One Thousand Wells is the inspiring story of Jena Lee Nardella, co-founder of Blood:Water
Nashville, Tenn. (Aug. 25, 2015) — At the age of 22, Jena Lee Nardella was fresh-out-of-college with the lofty goal of truly changing the world. Armed with a diploma, a dollar, and a dream to build one thousand wells in Africa, she joined forces with Grammy Award–winning band “Jars of Clay” to found Blood:Water and support Africans in addressing HIV/AIDs and water crises. In her new memoir, ONE THOUSAND WELLS, she shares how her passion for saving the world grew into a humbler long-term calling of loving the world in all its brokenness.
Ten years later, Jena’s dream for her nonprofit turned that initial $1 into $20, and then $100, and today into more than $25 million. Working throughout eleven countries in Africa, Blood:Water has served more than 60,000 people with HIV/AIDS and has partnered with communities to provide clean water for nearly one million Africans. Along the way she faced harsh realities of corruption and brokenness that tested her faith by destroying nearly everything she’d fought for, and taught her that wishful thinking will not get you very far. Jena discovered that true change comes only when you stop trying to save the world and allow yourself to love it, even when it breaks your heart.
ONE THOUSAND WELLS offers profound insights into the stages of vocation when naive dreams of changing the world mature into a long‑term calling of making a difference.
The book includes a foreword by New York Times Best-selling Author of Blue Like Jazz, Donald Miller.
*A portion of the proceeds from this book will support Blood:Water.
ONE THOUSAND WELLS will be available August 25, 2015
More Praise for One Thousand Wells:
“Original, perceptive, and compelling… In an astonishingly honest voice, Jena Lee Nardella reflects on the questions we ask ourselves when the odds are overwhelmingly against us – why hope that seems foolish is still necessary.”—Amy Tan, New York Times best-selling author of The Joy Luck Club
“We are each telling a story with our lives…And Jena’s is an example that will inspire you to go out and live a great story.” – Donald Miller, New York Times Best-selling author of Blue Like Jazz
“An authentic and inspiring read for those who want to make a difference in the world.” – Tony Hale, Emmy-Award winning actor from Arrested Development and Veep
“”Buckle up, you’re about to meet one of love’s heroes.” – Bob Goff, New York TimesBest-selling Author of Love Does
“This is a story of idealism maturing, step by step, into lasting love—and it’s a story every idealist, and every almost-cynic, must read. “ – Andy Crouch, Executive Editor,Christianity Today
“Oliver Wendell Holmes put it best. ‘Give me the simplicity on the other side of complexity.’ That, in a phrase, describes where many social entrepreneurs stall out. They run up against complexity and are overwhelmed by it.
Jena Lee Nardella is one of the very few who not only made it through that obstacle but now has the wisdom and skills to be a guide for others.” – Fred Smith, President of The Gathering
