Dear Swazi Child-
I saw you walking down the dirt road with your friends. School must have just ended because you were still wearing your school uniform; gold, green and brown from the dirt. When you and your friends came up to the fence I could not really understand what you were saying in your broken English. “Dree� you said to me a few times as I filled up my pan with water. Oh “Drink� it dawned on me so I told you to wait just a minute and went into the kitchen to retrieve a container to give you some water.
When I came back out you and all your friends were already by the green water tank. I told you as if you would understand that GoGo was not going to be very happy that so many of you had come in for water without permission. Sure enough you all heard GoGo as I was filling up the container and you ran off. Lucky for you one of your friends was thirsty enough to wait just long enough to grab the 5 liters of water and dart off, well he tried to run fast but it’s hard to run with sloshing water. GoGo kept yelling at all of you in SuSwati and I walked off pretending to not know what all had just gone on. I went to the kitchen and watched you and your friends gather just past GoGo’s fence to drink the water.
You sure looked hot, dusty and thirsty I hope it was enough to satisfy you for a while. I do not know how you survive without good water to drink constantly. I don’t think I have ever gone day without water or at least something to drink.
I pray that God will send people to your nation and area to build water wells. Until then may God multiply every sip that you take to keep your physical body hydrated. May God also be the water of your soul and renew you daily with his power and might.
God is a good provider; ask Him for all you need. I hope to see you again. Next time stay on the other side of the fence and I will try to bring you water.
May your cup overflow, Patrice Deaton
