Dec 30 2009
Come, Follow Me
Oh, my goodness, I didn’t know they let him on the plane looking like that! Tom Flaim, Dominican Republic (DR) Batey Program Manager for World Water Relief, stepped off the plane from the DR looking like a dust covered Santa Claus! He traveled to the DR ignited by a tremendous challenge given to him by Rivers of the World (ROW).
Partnering with several medical personnel and with the assistance of Rotary International, World Water Relief previously installed a water purification system in Batey 7 in the DR. There are 18 bateyes located along the border of the DR and Haiti. Each batey is home to between 1,500 to 3,500 people, Haitian refugees who work in the sugar cane fields.
During his recent visit to the DR, Tom visited and worked in seven different bateyes, assisting with the installation of clean water systems. Because of Tom’s willingness to help these Haitian refugees receive one of the very necessities of life, there are now 25,000 people who have clean, precious water. This simple project has now gotten rid of at least a third of the disease that was rampant amongst these people. Ensuring a person’s physical needs are met places them in a better position to hear the Gospel.
As 2010 is about to unfold, let me encourage you to use Tom as an example of going beyond the call for the sake of Christ.
We really are the only “Bible” some people will ever “read.” As Christians, we have an entire world watching us to see how we handle life’s challenges, disappointments, heartaches and even successes. Let’s proclaim, as Paul did in 1 Corinthians 11:1:
“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.”