Pipeline, Fall 2006 by Living Water International

PIPELINE REACHING THE WORLD WITH WATER & THE WORD

SPECIAL ANNIVERSARY EDITION 2006

The

LWI Story

Celebrating Years of God’s Faithfulness

THIS ISSUE...

LWI TRAINING

A GOD-SIZED VISION

WHAT DO YOU WANT ON YOUR TOMBSTONE?

TESTIFY TO LOVE: MISSION TRIP TESTIMONIES THE 1990 KENYA TRIP: BEGA KWA BEGA

LWI’S 2006 GALA

A WORD FROM THE PRESIDENT NOT OUR WORK, BUT GOD’S

Fifteen years ago, God heard the cry

Our purpose here on earth was once described to me as a show and tell opportunity. Certainly we are to show the love of God and tell people the truth about Him. We at Living Water International believe in demonstrating the love of God by providing clean, safe drinking water and proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ.

of Africa and remembered His promise in Isaiah 41:17-20 that when the poor and needy seek water and there is none, He will not forsake them. God promised them water and led a disparate group to Africa, who returned with a tug on their hearts

God has created each of us to be a physical, visible expression of the

invisible God. That is only possible after we have come to Christ and believe in Him. Jesus said when we have done that, out of our hearts will

and banded together to address one of man’s greatest needs – the lack of hope! We would provide clean water and tell them about Him who made the water.

ﬂow rivers of living water.

Children are buried, wives suffer

The ministry of LWI provides a unique opportunity for us to share, not only the living water of Jesus, but also life-saving physical water to some of the 1.1 billion people in the world today who are without access to

and men have no jobs, all for the lack of clean water. Water-borne diseases kill thousands daily, and yet, without water, no life can exist. It would have been impossible for

clean water. As you read about all the good things God is doing through our work around the world, I know you will rejoice with us in all that He has accomplished in LWI’s 15 years of ministry. But there is still much work to be done and many more opportunities to demonstrate God’s love among the

this small group alone to provide water to ﬁve million people every day and share with them the hope of Jesus Christ. Living Water International is not our work, but God’s. As He has touched your heart to do your part, thank you for responding with your

neediest people on earth. Thank you for

time, talents, prayers and ﬁnances.

caring enough to be involved.

Malcolm Morris Chairman of the Board

LWI AROUND THE WORLD

WELCOME TO THE NEW PIPELINE! You may have noticed that PIPELINE looks a little diffferent than usual. We decided to honor Living Water International’s 15-year anniversary with a new design and a special issue devoted to LWI’s story — God’s story, your story and the story of millions around the world. Thank you for making 15 years of water and the Word possible.

The

PIPELINE VOLUME 5

LWI

NUMBER 3

LIVING WATER INTERNATIONAL

Executive Director

Gary Evans

President

Jerry Wiles

Vice President

Lew Hough

Vice President

Tim Mulville

Vice President

Bruce Whitmire

Story

Living Water International exists to demonstrate the love of God by providing desperately needed clean water and medical attention, along with the living water of the gospel of Jesus Christ, which alone satisﬁes the deepest thirst. PIPELINE is published quarterly by Living Water International to raise awareness about the global water crisis and to inspire Christians everywhere to respond with compassion to the needy of the world. We welcome your stories, comments and/or address changes. Send them to: The Editor, Pipeline, PO Box 35496, Houston, TX 77235-5496 or e-mail us: pipeline@water.cc. Living Water International is a nonproﬁt Christian organization and tax exempt by the IRS under code section 501(c)(3). Gifts are tax deductible as allowed by law. Contributions are solicited with the understanding that the donee organization has complete discretion and control over the use of all donated funds. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

How God used ordinary people to offer a cup of water in Jesus’ name to the thirsty of the world.

THE 1990 KENYA TRIP: BEGA KWA BEGA Read about the church mission trip that started it all.

All photos by staff and volunteers of Living Water International unless otherwise noted.

THE MASTER’S PLAN ON THE COVER These three pictures represent the water revolution of villages that LWI helps around the world, from dirty water to clean water through a well and the living water of

Harry Westmoreland ‘s quest to use the gift of clean water to share the gospel.

Christ. To date, LWI is serving 5 million people through more than 3,000 completed water projects in 22 countries.

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS TESTIFY TO LOVE: MISSION TRIP TESTIMONIES WHAT DO YOU WANT ON YOUR TOMBSTONE?

