Giving drink to the thirsty is one of 14 works of mercy that characterize the life of the Church and her activity in the world. Approximately two billion people worldwide lack access to clean water. Local Catholics and St. Raphael parishioners Mary Vanderheyden and her husband, John, engage in this mission to bringing clean water through Tanzania Life Project (TLP).

Struck by their experience of seeing Tanzanian villagers firsthand who had nothing and lacked clean water, John’s parents, Katie and Jim Vanderheyden, took it upon themselves to make a change. They created TLP, a grassroots nonprofit which has brought clean water to remote Tanzanian villages for the past 20 years working directly with Tanzanian villagers to install wells, providing access to safe, clean water—free of any contaminants.

“Since TLP's beginning in 2005, we have served 20 villages with 18 wells, reservoirs and many, many, many miles of piping to distribution points within each village,” shared Mary Vanderheyden. “When a clean water system goes into a village, word spreads and the population inevitably increases. Our estimates indicate that in the past 20 years our projects have served well over 100,000 people. We have been on track to complete one village clean water project per year and have a goal to complete two villages a year. The Holy Spirit inspired this work from the beginning and will continue to provide.”

Although there have been changes since its inception, the heart of the mission and project has stood the test of time. After Katie and Jim passed in 2020 and 2022, the volunteer board and leadership team were able to keep the project running. Even during the Covid pandemic, the inability to travel didn’t deter or prevent the work from continuing. The team switched to monthly meetings with the Tanzanian staff over Zoom each month and has continued to hold those meetings even though travel is now possible.

Having these regular face-to-face meetings provides them with communication and accountability that just is not possible over email.  It also allows them to have the opportunity to strengthen their personal relationships and move more quickly on projects.

“I often reflect on my first trip to Tanzania with Katie and Jim in 2006. I never imagined that my husband, John, and I would return with them year after year, celebrating completed projects, overseeing current ones, and identifying future opportunities,” shared Vanderheyden. “Our hearts were immediately captured by the people and their need for clean water, and we began to support the work of TLP. We were blessed to travel on every trip Jim and Katie took each year thereafter and worked together as partners with them in the evolution of the organization.”

It is in seeing how clean water can truly change lives that they are able to see the immense reward that this work is.

“Seeing the positive impact this has on the villagers and their lives has been very rewarding,” said John Vanderheyden. “Their hope for clean water is now realized and they have the time and health to chase their dreams and achieve their full potential.”  

“Working on a global issue in Africa was never on my radar,” added Mary. “The chance to be involved with a team of U.S. volunteers and the four TLP staff members in Tanzania who are all passionate about creating clean water solutions that affect every man, woman, and child in the remote villages we serve is very gratifying.”  

Their media presence, including a feature in a Catholic magazine for another diocese, has helped them gain new board members including the current chairman as well as foster support among the community. Mary did not originally plan to be taking over TLP with her husband but truly believes this was God’s plan for their lives.

“Looking back, I see God’s hand in all of this. As Ephesians 2:10 reminds us: ‘For we are His handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works that God has prepared in advance, that we should live in them,’” said Mary. “At the time, I didn’t recognize it, but I now believe this is the work God had prepared for John and me all along!”

While not all of us are a part of a non-profit dedicated to one of the works of mercy, we all have the opportunity to perform them on a daily basis and participate in the 1,000,000 Acts of Mercy Challenge. 

To log your works of mercy or learn more about the Mercy Challenge, click here.
To learn more about the Tanzania Life Project, click here.