Digging Wells For Africa

Water. We simply turn on the faucet and we have more fresh water that we need. However, there are places where people have to walk miles to collect water that is barely potable. Join me, Jill Murphy, in trying to raise $18,000 to dig a deep well in a village in Africa. A source of clean water for a village in Africa can cut the child mortality rate in half. Help me dig a well in Africa to save a generation of children. Help me share something that we take for granted. Donate today.

Thursday, June 15, 2006

More Donations!

I wanted to say thank you to the Bunce family and to my brother Michael and his wife Korie for giving a gift. I appreciate your support more than you will ever know. I love you! - Jill

posted by Jill Murphy @ 2:42 PM   1 comments

Wednesday, June 14, 2006

Exciting News

Two pieces of exciting news! One: I have been put on Brad and Tiffany Grandersons blog. I wanted to thank them again for helping get the word out! I love you guys. Two: Amy and Bart Barrett donated today! They even used PayPal and it worked! :) THANK YOU! We are now up to $325. Thank you for letting God work in you to help others. I can't say it enough - WE ARE CHANGING LIVES!!!! (here is Brad and Tiffany's blogg spot if any of you want to check it out: babygranderson.blogspot.com )

posted by Jill Murphy @ 1:25 PM   1 comments

Tuesday, June 13, 2006

I gave away my second bottle of water! :)

Today I gave away my second bottle of water! :) Thanks Kathy Keil for inquiring about my back pack. I hope you enjoy the water and I thank you for your contribution. Walking to my car I realized my backpack was momentarily lighter. I thought to myself, because of one persons generosity we are closer to building a well, closer to saving lives. THANK YOU! Also, thank you to my parents who recently donated directly to World Vision. Thank you, not only from me, but from the children you will save.

posted by Jill Murphy @ 7:12 PM   1 comments

Thursday, June 08, 2006

World Vision

Some people have had trouble finding the right area on the World Vision web site about wells. Here is how to do it. Step 1: go to www.worldvision.org Step 2: click on gift catalog Step3: you should see many icons that have a variety of ways to give. For the Dig a Well campaign, click on SHARE of a deep well. It has a minimum of $100 donation. You can donate more if you wish by changing the quantity of how many shares you would like to purchase. If you chose this method to help, I would LOVE it if you would donate it in my name. That way they will send me a card and I can see how many people are joining me in this fight for clean water.

posted by Jill Murphy @ 7:35 AM   1 comments

Gave the first water bottle away!

Someone finally inquired about my backpack. It was a student named Al, also goes by Unique. He is a student where I am teaching English as a foreign language this summer. I thought he was just trying to read the sign on my backpack to practice his English. But it turns out he wanted to know why I had the sign. I was able to explain that I am trying to get the children in Africa to have clean water. After the conversation was over I gave him a water bottle. At first he didn't want to take it. Then I opened the backpack to show him I had MANY bottles of water. He agreed to take it. :) Thanks Al! :)

posted by Jill Murphy @ 7:28 AM   0 comments

Wednesday, June 07, 2006

Donating For Tax Deduction

Some people have inquired about receiving a tax deduction if they donate. I called my bank, they said that if you send the money to me, then I only have to send you a receipt to show what the money was used for. I don't mind doing that for you if you like. I have been talking to Steve about this and we have been praying for the entire process. I feel that my end goal is that people become aware that there is a need to help others. That there are people in this world, in 2006 that do not have water to drink. If you do not feel comfortable donating through me, then please donate through World Vision or the African Well Fund. Either way, peoples lives will be changed forever.

posted by Jill Murphy @ 9:27 AM   1 comments

Monday, June 05, 2006

My First Day


Saturday was the first day out with my backpack. It was not very successful. I went to Old Navy shopping for clothes for Caleb and Ethan and no one inquired about the backpack. Then I went to Pecan Land Mall to buy Father's Day gifts, still no one inquired. In case you are wondering, the backpack is not plain. I have World Vision on it and I have a laminated information card to grab peoples attention. (I will post a picture of it so you all can see it.) I am not giving up. As most of you know I am a bit stubborn and don't give up easily. :)

I just wanted to say, it was good to hear from those of you who replied to my mass e-mail. Thanks for keeping in touch.

posted by Jill Murphy @ 8:51 AM   1 comments

Meet Jill Murphy

My good friend Tiffany thought it would be a good idea to write a bit about myself so that people could get to know me and why I am trying to raise money for digging water wells in Africa. So, here it is, from the beginning. About a month ago I was sitting in our church service singing and praying. I felt God say to me that He wanted me to help others. Not just search out a mission trip to go on, but make helping others a part of my day-to-day life. Why wait for a trip when I can do it everyday! Make every moment count. These thoughts collided with my heart for children in Africa. My family and I give to World Vision when we can and we often receive newsletters about what is going on around the world. I read many articles about children, babies who go with out water! I have read articles about a one year old that weighed 10 pounds! When he cried, no tears came because he is soo dehydrated. I have read articles about women who walk 8 miles to get nasty water for their families to drink. I began thinking of how I use water daily and believe me, I have become VERY aware of how I waste water and very aware of how easy it is for me to get water. Water fountains are everywhere!!! When I wash my dishes I think about how if that kid were here right now, he would not believe his eyes! Water coming out so freely and clean just to clean my dishes. I think about if that woman were standing beside me, she would probably cry at the ease at which I just turn the faucet on to bathe my children. I extend no energy in my efforts to use water daily. Not compared to them. While all of these thoughts run through my head, I start to tell God, “I am soo plain. Nobody would listen to me. I am NOT a speaker; I would tremble badly if I had to speak in front of a crowd. I am a mom; I have too many things to do. How could I possibly add something to my plate? I am just a special education teacher in Ruston Louisiana, how can I possibly raise $16,000?!” God said, “Just be willing.” After I spoke with my husband and did a bit of praying, but really, how much praying needs to be done when you already feel God has spoken? I needed to break into action. So, here I am today; I stand as a wife, a mother, a teacher, a daughter, a sister…trying to raise money for a waterless village in Africa. God is good and He is leading me on this journey.