A 3 Cup Shower

Did you know the average American shower uses a whopping 17.2 gallons (65.1 liters) and lasts for 8.2 minutes at average? —home-water-works.org

So, a 3-cup shower—just how effective would that be? Not very, I can tell you. But, for me, it was one of the experiences that led me to understand just how precious water is.

In 2003 I traveled to Maganja da Costa, an area in the Zambezia province in northern Mozambique. The days were long and hot, at over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. About the third day, I was really looking forward to a shower. A small hut about the size of a porta john serves that purpose. Of course, I use the term “shower” loosely as there is no running water. Even privacy is minimum and consists basically of people knowing the shower is in use so they stay away.

When I entered the hut I found a bucket of cold water that had been brought for my use. Women of the village had also heated a bowlful of water. Honestly, when I looked at that water and thought how a lady had carried that water on her head for 3 miles, I just couldn’t use that much water to wash off. So, somehow I managed to take a shower of sorts with 3 cups of water. Crazy, right? But, the water was precious and needed to be used for many other people and purposes.

Speed forward to 2016, and Water4Life Mozambique had just drilled a water well in this same village. Remembering that 3-cup shower, it was a blessing to realize the people now have all the clean, safe water they need.

That morning I read the scripture in Isaiah 9:2, “For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine.” We know the Light of the world is Jesus. There is also a light of hope for a brighter future that comes when a water well is drilled and clean water flows. As villagers come to the well that we build on church properties, they hear about the Light, the Living Water, that comes to give life and give it more abundantly.