EVANGELICAL

PRESS ASSOCIATION

Combined Federal Campaign # 1197

A GOD-SIZED VISION

11 12 14 15

The

LWI Story

Celebrating Years of God’s Faithfulness

Larry & Rosemary Laird in Kenya.

The Morris family on a mission trip to Nicaragua in celebration of Malcolm’s birthday.

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Second trip to Mombasa with Gary Evans, Gary Loveless, Kyle Evans, Bob Dunn and Harry Westmoreland

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LWI incorporated

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Fall 2006

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Obtained Jaswell drill rig and other equipment from oil company

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Obtained borehole contractor license in Kenya

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Received NGO status in Kenya

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First successful well in Massai area of Kenya

1994

Dave Smith, in Mombasa, received his ﬁrst LS 100

Obtained IRS nonproﬁt status under code 501 (c)(3)

1993

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EL SALVADOR

1992

Mission trip to Mombasa, Kenya, with Sugar Creek Baptist Church

In August 1993, Harry Westmoreland stood before his friends and partners on the board of Living Water International, prepared to deliver his report from what he considered a nightmare trip to the Rift Valley in Kenya. He tried every way he knew how to make the earth bring forth water, but all of his efforts were met with dry holes and logistical problems. Before he left for Kenya eight weeks earlier, the leaders in the ministry considered dissolving the organization if this trip yielded yet another unsuccessful well. Since the ministry began, it had seen nothing but technical problems, bad water and sometimes no water at all. On the plane ride home, he contemplated what exactly his report to the board would be. He remembered a verse that a friend had given to him three weeks before: Galatians 6:9-10, which said, “We must not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, we must work for the good of all, especially for those who belong to the household of faith.” In front of LWI’s board of directors he opened his Bible and read this passage, explaining that God’s

1991

1990

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GHANA

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Obtained ofﬁces in Nairobi, Kenya, hired John Gichane as Managing Director of LWI-Kenya, and appointed Board of Directors, including Dave Smith

Word to him was clear – don’t quit. And they didn’t. Though LWI has seen many trials in its 15 years of operation, its leadership has continually persevered, relying not on their own strength, but on God’s strength, mercy and guidance, doing it God’s way. This is, after all, His ministry. “God has used LWI in a way that none of the founders could have ever imagined,” said longtime LWI board member, Gary Loveless. “The struggles and doubts as to how God would use our little organization have been replaced with an organization that has a wonderful staff and a strong spiritual message, to offer a cup of water in Jesus’ name for the poor and needy all over the world.” It all began with the vision of a pastor whose heart was to lead his congregation to missions and another man’s vision to use clean water as a tool to present the gospel. On a May 1990 church mission trip, Westmoreland shared this vision with the group, including Gary Evans, Pastor Fenton Moorhead, Rosemary Laird and Malcolm Morris. When the borehole came up dry, Westmoreland and Evans were determined to try again. They returned to Mombasa, Kenya, in November 1990, with Gary Loveless and drilled five more dry boreholes and one borehole that proved to be full of salt water. While looking for drilling supplies in Kenya, they found something they weren’t necessarily looking for – a Jaswell 3500 drill rig. The rig was owned by an oil company who was pulling out of the area. The company agreed to sell the rig at a reduced price to the group, but it could not be sold to a church. So, upon returning to the United States, Moorhead, Evans, Westmoreland, Loveless and missionary Ralph Bethea met in the Loveless home on November 27, 1990, to incorporate Living Water International. Of these, Loveless, Evans, Westmoreland and Bethea were listed as the original board of directors on the incorporation papers of this newly formed ministry. In 1991, LWI received nonprofit status and purchased their first rig. “I had no idea when Gary Evans called me and asked me to go on the trip to Africa in 1990 that the Lord would use the trip to open my eyes and heart as to His plans for me. I have been a board member from the beginning and have been blessed beyond measure,” Loveless said. Along the way, God has always provided LWI with the right people for the right reasons at the right time – His time. In late 1990 and early 1991, Larry Laird, David Phillips and Lelan Callaway joined LWI’s board. Mike Harris became LWI’s acting managing director in 1991. In November 1991, Malcolm Morris became a member of the board, and became

Gary Loveless in Kenya.

