Indonesian Water Project Brings Clean Water to 28,000 Villagers

By: Elder & Sister Smith

The sounds of ancient Javanese music resounded among the mountains high above Solo, Indonesia where a ceremony was held at the completion of a water project that brought clean, fresh water to four villages for the first time. Over 35 kilometers of pipe transported clean water from high mountain springs into the villages and homes of children and their parents and grandparents.  

This fresh water will enable the villages to have sanitary conditions for bathing, washing clothes and dishes, showering and toilet facilities.  A recent Health Matters article stated that 88% of all diseases are caused by unsafe drinking water, inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene.  This water project will help these villagers be much healthier.

The arriving guests for the October 27, 2011 Clean Water Project Turnover Ceremony were representatives of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, co-sponsor of the project.  They were greeted by school children who sang songs which brightened the lives of all present as they showed their appreciation for the water project.  The official ceremony celebrated completion and turnover of a nine month long project to the local village councils, where villagers provided the labor for the installation of more than 35 kilometers of water pipes provided by the Church.

The city, district and regional governmental officials praised the project for providing clean, safe water for the villages, especially the children.  Now they can grow up healthier.  The district chief, Mugiman, said, “I know the problems that come from not having clean water.  I was born here.  Now you must take care of the water system and the environment, especially the trees of our mountains.”

Wagimin, the host village chief, thanked the church for providing the materials and engineering for the system.  These kinds of projects are necessary for the health and safety of the villagers.  We will record in our history the help the church has given us.  The other three villages benefitting from the project are Desa Gumeng, Desa Trengguli and Desa Sidomikiti.

Church representative, Elder Meredith, focused on how the system will bless the village children, helping them live healthier, happier lives.  Elder Subandriyo, another Church representative, who grew up in a village in the Solo area, shared that the project was a gift from the church to the villagers.  The money invested in the project came from church members from all over the world.  We are not finished yet.  We will complete many other humanitarian projects in the future to make the lives of the Indonesian people better.

This water project provided the opportunity for cooperation among the church representatives and the villagers who donated their labor for many months.  Everyone raised a shout as water flowed from the faucets at the close of the celebration.  Nine months of hard work by loving peoples brought great blessings to four important villages, important because they contain wonderful families and beautiful children.