Stjoenews - St. Joseph Christian School capped of its Missions Week with a project to help build a well in Ethiopia.

Students and faculty gathered in the school gymnasium Friday morning to kick off the project with a pep rally of sorts, with dance, video and lots of rah-rah spirit.

"We’re going to do it, aren’t we?" Joey Austin, board member, exhorted the crowded gym. A chorus of "yeses" followed.

Students hope to raise $12,000 to $18,000 for The St. Joseph Christian School Water Well Project at Kind Hearts/Ethiopia. The money raised will help bring fresh drinking water to the Kind Heart Child Aid Development Organization, an educational and vocational training center in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The school is located near a river that’s contaminated by chemicals from a textile plant. The school is only able to get pump water a few times a week from a nearby town. A well will not only bring fresh water, but enable them to grow crops and raise livestock.

Lydia Zuidema, St. Joseph Christian School superintendent, said Missions Week projects at the school have ranged from providing Bibles to China to helping military families.

"I’d say this is our most ambitious monetary project," she said.

The school plans to raise the money through bake sales, basketball tournaments and classroom fundraising activities. A walkathon is also scheduled.

Hannah Morrey, an 11th-grader at the school, said she likes the idea of not just hearing about the problem in Ethiopia, but actually doing something about it.

"It’s a great thing to be able to see you can really make a difference and not just sit here and watch videos and see pictures, but actually help them and do something," she said.

Kendra Kretzer, a sixth-grader, said the well will not only provide fresh water, but also give an opportunity for another blessing.

"They have fresh water, we can preach to them while we’re there, and they can learn about Jesus," she said.

By: Alonzo Weston, at alonzow@npgco.com