True to the Roots Blog

Have you ever woken up with this gnawing feeling: Life is moving fast, but I’m not sure I’m moving in the right direction?
I have. Many of us have.

In today’s hyper-connected world, it’s easy to stay busy. We fill our calendars with commitments, keep our heads down, and push through. But there is a difference between movement and meaning. The key is intentionality.

Without it, life becomes a blur. We drift through days on autopilot, chasing outcomes without ever pausing to ask: Is this what I was made for?

Living intentionally is about waking up. It is about choosing, each day, to align your life with what matters most.

The Drift vs. The Journey

Most people aren’t consciously choosing their life. They are drifting through it.

This isn’t because of laziness or apathy. We work hard, pursue opportunities, and stay busy. But activity alone is not direction. You can spend every hour of your day working hard and still feel empty.

Intentional living is the antidote to drifting. It begins with asking questions.

• Why am I doing what I’m doing?
• Does it align with my values?
• Is it shaping the person I want to become?

Without these questions, the flow of life will choose your direction for you. With them, you choose your direction with clarity and purpose.

Purpose as a Compass

Many think of purpose as a single goal they must achieve. In reality, purpose is more like a compass. It gives you direction, not just a destination.

When you live with purpose, it influences not only your biggest life decisions but also your smallest daily actions. You begin to:

• Say no to good things so you can say yes to the right things.

• Create a life rhythm that honors your values.

• Make time choices that reflect what matters to you most.

The Power of Presence

Living with intention is not just about future goals. It is also about the present moment.

You cannot live purposefully tomorrow if you are absent today.

Many of life’s richest moments are missed not because we don’t have enough time, but because we aren’t fully present. We skim conversations while thinking about the next meeting. We eat meals without gratitude. We scroll without noticing.

Intentional living invites us to slow down, to listen deeply, to love fully, and to honor the importance of the moment we are in.

Lessons from the Waterfall of Hope

I experienced this lesson again on a recent trip with True to the Roots. We traveled to Guyana to distribute water filters to families in need through the Waterfall of Hope project.

Life at home was full. There were work projects, personal commitments, and plenty of reasons to say, “I can’t go this time.” But I kept thinking, If I say that service and compassion matter to me, am I willing to live that out when the opportunity arises?

I chose to go. To show up. To put presence over convenience.

In villages across Guyana, we met families who had struggled for years with unsafe water, trauma-filled pasts, and pain evident in their eyes. We listened to their stories.  We encouraged them. We prayed for them. We sat with them, not in a rush, but in relationship.

In those moments, I wasn’t thinking about productivity or checklists. I was living out purpose. I was present.

For me, this experience was also a reminder of what it means to live out my faith. As a follower of Jesus, I believe that intentional living means walking in His footsteps—serving the vulnerable, loving our neighbors, and using what we’ve been given to bless others.

When we distributed water filters, we weren’t just giving clean water, we were offering dignity, hope, and the love of Christ made visible in action.

I thought often of Jesus’ words:"And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded." (Matthew 10:42)

Purpose isn’t something abstract or theoretical. It’s meant to show up in how we love and serve the people around us—one cup of water at a time.

A Life of Small Choices

Intentional living is not about dramatic, sweeping changes. It is about small, daily choices that move your life in the direction of your values.

You can begin by:

• Listening when it is easier to talk.

• Creating space in your life for what matters most.

• Choosing presence over distraction.

Each of these choices, while small, adds up. Over time, they form a life of purpose and meaning.

Begin Today

When I returned home from Guyana, I brought more than memories. I brought a renewed desire to live intentionally. Not just on a mission trip, not just in the big moments, but every day.

And so I invite you to consider this question: What is one small step you can take today to live more intentionally—in alignment with your values, your purpose, and your faith?

You don’t need to wait for the perfect opportunity. You don’t need to have it all figured out. You simply need to begin, because life is too precious to drift through. And when we live with intention, even the most ordinary moments can become filled with purpose.

This past year, we had the joy of traveling to Guyana for our first-ever Waterfall of Hope trip — and what a blessing it was!

In just a few days, our team distributed 42 life-changing water filters to communities in need, providing clean, safe drinking water for hundreds of people — showing and sharing the love of Jesus in the streets, homes, offices, churches, and villages — one conversation and one filter at a time.

Why Water? Why Now? 

Though Guyana is known as “the land of many waters,”  many families still struggle to access safe drinking water.

Tap water is often unsafe, rainwater can’t always be collected or stored properly, and boiling water takes time, money, and fuel, often not enough to fully purify it. Out of desperation, families often turn to unsafe sources or methods, such as adding bleach to drinking water.

That’s why we launched Waterfall of Hope — to bring clean water where it’s needed most, in a way that is simple, sustainable, and full of God's love for all people.

What We Did 

During our trip to Guyana in August 2024, we:

✅ Distributed 42 water filters across Beterverwagting, Mahaicony, and Charity, Guyana
✅ Reached hundreds of people with access to clean and living water
✅ Trained dozens of families on how to use and care for their filters
✅ Experienced countless opportunities to pray, encourage, and share the love of Christ

Each filter removes 99.99% of bacteria, provides up to 250 gallons of clean water per day, and lasts up to 10 years.

