Posted 12:54 am Saturday, May 12, 2012
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Ministry Hosting 5K Carry A Jerry Race, Relay
By REBECCA HOEFFNER
Staff Writer
Ugandan pastor Emmanuel “Emmy” Nnyanzi remembers staring at a sink in an American public restroom last year. Another man walked up to the sink and waved his hands underneath, and water poured out.
“I didn't know how it worked,” Nnyanzi recalled with a laugh.
Water isn't as readily available in Uganda. Every day, children carry Jerry Cans to and from wells or ponds miles away, sometimes several times a day, he said.
Parental Care Ministries, which Nnyanzi founded in Uganda and is overseen in Tyler by Mark and Monica Barret, will hold a “Carry a Jerry” 5K run and relay May 19 at Rose Rudman Park Pavilion in Tyler. East Texans will be able to experience a little bit of Ugandan life by carrying a Jerry Can during the event.
“The whole rest of the world revolves around water,” Barret said.
Staff Writer
Ugandan pastor Emmanuel “Emmy” Nnyanzi remembers staring at a sink in an American public restroom last year. Another man walked up to the sink and waved his hands underneath, and water poured out.
“I didn't know how it worked,” Nnyanzi recalled with a laugh.
Water isn't as readily available in Uganda. Every day, children carry Jerry Cans to and from wells or ponds miles away, sometimes several times a day, he said.
Parental Care Ministries, which Nnyanzi founded in Uganda and is overseen in Tyler by Mark and Monica Barret, will hold a “Carry a Jerry” 5K run and relay May 19 at Rose Rudman Park Pavilion in Tyler. East Texans will be able to experience a little bit of Ugandan life by carrying a Jerry Can during the event.
“The whole rest of the world revolves around water,” Barret said.
Parental Care Ministries runs seven schools for poor and orphaned children in Uganda, but many of them don't have a source of clean water close by, Barret said. Underground water for a well simply isn't there.
Every school has a paid water boy, who sometimes has to travel miles with a Jerry Can. The river that they sometimes draw water from is brown with mud.
“Sometimes we have to use river water,” Barret said. “We try not to drink it, but sometimes we have to.”
Every school has a paid water boy, who sometimes has to travel miles with a Jerry Can. The river that they sometimes draw water from is brown with mud.
“Sometimes we have to use river water,” Barret said. “We try not to drink it, but sometimes we have to.”
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The race held in Tyler on May 19 will provide clothing, food and water for the 1,200 children served by Parental Care Ministries' schools. Three race options are available: the basic 5K, a 5K Carry a Jerry relay for teams of three to five and a family Carry a Jerry walk.
“Often times the cans the Ugandans carry will leak, so that will be interesting to see how the participants handle that,” Barret said with a grin.
Registration is $25 for an adult, $40 for two races, $15 for children ages 5 to 12, and children younger than 4 get in free. A “silent runner,” someone who is unable to participate but supports the cause, can contribute $20.
Register online at www.pcmonline.org or call 903-526-0499 for more information.
“Often times the cans the Ugandans carry will leak, so that will be interesting to see how the participants handle that,” Barret said with a grin.
Registration is $25 for an adult, $40 for two races, $15 for children ages 5 to 12, and children younger than 4 get in free. A “silent runner,” someone who is unable to participate but supports the cause, can contribute $20.
Register online at www.pcmonline.org or call 903-526-0499 for more information.
