Church receives $7,000 to bring water filtration systems to Cuba

Church receives $7,000 to bring water filtration systems to Cuba
Monday, July 21, 2014

EXETER — A local church has received $7,000 to help provide water
filtration systems to Cubans.

The money, which has been given to Christ Church on Pine Street, comes
from The Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire's Millennium Development
Goals Grant Fund.

Christ Church will partner with The Episcopal Diocese of Cuba.

"One of the greatest needs in Cuba after decades of economical isolation
and government mismanagement is clean drinking water," said Mark
Pendleton, rector at Christ Church. "The public water and sewage system
has broken down after decades of disrepair."

Pendleton led a pilgrimage to Cuba in January in which the Exeter group
saw several water filtration systems donated by other American churches.
The best water systems, said the church, were "ultraviolet water
systems." Those require less maintenance than other types.

"These systems serve as important outreach for the wider community and
gave the church a vehicle to reach out and begin a faith conversation,"
said Pendleton.

In addition to working on water systems, the Exeter group toured local
churches and the cathedral in Havana, and spent the week making
meaningful connections with Cuban Episcopalians.

Due to the U.S. trade embargo, all materials for the system have to be
transported in checked luggage by travelers. Items cannot be shipped.

A trip to Cuba is planned for March 2015 by the Episcopal Seacoast
Convocation and will be open to others throughout the diocese.

Pendleton said that journey is about more than water. The water systems
are a vehicle to begin a faith conversation, he said.

Source: Church receives $7,000 to bring water filtration systems to Cuba
- Fosters -
http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20140721/GJNEWS_01/140729940