Late one evening, as the stars shined over the Ugandan plains, Kalist shared his tragic story with Samaritan’s Purse staff member Gadson Harera.

He once had a healthy, strong family, but in 1993 they moved to a remote area in the sub-county of Kihuura where there was no protected water source. The only water they had to drink was being shared with wild animals. As a result, Kalist contracted typhoid.

He became ostracized because everyone believed he had HIV/AIDS, including his wife who abandoned him in fear of catching the disease.

His wife returned after he recovered, but their struggles didn’t end. Their daughter also became ill with typhoid and passed away in 2002. His other children continually missed school because of water-borne diseases, and the medical bills mounted.

“I felt severe pain and lost a lot of money,” Kalist said.

Kalist’s story is not uncommon. According to Chris Blackham, director of the Samaritan’s Purse office in Uganda, only 19 percent of the people in Kihuura have access to safe, clean water. Some 30,000 members of the community are at an extremely high risk of disease, which often can lead to death. Clean water and sanitation is desperately needed.

Samaritan’s Purse is helping by implementing a project that will greatly improve the quality of life by providing water, sanitation, and hygiene coverage for 100 percent of the community.

Team Samaritan’s Purse is helping by raising money for clean water projects in Kihuura.

Team Samaritan’s Purse is a group of people who compete in athletic events to help needy people across the world. It has set a goal of raising $100,000 at official events in Atlanta and Cincinnati next year.

“Having water and hygiene education is something that most people take for granted,” Team SP runner Lindsey Christmas said. “Personally, it’s really hard to believe that something like water is scarce in a lot of countries.”

Lindsey has registered for the Atlanta Marathon in March 2011 to help bring clean water, sanitation programs, and most importantly, the Gospel of Jesus Christ to Kihuura.

Only a third of the population in Uganda has clean water. This project is a step towards spreading access across the nation. Work will include deep well construction, shallow well rehabilitation, spring protection, rainwater harvesting, bathing shelters, ventilated latrines, and hand washing stations.

“This project is invaluable!” Lindsey said, “With projects like this, I am hoping that water will be readily available in Uganda.”

Lindsey said that she has always wanted to run a marathon for a charity or organization she believes in. In 2008, she began training for a race to raise money for cancer research after her aunt and grandfather passed away from the disease. But due to a leg injury, Lindsey had to drop out.

Last year she was introduced to Team SP through Chloe Contarino, who ran the Shamrock Marathon in Virginia Beach, Virginia, to raise funds for an orphanage in Honduras.

“I was completely inspired,” Lindsey said. “The idea of being part of a team that is united in Jesus’ Name and is raising funds for those in need greatly encouraged me.”

Read the story that motivated Lindsey to join Team SP.

Lindsey has begun training and is excited to see how God will work in her life and in the lives of others during the months ahead. On days where running 26.2 miles seems impossible, Lindsey said she is reminded that nothing is impossible with God.

“Being a member of Team SP is an absolute honor,” she said. “For years I have participated in Operation Christmas Child, and I am so thrilled to be able to do more for this organization!”

Team SP director Darren Mullenix said that participating in an athletic event is something anyone can get involved in.

“You don’t have to be a world-class athlete to do this,” he said. “Team SP is about individuals taking up a challenge to do something that maybe they never thought they could do. It’s really not about the running as much as it is about helping those who don’t have access to what so many of us take for granted.”

Kalist’s family was one of the first recipients of Samaritan’s Purse’s water programs. We constructed a well in Kihuura in March. Chris reported that ever since his family began drinking from it, neither him nor his wife and children have needed to visit the health center.

“Typhoid and other water-borne diseases are history now,” Kalist said. “I want to thank Samaritan’s Purse, the community water project staff, and most importantly, the donors!”

Through Team SP runners like Lindsey and those who are willing to support this endeavor, the program will expand and thousands of people like Kalist will be helped in Jesus’ Name.

“This is an opportunity for individuals to have an eternal impact on a community across the globe,” Darren said.

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Samaritan's Purse , Uganda , Team SP , Ways to Help , Running Water to Uganda