A mother’s heart burdened to quench the world’s water crisis

by Marsha Campbell

In August 2010, a dear friend recruited Morée, a young wife and mother of three small children to join her on a journey to Haiti. Going to Haiti was not on Morée’s radar screen. In fact, she knew when she would run the idea by her husband, Randy, her mother and children, and they would all chime in with a resounding: Haiti–Really? Uhhhh….NO! To her surprise, Randy said, sure “I think that would be good for you.” Grandma said, sure “I’ll take care of the kids for you.” And the clincher, Jet, her precocious five year old smiled and said, “Mommy, you love us so much—that is why you should go—so that you can give some of all that love to the children there that don’t have a mommy…” Well, with no out, Morée was on her way leaving behind husband, Randy, 5 year-old Jet, 3 year-old Oliver and littlest angel 1 year-old Lena. Morée packed her bags and headed to a place she had never dreamed of going to…Port Au Prince, Haiti, October 2010.

Her team of travelers disembarked the airplane and entered a new world. They were not in Kansas anymore. With all their bags in tow they climbed onto a bus for transport to their hotel in Croix Des Bouquets. Upon arrival at the Jumecourt Inn, Morée was immediately “found and friended” by Nadson, who would be her little guy for the duration of the trip. It seems the children at the village quickly choose from the visiting guests a new friend and happily attach to them. The paradox of knowing her three little ones were secure in the loving care of a doting grandmother and father propelled her with an overwhelming sense of desire to envelop Nadson and the other children with a mother’s love. She closed her eyes and her heart sensed the love of her oldest, Jet,  exhorting her with his full five years of life experience—to go and love the children—because you have SO much love Mommy! Share it and give some to them, Mommy, we already have so much…and so, she did.

Sometimes we are surprised by unadulterated authentic love, unexpected abundant love in places like Haiti. Real love, a mother’s unrestrained, unconditional love, shared with little ones, children who have been orphaned and abandoned, takes a certain risk. To dive in and be fully present in that kind of love, can break you down…but only to build you up with a deeper fullness that is transforming. Life as you once knew it will never again be the same. Once you have seen—you are responsible…

Morée shared:  “I saw and experienced things in Haiti that would change my view of the world and my life forever. I lay in bed at night with a huge burden…an overwhelming sense of responsibility…what could I do to help?  Initially, thinking as a former marketing professional, I considered doing a small fund-raising project. Then the news announced the outbreak and potential epidemic of cholera in Haiti. I remembered the Haitian Creole word for water, Dlo. Disease, suffering and death due to dirty “dlo”.  What about water? In my mind’s eye, I could see women and children carrying large containers of water on their heads, people bathing, washing their clothes and preparing their food with the dirty river dlo, and thousands of empty water bottles clogging the streets.”

What about water? What about dlo?

Morée, a stay at home mom, was being transformed with a new view of the world and her haunting responsibility to contribute. Haiti had served as a global window for her—she could see into the world water crisis and was burdened with a responsibility to do something about it. She researched and discovered a water bottle that was biodegradable and manufactured in New Mexico. With an open heart and an open hand, impassioned with a mother’s determination,  she launched Dlowater.com.

Morée would tell you it is OK to take a risk. Be present to new possibilities. Take a trip to Haiti or Africa…see the world differently. Know that life is short and temporary—but love lives on in family and our life legacy. Follow your heart and don’t be afraid to make a difference. Morée is one person whose life is impacted and changed forever.  Thank you Morée for sharing your love with the children of Haiti and following your heart! Clean water is a gift of life for people all over the world.

We all have an opportunity to find our burden to lift, our responsibility to risk and make a difference for others. Each of us is unique, yet we all have our one life to give with abundant love. “What may I do with all that I have?” Our response to that question will define us.

One mother’s heart burdened to take a risk and quench the world’s water crisis–one blessed bottle of Dlo at a time. One life, one example–Drink it in.  Find your place, open your heart and join in the story with an open hand…

Cheers! to Morée and all the Mothers, and to all the children of the world.

Marsha and The GO Project Family