At the Well

For better or worse, in most ways I did not experience "culture shock" while in Sierra Leone. I have a couple of theories for this, which I can bore you with in person, but they are not the point of this post. In two specific things, however, I did find myself in shock when I learned of the sins and misconceptions that plague this culture. I will write about one of these things today.

In the above picture, you are looking at a picture of the well in the village of Ngolala, about a 20 minute walk from the COTN property in Banta. After hearing throughout college, in churches, and in the news about projects to build wells to bring the people of Africa clean water, I was excited to see a well capable of use for the people there. I thought of it as a real life picture of the good that is happening. This idea was soon deflated, however, when I was informed that the people of Ngolala actually don't use the well that is in the center of this community, but instead walk to the edge of the village to a small, dirty river to collect water needed for drinking, cooking, cleaning, etc. Incredulously, I asked why. Two main reasons were given that I will paraphrase: 1) There is a strong cultural misconception that running water (even if used for bathing and other things) is cleaner than the standing water of a well and 2) the people of Ngolala had no ownership/leadership in building the well and so therefore they have no ownership/leadership in using it. This bothered me for the duration of the trip. Even if the reasons made "sense," it still seemed so simple. Just drink the clean water- it's what you need and it's what is good. My American sense of "I'm smart and know what's best for you" was elevated.

On our last day in Sierra Leone, we were asked to write a letter to ourselves. As I started to write in a stream of consciousness (you know, "Nicole-style"), I found myself writing about this well issue. And God in His mercy spoke to my heart. Again and again as I interacted with the Christian nationals, I had been observing and learning from their passion for the Lord and the way that they put Him first and knew He was most important. That even though they had little, they also had everything. And again and again, I was convicted of this in my own life. That even though I know and have within me the source of Living Water, I continually go to the dirty river of American consumerism, entertainment, and the all-consuming outward impressions to try and satisfy. That to go the well is so simple and in my sin I am blinded by the truth.

I was reminded of this as I read Isaiah 12:

With joy you will draw from wells of salvation. And you will say in that day:
Give thanks to the LORD, call upon HIS name, make known His deeds among the peoples,proclaim that His name is exalted. Sing praises to the LORD for He has done gloriously; let this be known in all the earth. (vs. 3-5)

LORD, may we become unblinded by the cultural misconceptions that our sin promotes. May we drink from your clean and living waters. May we not give up on our American neighbors who drink from the dirty river nor our African neighbors who do the same. May we engage with them and point them towards the truth as we walk in it in humility. Amen.