UGANDA

ROMANIA Pump installed on well at Rosslyn Academy by Gary Evans and national crew

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Began Shallow Well Drill Training in conjunction with hosting Lifewater International Conference

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Began work in India with O. Samuel David

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Began work in Guatemala with Darryl Stratton in cooperation with Mike and Georgann Gullikson

1998

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1997

Drilled ﬁrst successful deep well at Rosslyn Academy with crew of nationals trained by Harry Westmoreland and Charlie Carson

1996

1995

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Began work in Tema area of Ghana with APF Ministries

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Began work in Honduras with Mike & Georgann Gullikson

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Began work in Peru with Larry Johnson

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Began work in Tanzania with LWI volunteer Tom Fontenot

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PIPELINE

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Began work in Kakamega area of Kenya with Paul Ligono

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Began work in Nigeria with Relief Network Ministries

Began work in Nicaragua

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Began work in Reynosa area of Mexico

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First LWI mission trip led to Guatemala

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Obtained NGO status in Honduras

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Began medical missions in Panama

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Began work in Uganda as Divine Waters

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THE GROWTH OF LWI IN REVENUE

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Projected 25% growth from inception in 1991 Actual growth from 1991 to present (2006 budget estimate) Projected 25% growth from 2006 to 2010

INDIA

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Helped start Living Water Carolinas

2003

Began work in Romania with Liviu Neagoe

Began work in India with Ben J.

2002

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2001

Began work in El Salvador with Paul Darilek

2000

1999

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Began work in Angola with By Provision Ministries

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Began work in Sunyani area of Ghana with Rev. David Donkor

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Began work in Ethiopia with Bright Hope and Kale Hewett Church

Chairman of the Board in January 2003. Morris has been a strong advocate for LWI and the need for clean water. Because of his close friendship with Westmoreland, Larry Laird became involved with LWI right from the beginning. Larry said that he and Rosemary, his wife, thought drilling for water was a big waste of time. “At the time, sharing Christ was not all that important to me,” Laird said. “I was in it more for the social beneﬁts. Having a relationship with God was not all that important to me.” According to Laird, his wife volunteered him for the job of managing director, and in late 1993, he agreed to become LWI’s managing director after Mike Harris left the position for other employment. Listening to the Lord’s guidance, the LWI leaders decided to stop trying to reach water themselves and instead train a crew of Kenyans to drill for water for their people. So Laird, a successful businessman in construction, had to learn how to start a company in Kenya, thousands of miles away. Through a series of letters, Laird helped LWI-Kenya get its feet on the ground. He wrote a business plan for the newly created NGO, LWI-Kenya, wrote a strategic plan for LWI and generally got everything organized in hopes that the ministry would survive. It was during this period of time that things began to happen that just weren’t logical to Laird. There were too many coincidences happening, and he began to recognize God’s power and His hand in the ministry. “I started developing my relationship with God, which was very slow in coming. Some people are like me, hard-headed and slow to respond, with a prove-it-to-me attitude,” he said. Not only did Laird come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, but he began to understand that God’s plan is the best plan. Gary Evans struggled over the years with his involvement with the ministry. He had felt God calling him, but was unsure what exactly the call

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Conducted tsunami relief efforts in southern India

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Began work in Central African Republic with ICDI

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Health & Hygiene Training began

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Began volunteer chapters in Dallas, Washington DC, Denver, Austin, Little Rock and Springdale, Arkansas

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Dallas volunteer chapter began work in Haiti

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Began Hannah’s Hope project in Tanzania with LWI volunteer Lance Whyle

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Began mission trips to Nicaragua

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Established LWI Canada

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Began work in Uganda with Bob Wright

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Began work in Tampico area of Mexico

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Began work in Haiti with Burnell Pudwill

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Received NGO status and began operations in Liberia

2006

Began work in Peru with Tommy & Angela Head

2005

2004

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Began work in Haiti with Pollic Ministries

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Started branch ofﬁce in Michigan

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Began volunteer chapters in Albuquerque and Southwest Missouri

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Began work in Namibia with By Provision Ministries

