The Little Boat That Could

We’ve got a small toy at the Yarden Bridge office that’s got us thinking about the power of small acts and big change: a pop-pop boat. It’s a tin steamboat that runs on a surprising secret: just a few drops of water in its tubes and a tiny candle. Light the candle and pop-pop, it chugs across the water with a sound that lights up the room.

It’s incredible how a small flame and a splash of water can spark motion and energy. In fact, that’s the kind of alchemy we’re chasing here at Yarden Bridge: small, creative solutions that connect people and ignite big change.

How It Works

The pop-pop boat runs on two simple things: a spark and a drop. A candle’s tiny flame heats the water and turns it into steam. That steam pushes the boat forward. As it escapes, it pulls more water back in, and the cycle keeps going. Just a flicker and a trickle work together to make waves.

This cycle is more than clever mechanics. It’s a picture of how small, steady forces can move something much bigger than themselves.

Jesus and the Power of Small Things

Jesus, the Logos, the Word through whom all things were made, mastered that kind of power. For example, He turned a few jars of water into wine at Cana, sparking joy from the ordinary. He offered a woman at a well “living water” that would never run dry. That small promise flooded her life with hope.

Even more, a handful of loaves fed thousands. A quiet word shifted a village. A single touch healed the overlooked. Again and again, His small acts brought big change and His splashes set off unstoppable ripples of transformation.

What Drives Yarden Bridge

That same vision drives Yarden Bridge. We are inspired by how Jesus used the tiniest things, a flicker of compassion and a drop of grace, to create massive impact. Because of that, we want to make it easy for you to do the same.

Light a spark by spotlighting a local cause. Add a splash by giving a little to a nonprofit or trying a fresh way to help someone in need. These small acts are the flame and water that power our mission, connecting people who want to help with those who need it most.

Turning Sparks Into Waves

The pop-pop boat shows us you don’t need a bonfire or an ocean, just a spark and a splash. Together, those little forces can move something far larger than you’d expect.

Join us at Yarden Bridge, and let’s turn tiny flames and drops into waves of change together.