Texas Woman Opens Her Heart To Support Well Water Projects
Jesus answered and said to her…whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life. John 4:13-14
It may seem hard to believe that a constant thirst for water was the inspiration for Loy Little to donate to a Wheat Ridge Ministries project to build wells in Africa, but it’s true.
“I found myself thirsty all the time,” she said. “Then, the idea came to me that perhaps I could do something that would create wells in Africa. They need water. In parts of Africa, they spend two days getting the water from the river and bringing it back to their rural villages. If you don’t have to spend all day doing that, you can help your child learn to read.”
A longtime donor to Wheat Ridge, she contacted the organization in 2012 and explained her interest in supporting a project to establish wells in Africa. It just so happened that Wheat Ridge had just received a grant proposal from a faith-based nonprofit in Texas called Water to Thrive to construct wells in Ethiopia. It was serendipitous. Loy decided to support the ministry.
Two years later, Wheat Ridge reached out to Loy and said they had received a grant proposal for another water project in Africa. Determinedly, she said, “I’m going to fund the new grant. Now, I’m not rich, but I can live comfortably.” Her mother had recently passed away, and Loy donated part of her inheritance to Wheat Ridge for the project, which is supported by churches in the South Carolina Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. “This organization wanted to go to Tanzania and build 10 wells, which cost $5,000 each,” explains Loy, a commercial airline pilot who plans to retire next year at age 60.
“The Bible says you’re not supposed to talk about the money you give to charity; it’s private,” Loy adds, thoughtfully. “I grew up in a family of four kids. My dad was in the military and we traveled all over the world. We never wanted, but didn’t have extra money. So, I give for personal reasons. It makes me feel really good that I am making a difference in the lives of people halfway around the globe.”
Loy first learned about Wheat Ridge from Pastor John Tietjen at Trinity Lutheran Church in Fort Worth, Texas, where she attends. In the mid-1990s, Wheat Ridge leaders gave a program at the church that impressed her. “My pastor said this is a really good program. Wheat Ridge seeds new ministries. I have been giving ever since then,” she says.
“It’s important that you give to a charity whose mission is close to your heart. I like the idea that the Bible talks about … sowing seeds and letting them take hold. That is exactly what Wheat Ridge does.”
We Raise simply could not support all of our ministry partners who are bringing health and healing to individuals and communities around the globe without the generous support of caring people like Loy … and you.