The scene recalled Jesus' instructions, recorded in Matthew 10:42, that faithful disciples should give "even a cup of cold water" in the Savior's name.

Missionary Bruce Schmidt (right) and his interpreter, Philip Lochap (center), explain the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ at the communal pump installed by Baptists in a remote part of northeastern Uganda.

Women and children sat on the ground in the scorching afternoon sun to listen to Schmidt, who served a church in Wilmington before he and his wife, Martha, were appointed missionaries in August 1987. One woman and a child continued to pump the water into their jars.

Off to one side, several harsh-looking warriors sat on six-inch wooden stools, traditional portable seats for men in their culture. Some sneered. Several spit chewing tobacco.

Some carried guns.

Schmidt's listeners were Karamojong (KAR-ah-mo-zjohng), a semi-nomadic people of northeast Uganda who have begun to turn to Christ after years of vicious tribal warfare and devastating cattle disease. As Schmidt preached, some in the crowd became restless and noisy. Philip Lochap, a local Christian serving as Schmidt's translator, quieted them.

"The Bible says God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life," Schmidt said. "The Bible says God loves the world so much that He gave His only son that whosoever believes in Him will have eternal life. God's plan for you is that you have eternal life, too."

To the Karamojong, this was amazing new information, Schmidt said later. Karamojong traditionally leave their dead in the desert to rot. Believing in any type of eternal life is foreign to this tribe. "God wants to live with you through Jesus Christ, and at long last when you die, God doesn't want that to be the end," he said. "God wants you to spend eternity with him in heaven."

As the excitement in his voice intensified and the crowd warmed to his message, Schmidt shared with them the plan of salvation: All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God; God sent His son, Jesus, to die for the sins of all who believe; and those who call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ will be saved.

It was time for a prayer.

Schmidt asked the crowd to bow their heads in reverence. It appeared to be the first time any of these proud people had done this.

He asked them to raise their hands if they wanted to follow God and live eternally. Many hands went up.

"Heavenly Father, we thank You for the wonderful gift of water, because we cannot live without water," he prayed.

"And we thank You even more for the living water that You have provided us through Your Son, Jesus Christ."

Then Schmidt asked the crowd to do something they'd certainly never done before: "Repeat this prayer after me."

With Lochap translating, Schmidt proceeded: "Heavenly Father, I need You. I know that I am a sinner and that Jesus is the Savior. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus; forgive me of my sins. Amen."

Some of the Karamojong prayed with Schmidt; some did not, including the warriors, who quickly took up their stools and began walking off.

Afterwards, Lochap said, "It comes bit by bit."

The women and children continued to fill their jars with water from the well. Then they began their long treks on dusty, winding paths back to their villages and grass huts.

They had arrived at the well thirsty in body and spirit. Now the Karamojong carried back with them jugs of fresh water - and a taste of the "living water" that Southern Baptist International Mission Board work is all about.

(EDITOR'S NOTE: Moore is associate vice president for communications for the International Mission Board. Richmond Times-Dispatch religion editor Alberta Lindsey contributed to this article.)

Each morning before he begins work, missionary Bruce Schmidt prepares for the day's challenges by having a quiet time with God in the storage shed that serves as a temporary home.