average of $.98 to provide safe, clean water to one person for one year. Every dollar makes a difference." Living Water International

Two Weeks Down... and a Bunch More to Go

Day 15-
Since I have now finished week 2, I thought I'd give an update on how I'm feeling. I'm super tired, I need more sleep. This morning when I picked up Rachel and Leah to go to the bathroom and do my usual morning routine, they felt heavier than they did yesterday. My shoulders are the most sore part of my body. Now, I'm starting to understand people's doubts as to me doing this for 40 days...
Oh, but here's a cool story. Tuesday night, after visiting my grandmother in the nursing home, I went to Domino's to pick up some pizzas for dinner. Yes, the "pizzas", meaning more than one, meaning plural pizzas. And yes, they were both for me. But here's the cool part. While I was waiting, a young man who was also waiting for his order, asked me what was up with the jugs. So I shared with him the need for clean water, the women carrying the water over long distances, and about Living Water International. Then he asked, "so what can I do". He gave me $5 to help build the well, and he did it without blinking an eye. That was so awesome. He's a sophomore at Central North Carolina, where he plays football. I should have taken a picture. I should have also taken a picture of me trying to get back to my car carrying the jerry cans and two medium pizzas. I made it, but one of my pizzas was a hot mess when I got home.

Water-related diseases cost 443 million school days a year.
More than 150 million school-age children are severely affected by waterborne parasites like roundworm, whipworm, and hookworm. These children commonly carry up to 1000 parasites at a time, causing anemia, stunted growth, and other debilitating conditions.

Day 13- Wow, it's almost been 2 weeks with Rachel and Leah (my jerry cans). The time has just flown by. Although, I'm not even at the half way point yet. Fortunately for me, after 40 days, I can put them down. Others in the world don't have that option. During a time when our economy is so uncertain and we are concerned with our own financial stability, I hope we can still look past our problems to focus on others; others who would gladly switch places with us, even during this time. For me, I don't have to think about how I'm going to afford my next meal or am I going to eat tomorrow. This questions are real questions for so many in the world. Clean water is not something I think too much about either. I turn on the faucet and expect water... not only do I expect water, but I expect clean water. I look forward to this well being built and hopefully being able to go visit the well and the people it has effected. Not so that I can feel proud of what I've done, or so that they can thank me for thinking of them, but so that I can tell them about God's love and his amazing grace. And I'm hoping with each drink they take they will think of Him and drink for his glory...
"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."