Living Waters
Living Waters Ministries in Mwanza, Tanzania was founded by Carolyn Philpott, who is the International Director of the project. She was born in California, then as a missionary went to UK in 1979. It was there when Living Waters Ministries was established as a UK charity. For 18 years Carolyn was very busy creating a beautiful and comfortable Christian atmosphere in this centre housed in a large manor house in the North Wales countryside of Dolwen. The manor had to be completely renovated from a derelict state.
Both young people and adult Christian groups from Germany as well as UK used the facilities and it became one of the most popular conference centres in Britain.
It was in 1993 when Carolyn first set foot in Mwanza, Tanzania and it was not long before a desire to return time and time again to minister to the Tanzaniaan people. It seemed there were so many needs existing that could possibly be relieved. Consequently she travelled to East Africa every year taking teams of people that became interested when Carolyn expressed her passion for this country and the people.
Within a few years after travelling back and forth from UK and Tanzania, the vision to have a centre in Mwanza burned in Carolyn’s heart. The Living Waters Ministries charity was established and miraculously the Tanzania government allocated one of the most beautiful plots of land in Mwanza for this project.
Living Waters Ministries is a Christian mission with a “7 Fold Vision” that began in Mwanza, Tanzania in 1998 when the Tanzania government allocated for this project, a beautiful large plot of land on top of a hill overlooking Lake Victoria. Only granite rocks and boulders could be seen; no trees, plants, flowers or birds. Ten years on there are 7 well used buildings, where trees, flowers and birds are everywhere. Three of our buildings are where MAX teams (MissionAfricanXperience) frequently come to stay in our bungalows when they visit from Germany, UK and USA. They minister to the local community and country churches as well as teach in our school. Maranatha House is an ideal meeting place where one can observe the Lake Victoria as far as the eye can see. Truly a picture for sore eyes, tasting the atmosphere of Africa where palm trees line the lake shore below.
Nestled in the surrounding hills and dales are the homes where the children that attend the Living Waters Education Centre live. Many houses are built from mud but recently sand and cement bricks are used. The children come from very poor backgrounds and would most likely never have the opportunity to receive the education they are enjoying at Living Waters. The Living Waters Education Centre is a pre-school and primary school that began on the veranda of Maranatha House 7 years ago with a hand full of children from the near by community. In 2003 land located on the shores of Lake Victoria was purchased to build the school facility. It is convenient at the bottom of the hill where Living Waters Ministries project functions.
There are 223 children attending with more registering. The school has grown from a pre school up to standard (year) 6 and going to 7 in January 2009. Five class rooms with facilities and a school house were built in 2005. The second phase of the school facilities began being built in January 2008 and have been completed to the ring beam ready for the roof. All the interior walls have also been built so as soon as the roof is on, doors and windows will be installed.
There is a great need for this school building project to be completed by January 2009 when more class rooms will be desperately needed. There will be 5 additional classrooms, a head master’s office and an office for teachers, as well as kitchen and dining hall. At present the children are served a porridge, but because for some, this may be the only meal they receive in the day so our aim is to serve a proper lunch.
