DALLAS (ABP) — In the isolated villages of Ojo Caliente County in Mexico's Zacatecas state, children ride bicycles up and down small strips of concrete. Their friends spontaneously erupt in laughter during a soccer match on a small dirt field. Childhood here is continuous movement.
Unfortunately, that typical childhood activity is causing the children long-term damage. They get tired. They get thirsty. Then they slowly drink toxins that break down their bodies.
Tests have revealed arsenic levels in Ojo Caliente's water that are at least five times higher than what the World Health Organization considers safe. That standard is 10 parts of arsenic per billion parts of water. The lowest level found in these isolated villages has been 50 parts per billion. One town has 1,200 parts per billion.
But Texas Baptist men are trying to bring hope to the people of Ojo Caliente by partnering with missionaries in the area and the local government to help purify the water, one village at a time.
Arsenic takes its toll over time. The metal builds up in the body — because the body cannot eliminate it — and slowly begins to cause damage. When the arsenic reaches a certain level, hair becomes brittle. Then the tips of the affected person's fingers and toes turn dark. The nervous system sustains damage and brain activity is affected. Eventually, dark skin lesions form. Such lesions are a common sight in Ojo Caliente.
By the time the lesions form, tumors may follow.
Manos Hermanas, a non-profit group with which medical missionary Lee Baggett is affiliated, ran the arsenic tests of the area's drinking water. The group and Texas Baptist Men are partnering with the government of Mexico to test water in other areas. The Texas group now is planning to install one community water purifier in Santo Tomas de Venditos and 150 smaller water cleaners in homes across the area.
The large unit was to be installed in mid-December, but was delayed at the Texas-Mexico border. This purifier will provide clean drinking water to about 5,000 people in five communities when it is installed, probably in February.
Baggett and the other leaders also hope the purifier will provide another benefit: a boost to the local economy.
After the water runs through the filter, local residents employed at a water station will bottle and sell it for an affordable price. It will be given to impoverished people for free. The money raised will pay the employees' salaries.
Any profit from the water will be reinvested into the community through social projects such as improving sewer systems and building playgrounds.
The smaller units will provide clean drinking water in families' homes.
Manos Hermanas also has brought communities together with local officials and Baptist mission teams to construct wells and outhouses. Each party provides some supplies and church volunteers work alongside residents to finish projects.
“The people have the right to life,” said Rafael Calzado, president of Ojo Caliente. “They have the right to health. If the people aren't healthy, the rest doesn't matter.”
Residents of the area already have begun to get excited about the project, gathering in large groups to hear Texas Baptist leaders talk about its progress. The Baptists also use the opportunity to talk about the reason behind their commitment to the project — because Jesus calls them to care for the marginalized.
“We don't try to separate individuals or families from their community,” Baggett said. “We work with the whole community on their project.”
Leaders believe this approach to mission work and evangelism is the way to reach one of the least evangelized states in Mexico. Less than one half of one percent of Zacatecas residents are evangelical Christians. There are eight evangelical churches in a state where about six million people reside.
“This is the 10-40 Window of Mexico,” said Ananias Cruz, a missionary who works in the area. The term “10-40 Window” refers to the latitudes of the globe surrounding the Equator where the smallest number of evangelical Christians are found.
Those initial efforts have led to improved sewer systems, playgrounds and wells in the state as well as evangelism. Besides professions of faith and new Bible study groups, Cruz has helped start 22 churches in the last four years.
“You work with a guy for a week — spend time with them digging ditches,” Baggett said. “And then they invite you into their homes and you can share the gospel with them over a cup of coffee. You first earn their respect. Then they want to listen.”