Black Mountain volunteer to leave for mission trip in Africa

The Marion Medical Mission is pleased to announce Jessi Stitt of Black Mountain, North Carolina will spend approximately six weeks partnering with African communities to provide safe water sources to more than 2800 villages in remote areas of Malawi, Zambia & Tanzania, the Marion Medical Mission of Marion, Illinois announced.

Stitt will leave for Africa on Wednesday, Sept.12 for her fifth mission trip with Marion Medical Mission. Dozens of volunteers will work in remote villages to help them provide sustainable, life-saving fresh-water wells to areas who previously had none. The group plans to install 2,900 wells during this year’s well season.

"I'm so glad to be going back with MMM because how often do we get to see a direct change in someone's life?" Stitt said. "Each day I'm there, I can help bring clean water to an average of 875 people. The joy on the faces of grandmothers, parents and children when they see clean water from the well for the first time is what keeps me returning."

UNICEF reports that in sub-Sahara Africa, one in five children die before their fifth birthday because they lack potable water.  Hundreds of millions of people around the globe rely on ponds, streams and other exposed and untreated sources for their drinking water. 

For just a $400 donation, Marion Medical Mission provides an African village of approximately 125 people with a sustainable source of safe drinking water.

Stitt is looking for speaking opportunities at churches, civic organizations and small groups who might be interested in learning more about the organization or helping to fund the 2900 wells the group plans to install.  She can be reached at jessi.stitt@gmail.com or followed on her travel blog at www.travelcontinued.blogspot.com .