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Mary Kay Jackson could talk about bore holes all day. Serving in partnership with the Methodist Church in Ghana since 2006, Mary Kay’s ministry focuses on bringing potable water to the rural poor throughout the country. She can count at least 57 bore holes that have been drilled to date and 19 more that are under contract. (A bore hole is a long, deep, narrow well drilled to access an underground water source.) She can also count six water tank projects completed, 20,000 water filters installed, and six latrines constructed. As if that weren’t enough, Mary Kay, along with her husband, Charlie, have also collaborated in building nine chapels and three schools.

But statistics only tell part of the story. When asked to share about their ministry in Ghana, the Jacksons really want to talk about people—people like Helen. Helen was about two years old when Mary Kay, partnering with Methodist Development Relief Services and Pure Home Water, installed a bore hole in her village of Yagzuri, in the Upper East Region of Ghana.

In that area of the country, up to 25 percent of children die before the age of five. Malaria is the number one cause of death for children under five, with water-borne diseases being a close second. Thousands of children die every year suffering from diarrhea.

Helen, though, was given a chance when her village gained access to clean water. Latrines were also put in to aid in sanitation. With these two simple interventions, Helen’s chances of dying before the age of five decreased by 50 percent.

Mary Kay has seen Helen occasionally since the bore hole was drilled. She’s six years old now and thriving. She’s in school, learning, and growing. Who knows how God will use Helen’s life as she grows into the woman He created her to be.

Photo credit Kim McGee