GROWTH OF IWS TRAINING COURSES & MISSION TRIPS was. At times, he wanted to quit his construction company and move to Kenya, and at other times, he felt terribly overwhelmed with the responsibility of the lives of his employees. Although involved for many years in a successful construction business, he felt more and more dissatisfied with his profession. In 1995, after all attempts to hold together the construction company in a very slow period for the industry, Evans decided he was going to take six months of his life to help LWI. “I decided that I needed to stop treating the ministry as a hobby and really see if this was what God was calling me to do,” he said. In 1996, the board voted to hire him as a consultant to Kenya. He became president of LWI in 1997 and has been on staff with the ministry ever since. In 1998, Evans approached Jerry Wiles about joining the staff of LWI. Finally, in 2003, Wiles came on board as LWI’s president. While Evans focuses on field operations and the administration of LWI as executive director, Wiles focuses primarily on spiritual life and resource development. Through their leadership, LWI has embraced these core values: to honor God, develop people, pursue excellence and be good stewards. The LWI board and staff have purposed to build this organization based on these values. Though LWI has completed more than 3,000 water projects that serve more than 5 million people around the world every day, we can never forget that this ministry is the fingerprint of God. Without Him, none of this would be possible. With Him, anything is possible. Perhaps the founders, board and staff of LWI would all agree with Gary Loveless as he recalled a trip that he took to Kenya in January of this year. “I was able to see firsthand what God has accomplished through ordinary people, and how He has been glorified and lifted up,” he said. “It has been 15 years, and looking back, I thank God that when He called me and others to service, that we answered the call.”

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IWS Training Courses

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Mission Trips

Integrated Water Solutions Training began in 1997. Health & hygiene courses began in 2004. LWI began leading mission trips in 2001. Totals for 2006 are estimates through the end of the year.

EL SALVADOR

www.water.cc

PIPELINE

BEGA KWA BEGA SHOULDER TO SHOULDER THE 1990 KENYA TRIP:

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How did a ministry like Living Water International come into being? Today LWI works in 22 countries, where 3,100 water projects serve over 5 million people. Was it a carefully thought out plan to provide clean water for millions of people in desperate need along with the living water of the gospel? Truthfully, it was nothing like that. People didn’t originate LWI. It was the heart and hand of God. It all began with an attempt to drill one water well in Africa with little idea of where it might lead. God used ordinary people to accomplish something very extra-ordinary. You can look back and see the ﬁngerprints of God in the process. LWI came out of a mission trip of 36 people to Mombasa, Kenya, back in May of 1990. The trip was organized by Pastor Fenton and Mary Moorhead, who were serving at Sugar Creek Baptist Church in Sugar Land, Texas. The Moorheads believe that God uses mission trips to transform the lives of the people who go and those they serve. Fenton challenged the people to “expect great things from

Pastor Fenton Moorhead leads a crusade with local pastors.

As the ﬁrst church service is held in the newly constructed gathering spot in Steadfast, the drilling crew tries tirelessly to get a clean water well for the town.

God and to attempt great things for God.” The mission team planned to build churches, provide medical clinics at the same churches and do door-to-door evangelism and street meetings. They also hoped to do something brand new on a mission trip – drill a water well. Harry Westmoreland dreamed of a water well ministry and had invented and built the LS 100 drill rig. The rig was shipped in a container to Kenya months ahead of the team, but the container was still sitting in customs when the team arrived. No one knew the delay would end up being providential. Harry and Malcolm Morris worked endlessly to get the container released, constantly dealing with bureaucrats who needed just one more signature. When the drill rig was finally released and the container was delivered to Mombasa, only two days remained to work before the flight home. The President of Kenya suddenly took for his personal use the Kenya Airlines plane that was to fly the team from Mombasa to Nairobi. The team had to jump a train instead. Harry Westmoreland and Gary Evans stayed behind to try to complete the well being drilled at the Steadfast Church. They arrived in Nairobi a day later, just moments before the flight home was to leave. But their news was disappointing. The borehole was dry,

and there was no time to drill another well. The team was disappointed, but the drill rig was left in Mombasa. Though the well was unsuccessful, something truly tremendous and wonderful happened. Not only did the people of Steadfast hear the gospel and see it being acted out through the team, but an idea was planted. A vision was revealed. Living Water International was born in the hearts and minds of Harry and Gary. This was just the beginning. God only knew what the future would hold for them – years of setbacks and failures until they ﬁnally reached the sweet, clean water they had been searching for. Many of the participants from the 1990 Mombasa mission trip became deeply involved in LWI and continue today: Gary, Sharon and Gary Lynn Evans; Harry, Joann and Alice Westmoreland; Rosemary Laird; Malcolm, Becky, Andy and Matt Morris; Charlie, Jo and Julie Howard; Mike and Georgann Gullikson; Cecelia Hughes; and Fenton and Mary Moorhead.

