Battling the Wasps for Water

Every day, Halima had to walk more than a mile to her Nigerian village’s only water source, a stagnant stream.

"The animals also drank there," Halima said. "The water smelled like cow urine and had worms growing in it, but we had no choice but to drink it that way. We never had enough water for drinking, cooking or bathing our babies."

What made the problem even worse were the wasps and bees that covered the area around the stream; they tormented everyone who came through.

"Getting water was terrible. The bees attacked and stung us all the time," Halima said. "The stings make you swell up, give you a fever, and cause a bad rash that goes all over your body."

A local missionary contacted Operation Blessing, and before long Halima and the others had a new well.

Now they have plenty of fresh, clean water right in the middle of the village and away from the bees and wasps.

"We suffered so much that we cried out to God for help. Then he sent you," Halima said. "Our joy knows no bounds. We are grateful to God for what he has done through Operation Blessing. We will always be grateful."