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  • Children in Mazzi, Uganda, gather around the well paid for by funds raised by 10-year-old Jack Chlebanowski. The Orvis Risner fourth-grader returned from a summer missions trip to Uganda and Ethiopia with his mom and dad, Carrie and Joe Chlebanowski, sponsored by Visiting Orphans and Ekubo Ministries. He came home with a desire to help raise money for a water well for the small village called Mazzi in the Nakasongola district of Uganda. To date Jack has raised $14,292, which means one well is paid for and only $1,880 more is needed to complete a second well. Photo Provided

    Well 1

  • Completed well in the village of Mazzi in the Nakasongola district of Uganda is the outcome of funds raised by Orvis Risner fourth-grade student Jack Chlebanowski. Photo Provided

    Well 2

Discussion

October 18, 2012

One child making a difference

Fourth-grader learns to give, share, serve

Patty Miller The Edmond Sun

EDMOND — In late August a 9-year-old Edmond boy announced he was walking for water to help draw attention to the fact that there were children living in a small village in Uganda who had never seen or tasted fresh, clean water.

He and his mom and dad, Carrie and Joe Chlebanowski, and his four siblings walked a mile each way each day for a week to carry water for their families’ needs much like the children he visited in Uganda during a summer missions trip.

By the end of the week of walking for water, Jack had raised $8,400, enough to drill the water well for the village he had visited.

Two short months later, Jack Chlebanowski has had a birthday and the  confirmation that one child can make a difference.

Ten-year-old Jack to date has raised $14,292 which means one well is up and running in Mazzi, Uganda, and only $1,880 more is needed to complete a second well.  

“The first well/borehole (a more accurate term I have learned) is completely done and was blessed Wednesday,” his mother said. “The leaders of the village wouldn’t let it be used until the ministry director could be there for the celebration. He has had malaria, but was finally able to travel this week, and I have been told there is or will be a plaque with Jack’s name on it at the pump.”

This Edmond Orvis Risner fourth-grader returned from a summer missions trip to Uganda and Ethiopia with his mom and dad along with a desire to help raise money for a water well for the small village called Mazzi in the Nakasongola district of Uganda.

He had raised the $4,000 necessary to accompany his parents on the mission trip with Visiting Orphans and Ekubo Ministries.

While in Mazzi, Jack and his mom and dad joined the adults and children alike to walk 2 miles to a watering hole that didn’t even have clean water and they filled their 5-gallon Jerry can to take back to the village to be used.

Jack decided the children needed a well to draw water free from disease and dirt.

“The children live with very many things that makes them very sick,” Jack said.

“With clean water your mind focuses better and helps you learn the things you need to know like the Bible and Christianity.”

When Jack found out how much had been raised the first week of his efforts he said he almost cried and decided right then he would raise money for an additional well.

In a few months Jack was able to do what few people of his age would even try much less succeed in doing.

Recently he told a group at his church he was ready to set a new goal.

“I was thinking that if I could raise the money for two wells then I can do two more,” Jack said.

“This is about so much more than a little boy doing something big,” his mother said earlier. “This is about God showing us what the ‘faith of a child’ really looks like and that we all need to believe that he can do abundantly and exceedingly beyond our wildest imaginations if we get past our ‘grown-up’ selves and really trust him.”  

For more information or to give a donation, email carrie@giveshareserve.org.



pmiller@edmondsun.com | 341-2121

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