CHANGED FOREVER One experience can change your life forever. For many on the 1990 mission trip to Mombasa, Kenya, they returned home with a renewed sense of purpose and a new view of the world and God’s Kingdom. Many went on to be involved with mission work, including the creation of LWI. One thing I learned from this trip was that you can go without any special training and any special knowledge, and somehow, God uses you. The trip changed my life because it led to Larry, my husband, being involved with LWI and me being involved in drill training. I now have a much larger view of the world. I just have a bigger view of life. Rosemary Laird

Rosemary and Larry Laird have been an integral part of LWI since inception. In 1997, the Lairds opened up their ﬁshing retreat, Quantum Lakes, to host LWI training courses.

After going to Kenya in 1990, our perspective changed. When we returned, Mike and I both struggled as to what this all meant. We both knew everything was different. At a church service, we accepted a call to missions. Seven years later, after much prayer, counsel, waiting and training, we left the States to begin our missionary journey. Georgann Gullikson Mike and Georgann Gullikson have served in Honduras for eight years, drilling water wells, constructing bio-sand ﬁlters, providing medical care, teaching the Word and leading a training institute for Honduran pastors.

Near the end [of the trip], I went to experience the medical team by helping to fill prescriptions. There, I met Dan Boone, a medical doctor from a family of missionary physicians. I wasn’t conscious of the influence that this brief encounter with bush medicine had at the time... That initial mission experience in Mombasa, Kenya, was the spark, the first of many experiences that God has used to teach and prepare me to take my family to a different culture to serve in Jesus’ name. Andy Morris Andy Morris, M.D., is now 31 years old . He and his family will begin serving with Shoulder to Shoulder in Santa Lucia, Honduras, in October 2006. Andy is the son of Malcolm and Becky Morris. www.water.cc

PIPELINE

The Master’s Plan A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord determines his steps. Proverbs 16:9

by Harry Westmoreland

Harry Westmoreland trains the LWI-Kenya drill crew.

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Fall 2006

he told me he had an appointment to see our pastor, Fenton Moorhead, and a missionary from Africa. I asked Gary to ask about water needs in Africa, and he invited me along to ask the question myself. As I talked about water needs and how the Lord had let me see how He was using clean water to open doors to share the gospel, Ralph became so excited and asked if I was coming on the trip to drill for water. So in 1990, my family and I, along with a group led by Fenton Moorhead, traveled to Kenya on a mission trip that included drilling for water. This trip profoundly changed the lives of all who went and was the beginning of Living Water International.

Harry Westmoreland and David Smith on the 1990 mission trip to Kenya.

In November 1987, I met a missionary who was speaking at a Houston area church about his ministry in Peru. We met several times during his stay in Houston, and he invited me to help him with a drilling project. I agreed and in February 1988, I made my first mission trip to Peru. This trip proved to be a turning point in my life. As I began to see the vast need for clean water and the impact this missionary couple was having by sharing their faith with the rural poor, the Lord began to lead me to His plan for communicating His gospel through clean water development. I was so excited to think that the Lord might involve me in His work. After a second trip with my family to Peru, I knew that the Lord wanted me in the clean water development ministry to share the gospel. Not much happened, though, until December 1988 when my oldest daughter and I went to the National Groundwater Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada, on business. As we were separately going from booth to booth handing out our business cards, Sue happened on a booth set up by a Christian water ministry. I met with the founder of this ministry and attended a conference in February 1989 to evaluate their drilling equipment, making a few recommendations to improve the equipment. I was ultimately asked to make the modifications, but felt it would be better to build a new rig that had all the desired features. I began to work on the design process with another volunteer and returned from the conference with sketches for the LS 100 and a commission to build a prototype. The construction phase did not go as well as planned. It occurred to me that this rig would be used for God’s work and I had not even consulted with Him, so I got up early the next morning to pray. I thought I needed to start at the bottom of the borehole and work my way up, and at the end of that day I had the bit, drill pipe and table support designed, drawn and built. This continued for the next four days, and the rig was finished. On the sixth day, I test drilled a six-inch diameter borehole to one hundred feet with no major problems. In October 1989, Gary Evans dropped by my shop to visit, and while we were talking