The impact of one filter reaches well beyond one family. Clean water means:

• Fewer illnesses and healthier lives

• Less financial burden on families

• More time and freedom for education, work, and relationships

• A tangible reminder that someone cares — and so does God

More Than Clean Water

This trip was about more than handing out filters — it was about building relationships and living out the love of Christ through simple acts of service, without expectation of anything in return.

Throughout our time in Guyana, we visited homes, churches, villages, and even offices — listening to stories, answering questions, and walking alongside families going through financial, physical, relational, and spiritual struggles.

In the midst of those conversations, it became clear that something as simple as clean water could bring a much-needed source of hope. Yet many were understandably skeptical — unsure that such a small filter could make a real difference. Some hesitated to taste the water at first, but their faces lit up when they experienced the results. Hopelessness quickly turned to joy.

What’s Next? 

The need for clean water in Guyana is ongoing — and so is our commitment to this mission.

We’re excited to share that we are already planning our next Waterfall of Hope trip for August 2025. Our goal is to reach even more families with safe, clean water — and to continue building relationships that point to the love and hope found in Jesus.

Here’s how you can be part of it:

• Give: Every $40 gift provides a filter and a lasting source of clean water for a family

• Volunteer: Interested in joining a future team? We'd love to have you!

• Pray: Join us in praying for the families we served this past year — and for those we hope to serve in 2025

• Spread the word: Share this story with your friends, family, and church community

Together, we can continue to bring practical help and lasting hope — one home, one conversation, one filter at a time.

Our Vision 

At True to the Roots, we believe restoring dignity begins by meeting basic human needs — and that every act of love plants a seed of hope.

Our mission is to empower underserved communities through practical resources and support — whether that’s clothing, education, household goods, or clean water.

Waterfall of Hope is just one example of how a small tool  and a big heart can make an eternal difference.

At True to the Roots, our mission is simple yet profound: to share the love of Jesus by providing essential resources and support to underserved and underprivileged communities. Founded on the principles of compassion, generosity, and community upliftment, True to the Roots is dedicated to making a tangible difference in the lives of those in need. We are dedicated to breaking down barriers and creating opportunities for growth and development in marginalized communities. 

Our Vision and Mission

True to the Roots is committed to nurturing and empowering communities by addressing their most pressing needs. Our aim is to create a ripple effect of positive change through:

1. Educational Resources: We provide providing educational resources and support to equip the youth with the knowledge and skills they need to thrive.
2. Clothing and Household Items: We distribute essential items such as clothing and household goods to alleviate the burden on struggling families.
3. Distribution of Practical Tools: Offering practical tools and resources, such as water filters, to improve the quality of life in underserved communities.

Our Founders

Our organization was founded by individuals with deep connections to Guyana, driven by a passion to make a difference both in their homeland and beyond. Our team is united by a shared goal of uplifting marginalized communities through compassion, generosity, and dedicated service.

How You Can Help

True to the Roots thrives on the support and generosity of individuals like you. There are many ways to get involved and make a difference:

1. Donate: Your contributions, whether monetary or in-kind, directly impact the lives of families and communities we serve.
2. Spread the Word: Help us raise awareness about our mission and initiatives by sharing our story with your network.

Join Us in Making a Difference!

We invite you to be a part of our journey in bringing hope, love, and resources to those who need it most. Together, we can create lasting change and help build a brighter future for underserved communities. Thank you for your support and belief in our mission. Stay tuned for updates on our projects and the impact we are making, one step at a time!

Today, we want to take you on a journey to Guyana, a country on the northern coast of South America. Despite being known as "the land of many waters," much of the country's water is not safe to consume. For those who can't afford increasingly expensive bottled water, the alternatives are bleak: drinking contaminated tap water, collecting rainwater, boiling tap water, or even mixing water with bleach. These methods are not only risky but also frequently ineffective at eliminating the harmful bacteria found in unpurified water. Drinking from these contaminated sources often results in diseases like cholera, dysentery, and typhoid fever, posing a constant threat to families, especially children and the elderly.

True to the Roots' Mission

This is where True to the Roots comes in. Our mission is to foster transformative change and empower underprivileged communities by providing essential resources and support. Noting the urgency of the water crisis in Guyana, this project aims to address the need for clean drinking water by distributing small, compact water filters that remove approximately 99.99% of bacteria from drinking water to families in need. These filters can purify up to 250 gallons of water a day for ten years. They are a practical and sustainable solution to a widespread problem, and also a way to show God's love to our fellow human beings in need.

Goal: Deliver 100 Filters to 100 Guyanese Families

Our dedicated True to the Roots volunteers will work alongside local churches to identify families in greatest need of the filters and distribute them directly to their homes. The home visits will include filter delivery and installation.

Distribution Dates: July 29 - August 9, 2024

How You Can Help

Your support can make a world of difference. Whether it's a little or a lot, your contribution will help us bring clean water and hope to those who desperately need it. 

• Silver Supporter: $40 – Provides a filter for 1 family
• Gold Supporter: $200 – Provides filters for 5 families
• Platinum Supporter: $400 – Provides filters for 10 families
• Diamond Supporter: $1,000 – Provides filters for 25 families

We're excited about the potential for this project to bring about lasting change. Together, let's make waves and provide the essential gift of clean water to those who need it most!

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