Several years ago I learned of a simple event, a young Sudanese man, formerly described as a "Lost Boy" attempting to find a bicycle. He happened to go to the Rineharts. This simple request bloomed into the founding of two organizations.  Project Education Sudan (PES now PESS for Project Education South Sudan) and the Nuba Water Project. Young Sudanese living in Denver, desperate to help family and friends in parts of the Sudan where people were being slaughtered by President al-Bashire's militia because of their race or religion. Women walked more than 6 miles daily to capture water that wasn't even potable. I was excited to join the efforts when I learned of the Nuba Water Project in 2009 and was so impressed by the efforts of the local Sudanese to help those stranded in hostile land trying to survive with out essentials, like clean water. Before the most recent hostilities, they were able, workers in the area helped to build wells to help supply clean, potable water to several villages, provide medicine, and begin to assist a few hard working young Sudanese, scholarships to compleste secondary education and in a couple of cases, begin college.

Unfortunately well building is not possibile but the Nuba Water Project is able to send financial resources through the efforts of local Sudanes and a doctor to purchase "Safi" water purification drops, parts to repair broken well pumps, salt, soap, and medicine. We continue to support educational scholarships. And we pray that our efforts will provide hope to the refugees and those hiding that peace will come to the area and the indiginous of the area will be safe enough to build productive lives.