From Horeb to Katanga: A new well from our Fraternity

In Holy Scripture, specifically in the book of Exodus, there is an incident that highlights the importance and necessity of water for human life. Moses, after crossing the Red Sea, led the Israelites by God’s command to the rocky and waterless region of Rephidim. There, however, as Scripture tells us, “there was no water for the people to drink” (Exodus 17:1)

Thirst overcame them and they turned against Moses, demanding: “Give us water that we may drink” (Exodus 17:2). Then Moses prayed fervently to God, and He heard his prayer: He told him to take some of the elders, to hold in his hand the rod with which he had struck the Nile (Exodus 7:17), and to go to the rock at Mount Horeb. There, by divine instruction, he struck the rock and abundant water gushed forth. The people drank and their thirst was quenched…

What constitutes the deeper miracle, however, is not only the flow of water from the rock, but the fact that an entire people’s thirst was quenched, that Divine love answered their need. And today, brothers, people thirst from physical thirst and from lack of love, care, and hope. Many drink from unsuitable waters that neither quench thirst nor bring relief, but instead cause illness.

Our Fraternity heard this need and funded yet another well in Tsambula, Congo, through the care of the Holy Metropolis of Katanga.

The “rock” of indifference needs to be broken, our hearts need to become flesh-like, sensitive, compassionate, to resemble the Lord who did not remain indifferent before His people’s thirst. The true miracle of love is not spectacular, it is simple, substantial and practical: To create within the world’s deserts and on Africa’s waterless rocks wells of love, springs of life that will offer clean, cool and refreshing water to our brothers.