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Churches Unite to Catch the Rain

Following the highly successful Catching the Rain project in 2005 which successfully demonstrated how rainwater harvesting can provide an excellent source of clean water from roofs of buildings, many in the community of San Jacinto were keen to see this project grow and increase access to water for many more people.  One of those asking for help to make this happen was the pastor of the Baptist church in the community.

There are four churches in the community of different denominations: Assemblies of God, Roman Catholic, Baptist and Church of God of Prophecy.  In responding to the request of the Baptist pastor, Nuevas Esperanzas met with the leaders of all four churches and sensed an openness to a unique opportunity for the churches to work together to create new sources of clean water by using their own church buildings.  As denominational divides often run very deep in Nicaragua, this project provided an unprecedented opportunity to challenge one of the causes of sectarianism and conflict within the community.

All four churches had large roofs that are ideal to harvest rainwater and space to build large storage tanks that can keep water to last through the dry season.  Manual labour was provided by teams from the four churches who assisted each other in the construction.  Construction of the four large rainwater harvesting systems was completed in July 2006 allowing sufficient time for the tanks to fill during the remainder of the wet season.  The tanks were quickly put to use in the dry season helping to avert a water crisis in the community resulting from technical problems with the pump and pipeline which provide a limited supply to San Jacinto.

As well as the three months of team-building labour, a programme of activities was run to increase understanding and fellowship between the churches.  A series of seminars, worship events and other activities were organised by Nuevas Esperanzas with the support of all church leaders, a first for the community of San Jacinto.  These activities continued until the end of 2006, well beyond the end of the construction project, and it is clear that there is a thirst for more amongst the four congregations, as well as the community at large in San Jacinto.

Just as Nehemiah rebuilt Jerusalem’s walls and rebuilt the people of God with a common purpose, the churches working together in San Jacinto to build water tanks also built faith, unity and a commitment to serve others.