One of the original goals of the Arsenic Alleviation Project was to raise awareness of the problem of arsenic contamination in the ground water throughout much of Bangladesh.

Recently, Donald, the project manager, and his wife Cheryl spent some time in California. While there, they became aware of a large Bengali population in the San Francisco Bay Area and heard about a cultural fair that was scheduled to take place during their stay.

	Donald "spreads the word" at the fair.

Seeing this as a great opportunity, Donald and Cheryl, rented a booth and set up a display detailing the work of the SIM Arsenic Alleviation Project in Bangladesh. Those who were in attendance were very impressed and appreciative of the project. Many of the people they met have lived in the USA for many years and had become out of touch with the needs of their brothers and sisters half way around the world. While some had heard about the arsenic problem on a theoretical level, they were not aware of the work that is going on to help eradicate the problem. They were very touched that a foreign organization such as SIM, would care for the Bengali people.

SIM has been extending resources such as training, testing, and providing arsenic filters, to both educate and alleviate the suffering of Bengalis due to arsenic contamination of the groundwater. Over the last six months, 2,700 people have been educated on this issue and 1,040 wells were tested, of which 81% proved to be contaminated, and as a result of the project, more than 530 arsenic removal filters have been installed—providing safe drinking water for over 4,500 people.

Pray

• Praise God for the continuing growth in the project and the opportunities we have to help people who are drinking dangerously high levels of arsenic contaminated water.
• Pray that as the project grows God will continue to provide for the project needs.
• Pray that believers working on the project might have wisdom and courage to share about 'living water' as well as arsenic water.
• Pray for wisdom for the staff as they aim to share hope and love with all they interact with.

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Go

Are you interested in serving in this project? Take a look at an opportunity to go and help!