Harry and Joann Westmoreland

Humble Beginnings by Lew Hough When Rita and I think about our involvement with the training and mission trip area of Living Water International, we are always reminded of I Cor. 1:26-27, which says, “Brothers consider your calling: not many are wise from a human perspective, not many powerful, not many of noble birth. Instead, God has chosen the world’s foolish things to shame the wise, and God has chosen the world’s weak things to shame the strong.” Certainly there is nothing in our background that would make someone believe that we would be the logical choice to lead this important area of LWI’s work. I had spent 30 years involved with sales and management in the insurance industry, and Rita had spent most of her time raising our two children. However, as we sought to follow God’s direction, He was faithful and richly blessed this work. I was the first to become involved with LWI when I was asked to serve on the board of directors in 1997. Because I had no real knowledge of the drilling process, I decided to go through LWI’s new training program in 1998. The first drill training course had been conducted in November of 1997, focusing primarily on training volunteers for a sister ministry out of California. The experience of being able to take a piece of dry earth and in a day or two change it into a water source immediately captured my heart, and God began to call me into His work. The next year, Rita began to get involved, first helping with all the critical behind the scenes tasks, and later going through the training herself. She too felt a strong call to greater involvement, and by the start of 2000, we had gone from helping with the training courses to directing them. From these very humble beginnings, God has done more than we could possibly have imagined. We have grown from conducting a training course three to four times a year to leading training courses at least once a month. In addition, training has grown to include not just shallow well drilling, but also hand pump repair and basic hygiene education. Over the years, more than 1,000 people have come through LWI’s training programs, and God has called many into greater involvement. Some have become supporters of LWI’s work and have helped form LWI volunteer chapters; some have started their own training programs or field work; and in at least two cases, people have come to our training courses as a spiritual seeker and left a believer in Jesus Christ. In addition, this flow of volunteers led us to start taking mission trips in order to allow people to apply their training in the mission field. Rita and I led the first trip to Guatemala in September 2001. Since that first trip, mission trip activity has grown to the point that 45 trips are currently scheduled for 2007 to El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Rita and I are sometimes asked if we ever grow tired of all the trips and trainings. Our answer is always: “No.” The reason is that we never get tired of seeing what we call the “gotcha moment,” that moment when you can clearly see God placing a call on someone’s life. We see it in the excited eyes of a trainee when they realize they can actually drill a water well, and we see it in the tear-filled eyes of a trip member as they watch a child’s joy in being able to drink clean water for the first time. We are excited as we look back at what God has done and look forward to what He will accomplish in the future.

From these very humble beginnings, God has done more than we could possibly have imagined.

Top to bottom: Lew & Rita Hough; Setting the casing in the well; Health & hygiene class in Nicaragua; Repairing a pump

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TESTIFY TO LOVE:

“But I count my life of no value to myself, so that I may ﬁnish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of God’s grace.”

MISSION TRIP TESTIMONIES

Acts 20:24

Pat Reich GUATEMALA The joy of helping others do what they cannot do is always overwhelming. But the joy of learning, or relearning sometimes, is always exciting, too. This trip was special in many ways, but more than anything, it was humbling. It is so… incredible to see ﬁrst hand that God’s ways are not my ways and His purposes are not mine. I was so arrogant in my expectations of what we would accomplish, and I expected a well producing 30 or more gallons per hour. When that didn’t come, I questioned why God wouldn’t hear the cries of these poor people; especially since they had knelt in prayer around the well on two occasions that we knew of, and they had so little. I just assumed that they were disappointed in the well too. Yet they, unlike me at this point, were thankful for what the Lord was providing. As I looked at these people, the way they lived, everything, God allowed me to “see” that He is the one who provides for His people. Who was I to “say” what they needed, or how much, or anything! He knows what we need and provides it in due season. His grace and His provision are sufﬁcient. He is perfect in all of His ways. And if He promises us anything at all, happiness or anything, it is to be blessed in Him! His reign is forever! To Him be the glory!

Jeremy Newsom GUATEMALA

The thought of being on a trip with the primary goal of spreading the gospel was somewhat intimidating, as I don’t know Spanish and am far from a Bible scholar. What I learned is that God is big enough to use any of us when we give our time for His purposes. I think that the purpose of the whole trip was summed up when Santos said that he knew that the love we had for the villagers was God’s love. The message got through in spite of the cultural and language barriers. I will also remember the people in the village who had the ability to be content and trust in the Lord while having nothing. I know that not all of the people are Christians, but the people ﬁnd time to be happy (especially kids) when life is a ﬁght for survival. I think it is an important thing for all of us who are so blessed to see this.

