Holy Waters

Darpan’s Jesus Well, like this one, serves desperately needed water to many in his village.

The lives of two men, Veer Bhadra Mishra and Darpan Balbir, are centered in some way around water. But what it means for each of them is vastly different.

Veer Mishra starts many of his days praying to—and swimming in—what he considers to be his goddess, the river Ganges. He is devoted to worshiping the river and working to end the rampant pollution of its waters—waters whose contamination causes disease and death for many each year.

In the same state, Uttar Pradesh, Darpan Balbir lives with another source of water as a focus of his life: his new Jesus Well. Darpan, a Gospel for Asia missionary, knows as well as Veer the need for water in his country. Along with providing this essential resource to his community, Darpan shares the true source of forgiveness and hope for eternity with those who come to use his well.

Both men are devoted to their causes. Veer Mishra explained in detail his devotion to caring for the Ganges river, one of the most polluted rivers in the world.

"This is a part of my religious life . . . my faith as a practicing Hindu," Mishra, a professor in hydraulic engineering, told an ABC news correspondent. "[If] the people who have carried this culture and faith for thousands and thousands of years . . . go on using this polluted water, one day they will die, and with them, the culture and tradition of India will die."

For Darpan, his concern is that the people he ministers to will find life for eternity. A GFA correspondent interviewed Darpan just after his well was dug in April-and the missionary was already seeing amazing results.

Millions in India consider the Ganges to be India's holiest river.

"I've been working here 11 years," Darpan said. "People really struggle for water. Ever since the Jesus Well was drilled, there is a considerable number of people who are responding positively to the Gospel, and the church has already grown."

Darpan also ministers in another nearby village, and from his years there has discipled 12 young men who have given their lives to go to Bible college and become missionaries. He considers his Jesus Well as the latest addition to his ministry team, and expects even more great things to come from it.

"Many of the villagers believe that God brought this well for us," he shared. "They are more responsive to what I say. In the long term, I believe that they will listen to my message and come to the church."

Veer and Darpan both go about their respective missions day after day. Veer struggles to un-pollute a river which represents his deity. Darpan works to bring many more to the River of Life John wrote about in the book of Revelation.

Source: www.abc.net transcript of 05/07/2005 ABC News broadcast.

Read about the Kumbh Mela festival where millions gather to dip in the Ganges river.

Read about Uttar Pradesh, the state where Darpan and Veer both live.