We toured the grounds and inspected the tank that had been installed and was now collecting safe drinking water direct from the sky.

Then, it was time for us to sit, as guests of honor, to enjoy what we had been told was a “special program.” We had no idea what an amazing gift we were going to be given.

The school’s chorus began to sway and sing as student drummers accompanied them. The words, written for RainCatcher, and the joyous sound of this chorus of talented and beautiful singers washed over us.

Combined with the other moments we experienced on that trip to Mityana – teachers telling us about significant drops in absenteeism now that safe water was available at school, pupils thanking us specifically for “bringing me water that doesn’t make me sick,” and a family that walked some distance just for the opportunity to hand us a gift in gratitude for the difference clean water made in their lives in mere weeks – this event at St. Matia Malumba School capped an incredible day.

The whole thing felt touched by the divine. The energy soared with their clear, earnest voices. You could feel the love of it all in your heart and in your soul. The students were all smiles and so were we. We hummed that song the whole ride back to our Uganda home and over the following days we would sometimes play the video just so we could hear the song again.

To have the amazing audio from that “special program” shared with every person who watches Dennis Haysbert’s new Clean Water Ambassador PSA brings it all back.

When you listen, please remember: those kids are singing in gratitude for WATER they can drink. They’re singing for RainCatcher. But, if you’re someone who helps by donating, spreading the word, or by helping raise money, they’re really singing for you.

One of his stops was the RainCatcher office to review all that the Team Beachbody partnership had accomplished in 2011 and to make plans for the upcoming year. On his list were even more schools we plan to equip with permanent rainwater-harvesting systems in 2012 and some inspired ideas for outreach into the war-ravaged northern parts of Uganda.

We shared with him the new PSA, which features an original song from one of the schools in his parish. That led to us reminiscing about the RainCatcher team’s visits to that school and others in March and July of this year, including the day it rained for the first time in months, seemingly in quick response to a quiet prayer with Father Kizito.

His commitment is humbling and by the end of the meeting the whole group was beaming and fired up about next steps. Father Kizito continues to be a key leader in the mission to bring a better life to the children of Uganda, through reliable access to clean water today and hope for a brighter tomorrow.

New team members ask, “How do we know so-and-so?” or “How did we find this group?” Father Kizito is frequently the answer.

It was Father Kizito who introduced us to Sylvia. You may remember her: she brought clean water to Kirinda schools.

He leads the Mityana Parish and a whole rectory of priests from an impressive headquarters – a massive, gorgeous red-brick church “built by Germans” in the early 1970s.  But, in reality, he’s not just there – on those beautiful grounds, conducting Mass and bringing out the best in his young clergy team; he’s everywhere.

Emails from Kizito, even just this summer, come from Spain and Los Angeles and so many places, as well as from Uganda. Email from his proteges pop into our inboxes from Finland. As a team, they’re out, making connections, and bringing great things to the children of their Ugandan parish and beyond.

Today, Kizito’s birthday is being formally and enthusiastically celebrated by admirers and supporters in California. His initial connection with RainCatcher came because he was there on a visit to these same church partners and heard of the new rainwater harvesting initiative. He went to Malibu to find the people doing it.

Based on Kizito’s determination and charisma, those people were compelled to bring the gutter-and-tank solutions to Uganda. That team developed into RainCatcher.

This summer, during visits to finish up Beachbody’s 2011 project with RainCatcher, Kizito escorted the team around to schools already benefiting from the rainwater harvesting. The team was greeted with gratitude, singing, dancing and tales of the impact the tanks had already made. As part of this project, a total of 11 Ugandan schools now have reliable, safe water caught from the sky, thanks to Father Kizito and Beachbody.

But, he’s not done yet. He has a list for a new wave of school tanks and there’s no doubt that as he tours the planet this fall that he’ll be making more connections and conceiving bigger plans for helping the people of Uganda. He is always on the move, relentless in his efforts to serve. We’re so proud to be partnered with a man with such vision. RainCatcher looks forward to doing more great work with him and saving more lives.

Happy Birthday Father Kizito! There is no end to the joy and celebration that accompanies the anniversary of your birth. Your commitment to service fuels so much good in this world and the impact cascades and flows and simply gives and gives and gives.  

Jack Rose, Father Kizito, and Mark Armfield.

Jack Rose and Mark Armfield worked with Father Kizito to bring RainCatchers to his 30 schools in Uganda. As a result of this meeting, arranged by Wendy Lynch, coupled by personal donations from Danielle Light and Lucas Donat, our RainCatcher Uganda project is well under way. Photos soon.

Our goal is a RainCatcher on every school in Uganda.

Thank you to all who share our vision.