VOICES OF HOPE

from the villages we’ve had the privilege to serve

“We had to go a long distance to bring water for our daily need. We were praying for a hand-pump in our area. The Lord has granted a hand pump for us, for which we are grateful and we praise the Lord. We thank you, too, for making this hand pump available to us.” Prabhavati from Pannugung, India

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“I am ﬁnding myself on a path that is bringing me closer to a relationship with God. The wells have helped me realize God’s love for me and for my people.” Maria Inocente from Hato Grande, Nicaragua

Kerrie Snow EL SALVADOR

I love being part of a team that forever changes the lives of people. We provide clean water through the well, helping their physical life, and have the opportunity to invest in their eternal life. What an awesome privilege! Every time the well pours out water for the ﬁrst time I get goose bumps. The LWI trips have changed the way I view hygiene. As a nurse I thought I understood hygiene, but I didn’t realize that basic hygiene, like hand washing or teaching ORS [oral rehydration solution], would have as big of an impact as high-tech, modern technology in medicine.

Rob Miner NICARAGUA

My experience with Living Water International has made changes in my life and most importantly, my kids’ lives. As a parent, I realize kids are inﬂuenced signiﬁcantly by how we conduct our lives. I got involved with LWI to show my two boys by example what is important, and that is that helping others is key to making a lasting difference in the world. I was moved to hear that the boys were telling all their friends at school what their dad was doing and that they could not wait until they were old enough to come along and HELP. To witness a town leader in Nicaragua break down and cry as well as raise his hands to praise God because he was so thankful for his new well — it was something I will never forget. In addition, the icing on the cake was that I met such wonderful, humble people from all over the country, all of them with a heart to help others. It made the trip a blast. I cannot wait to go again!

Anabella Bolivar EL SALVADOR

The LWI trip to El Salvador was for me an unforgettable experience. It renewed my spirit and strengthened my desire to help others. The children, especially, were a blessing and a joy to work with. In them I could see the Holy Spirit and came to understand the reason why this type of work is so worthwhile. They, after all, are the future.

When Divine Waters went to the Aminkec community, the well had broken down and was abandoned for over one year. People from this community had resorted to Okole River for their water supply, yet it is also where the livestock were drinking.…When the well was rehabilitated, the community was so happy, and they gave a live goat for the [drilling] crew…” Deleo Moses Ocen from Uganda

“... in this place there was not enough water for all our daily chores and what little we had is contaminated. Now with this well we will have enough water, healthy water. We give thanks to God because you are a bridge of hope by doing this well that we so much needed.” Allan Rivas from Santa Rita, Honduras www.water.cc

PIPELINE

The past fifteen years have been an incredible journey in the ministry of Living Water International. God has enabled many people to be a part of this journey, including me. In 1998, I was given a copy of Bob Buford’s book “Halftime” to read. In the book, the question was asked, “How do you want to be remembered? What do you want on your tombstone?” I couldn’t answer that question. In May of 1990, my wife, Sharon, and I joined a group of about 30 people on a mission trip to Kenya. It was a changing point in everyone’s lives. Like most people today, I had been exposed to the needs in Africa and other developing countries through television. You know the pictures: the thin, hollow, dirty faces of children covered with flies, their bellies bloated from disease. But, until I saw the need firsthand, I did not feel compelled to do anything. In fact, I felt there was nothing I could do, that my little bit of help would not make a difference. I finally realized what an incredible lie I believed. One person can make a difference, especially if the vision is passed on to another and another and so on.

SUDAN, 2000

14 PIPELINE

Fall 2006

WHAT DO YOU WANT ON YOUR TOMBSTONE?

s y Evan by Gar

RWANDA, 2006 Our mission teams were to conduct medical clinics, evangelism crusades, build simple church structures and drill a water well. As we drove up to the church site where the well would be drilled, there were two children playing in a mud hole filled with dirty, black water. For me, this was the beginning of Living Water International. Water is such a simple thing in America, something we take for granted. Over the years, as LWI was birthed and we sought to provide this most basic of human needs, we made many mistakes, learned many lessons. Through the failures and adversity, we would not give up. We were not satisfied any longer to turn our backs on those in desperate need. We determined to keep trying, and in 1994, LWI successfully drilled our first good well. The Scripture that God kept bringing to my mind during these years was in James 1:27, which reads, “Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” There are many widows and orphans in the developing countries of the world. The need is still incredible, but we have made a difference, and to God be the glory. In 2000, I was in Sudan, where a group of young children gathered around a water hole. One particular young boy was standing in the group completely naked. Again, I was reminded of Jesus words, “For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you took care of Me; I was in prison and you visited Me” (Matt 25:35-36). During this same trip, I read the tombstone of a missionary who had died in 1936. It read, “He preached unto them Jesus.” In a split second, the Lord said, “Now you know what My plans are for you.” My whole life since then has become sharing a cup of water in Jesus’ name. What do I want on my tombstone? “He gave a cup of water in Jesus’ name.”

