Water 4 Mercy is not just a mission — it’s a calling. A divine assignment wrapped in mercy and love. So I keep going. Not because I must, like Simon of Cyrene, but because love compels me to act, like Veronica. Because I’ve now seen the face of Christ in the people Water 4 Mercy serves.
By Nermine Khouzam Rubin
I never planned this. Water 4 Mercy was not my idea. I didn’t wake up one day and say, “I’m going to start a nonprofit to bring clean water, nutritious foods, and agricultural education to Africa.” Oh, definitely not.
This mission began with a tap from our Blessed Mother Mary and a big kick in the butt from the Holy Spirit — a very persistent tap that became impossible to ignore.
The Fifth Station: God was calling
At first, I resisted. I wasn’t looking for a new purpose. I was enjoying my comfortable life. But after my Marian Consecration and a trip with my daughter to visit the impact of our support — sending a number of girls from remote villages in Tanzania to a Catholic boarding school—I was haunted by what I saw.
The images of those suffering without water — children walking miles each day, mothers waiting for hours yet unable to get water for their babies, and men I once assumed were deadbeats, sitting around with black eyes, almost lifeless, checked out of life, hopeless and trapped in circumstances they could not escape — it gnawed at me. It broke my heart. I couldn’t turn away.
God was calling. And despite every excuse I made, He kept calling me to do something about this injustice, whispering, “This is yours.”
Much like Simon of Cyrene in the Fifth Station, I was pulled in — compelled and summoned by a force greater than myself to help carry a burden I didn’t choose. Simon didn’t wake up that morning expecting to help Jesus carry His Cross, and neither did I expect to be swept into the suffering of those who thirst for water, hunger for food, and have lost all hope.
I didn’t want this mission. And the more I pondered it, the more unready and unworthy I felt. But eventually, I obeyed—reluctantly at first. I began the work of Water 4 Mercy simply because I knew I couldn’t say no to God.
Then something miraculous happened!
The Sixth Station: Time to Act
As I visited the villages, saw the joy when clean water began to flow, and witnessed the transformation when agricultural training brought food and dignity—my heart changed. What started as an obligation became my joy. I wanted to find more ways to help. I wanted to inspire others to care.
So I like to think I am becoming more like Veronica at the Sixth Station. She didn’t wait to be asked. She leapt into the suffering. She wiped the bloody face of Jesus because love compelled her to act.
That’s what I’m striving for — not to be dragged into service like Simon, but to run toward Jesus like Veronica. Water 4 Mercy is no longer just a task — it is a gift. And I am blessed that God tapped me for this.
Upholding Human Dignity
I know Water 4 Mercy is from God, because everything about it is optimal in a way I could never have orchestrated myself. The first three words of our mission are “Upholding Human Dignity” — and our model is built on three pillars: Clean Water, Nutritious Foods, and Agricultural Education.
We bring together the best of Israeli innovation with African need, forming a bridge of peace, knowledge, and sustainability. Our water systems are solar-powered and remotely monitored, LIVE and in real time, ensuring that each and every Water 4 Mercy project is 100% successful — forever.
My field of dreams — AITeC, our Agricultural Innovation and Technology Centers — are training farmers, teachers, and students for the future of food security. We’re teaching their teachers to teach for long-term sustainability. We give a hand up, not a handout. We don’t give money—we build infrastructure that empowers communities to stand on their own.
And through it all, God is guiding every step. He’s opened doors we never knocked on, connected us with the right people at the right time, and blessed us with an impact beyond imagination. That’s how I know this mission is His, not mine.
Think of The Rock
In all honesty, there are many times I get discouraged. The burden is real. The challenges are many. And in those moments, I think of Peter — the Rock. I love and relate to Peter. He was the ONLY disciple who jumped in and actually WALKED on water! As long as Peter kept his eyes and focus on only Jesus!!
Then, later in Jesus’ ministry when following Him became more difficult and many followers turned away, Jesus asked the disciples if they too wanted to leave. Peter immediately answered, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
THAT is exactly how I now feel. Even when the road is hard, I know there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.
A Calling
Water 4 Mercy is not just a mission — it’s a calling. A divine assignment wrapped in mercy and love. So I keep going. Not because I must, like Simon of Cyrene, but because love compels me to act, like Veronica.
Because I’ve now seen the face of Christ in the people Water 4 Mercy serves. And like Veronica, I want to wipe His face. I want to love Him with my small acts of mercy.
And in doing so, I find myself. My purpose. My joy. My yes.
Nermine Khouzam Rubin is the founder and CEO of Water 4 Mercy, a not-for-profit offering an innovative approach combining water access with agricultural solutions, and community engagement empowering villages to thrive and transform their lives and future. She can be reached directly at Nermine@Water4Mercy.org and/or contacted via the website: Water4Mercy.org
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