Moringa

A little over a year ago I finished my thesis just in time to graduate. It was on a plant called Moringa and how it's seeds could be used to purify water. The idea sounded really exciting to me; like God's natural solution to the problem in developing countries of people who don't have access to clean drinking water.  Instead these people drink water from unprotected ponds, creeks and rivers, causing intestinal worms, malnutrition, diarrhea and even death - especially in children. I was amazed to learn that Moringa evens grows best in the parts of the world where malnutrition is the most prevalent.  I researched and planned and spent countless hours collecting information about the importance of clean water.  How it purifying water with Moringa could reduce so many preventable diseases and their devastating effects. This was going to be so great.

Except, the experiment didn't work.

I was disappointed. Why was this happening? What went wrong? This plan was supposed to be flawless. I changed a few things and spend another whole day in the lab over spring break re-doing the experiment. I prayed, God, please let this work this time. I want this to work. I want to prove that this can help people.

It still didn't work.

I wrote my conclusion with it's failing results anyway. I hated making the "results" graph with the steady line that just reminded me of what didn't happen.

I graduated and went to Africa.

Moringa grows commonly here in Ivory Coast but few people know the extend of it's amazing health benefits.  The leaves are packed with nutrition and can cure almost any vitamin/mineral deficiency.  I get to help teach people about how to cook with this plant and how good this tree is that often grows in their courtyard or somewhere near where they live.

The other day we were in the village of Kogina where we are planting Moringa in Papa Trough's field. The term "field" here refers to a small area of cleared land in the middle of a vast expanse of wilderness, reached by walking a narrow winding path to get to. Trees and plants in every shade of green cover the hilly landscape and the scenery looks like a dinosaur sighting is could be completely possible, while above all the green the brilliant clouds are stretched out across the sky. 

 

 

Grandmama and Papa Trough in their Moringa field.

 

The man who lives in the little mud house or campemont in these fields works clearing and burning plots of land for planting. I follow a trail to the pond that him and his family get their water from, including their water for drinking. I can't help but take back some of the water in an empty water bottle to take it back to my house and test it out with the Moringa seeds. Just because.

 

Amimatta and her father live and work in the fields. 

 

 The pond where Amimatta and her family get their water from.

Annd the experiment begins...

 

I pour out the dirty water into a jar,

pound a Moringa seed into powder, and mix it into the dirty water.

 I wait about 30 minutes until it looks like all the dirt has been pulled to the bottom.

And then I pour the clean water on top into another jar.

 

 

IT WORKED. (!!!!!!!!!!)

 

It was a special moment and kind of ironic but even so I could hardly contain my excitement. This was for real! And to be able to share this with people that are living with the reality of drinking this kind of water is amazing. Not to mention so much more exciting than writing a 90 page thesis on it.

After my excitement died down, I had to smile when I realized that God had answered my prayer from over a year ago. It was answered way later than I expected and in a completely different context than I ever imagined. But here it is. I won't pretend I know how and why God works the way He does. But I am amazed and stand in awe that I can pray to a God who hears, who sees, who knows, and who answers, even when it is in a way that is so different from the way I would have planned it.