A GOD-SIZED VISION

by Jerry Wiles

I recently read an article written for nonproﬁts. The article challenged nonproﬁt boards to “think big” and to consider their dreams for the future. LWI has a God-sized vision, to reach the world with water and the Word. As you can imagine, the needs and opportunities around the world are great. We have had requests to help in Indonesia, Pakistan, China, Vietnam, Rwanda, Mozambique, Zambia, Moldova, Papau New Guinea and Brazil. We would appreciate you joining us in praying for the following:

Indonesia is a country suffering from the effects of natural disasters: a tsunami in December 2004, a major earthquake in May 2006 and regularly active volcanoes. Water and housing continue to be the most urgent of needs, with the elderly and children suffering the most. LWI has an opportunity to partner with a national aid agency called Pondok Kasih (House of Love) to help meet the need for clean, safe drinking water.

Pakistan is another country that suffered a large earthquake in 2005. God has opened many doors for the gospel through these disasters, and Pakistani Christians living in the USA want desperately to help their families and brothers and sisters in Christ. LWI has had many calls and e-mails asking us to consider them in our budget.

Gary Evans and Bruce Whitmire recently returned from Rwanda and Zambia. Rwanda is a country rebuilding after the genocide of 1994. In the capital city of Kigali, water is being rationed. You can imagine the needs in the rural villages. Although surface water is readily available, it is not ﬁt to drink. LWI met with a couple in Rwanda ready to take on the water ministry. He was a professional driller in the states before going to minister in Rwanda. LWI is in need of funds to purchase a drill rig, compressor, trucks and supplies to start this ministry. An estimated $1.5 million will enable us to purchase the necessary equipment and supplies and, over a three year period, drill approximately 175 wells. While in Zambia, they met with Water for the Oppressed. They have secured funding to purchase a drill rig. However, they are in need of funds to purchase a compressor and other supplies. LWI would like to partner with this ministry to furnish the other equipment and supplies, as well as funding projects on an annual basis.

Harry Westmoreland recently traveled to Mozambique to survey the possibilities of an LWI partnership to work with the Tonga tribe. This tribe, who primarily speak Portuguese, are suspicious and very reserved due to years of civil war that ended in the 1990s.

Other needs include refurbishing a drill rig for the Gulliksons in Honduras, new drill rigs for the work in Indonesia, two boats for the Heads in Peru, a truck for Tanzania and a vehicle for Nicaragua.

INDONESIA

The list could go on, but know that your investment in LWI is helping to reach the world with water and the Word. Your prayers and ﬁnancial support are helping save lives and change destinies every day. One of our greatest needs — or rather opportunities — is getting more people involved. We always need more prayer, more volunteers and more money because of the needs of the people we are seeking to reach and serve. You can help secure the future and expand the impact of LWI by being a Goodwill Ambassador. Help share the vision with family, neighbors, friends, co-workers and fellow church members. You can pass this newsletter along to someone else. Direct people to our website, www.water.cc. Distribute LWI brochures (let us know and we will send you a supply). Every little effort can make a difference in someone’s life.

www.water.cc

PIPELINE

Join us for

Living Water International’s

2006 GALA & 15 YEAR CELEBRATION With special musical guest

WATERMARK Help us celebrate 15 years of sharing water and the Word with the world! LWI’s 2006 GALA FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3 InterContinental Hotel, Houston, Texas 6 PM Reception 7 PM Dinner 15 YEAR CELEBRATION SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4 LWI Ofﬁce, Stafford, Texas 10:30 AM - 1:30 PM Brunch For more information go to www.water.cc or call toll free 877.594.4426.

COME I T I T I T I T I T 15 YEARS OF SHARING WATER & THE WORD

Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, he should come to Me and drink! The one who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, will have streams of living water ﬂow from deep within him.” John 7:37-38

NOVEMBER 3-4, 2006 NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

SUGAR LAND, TX PERMIT NO. 298

PO Box 35496 Houston, TX 77235-5496 877.594.4426 info@water.cc