Pause for a moment and imagine that, instead of spending time with family during the holidays, you are left with an urgent choice. You must either flee your home to an unfamiliar place or keep your family in imminent danger. 

This is the choice that refugees often face. Just as Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus were forced to flee to Egypt, parents around the world today must flee violence, disasters, and traumatic events. They often leave everything behind and escape carrying only their small children. 

Few people know more about earthly sorrows than refugees. When refugees reach safety, they are often faced with unexpected learning curves:  learning new languages and becoming familiar with cultural customs. Most remain in refugee settings for more than 10 years, including Maria and her family. 

Maria’s parents fled Congo more than 20 years ago, and she was born in the Nyarugusu refugee camp a year later. When we spoke with Maria, she told us that water was always a challenge in the camp. But in 2015, a political crisis in Burundi led to an influx of an additional hundred thousand refugees, which made the resource even more scarce. 

There simply was not enough water to meet everyone’s needs in the camp. Maria and other refugees would spend hours fetching water that was contaminated and made them sick.  

Today, because of the generosity of friends like you, safe water is flowing for all 150,000 refugees in the camp. Your faithful support allowed Water Mission to install innovative solar-powered pumping and water treatment solutions. This means Maria and her new baby, Margaret, have safe water available close to home. 

“When Margaret and I wake up healthy, I count that as a blessing,” Maria says joyfully. “We can bathe. We can wash our clothes. We can wash dishes. Since the presence of the water project, everything has been good. Health is very much improved.” 

Safe water means new mothers, like Maria, can praise the Lord for the blessing of healthy, happy children. It also provides opportunities for refugees and others in need to experience the joy that comes only from a saving relationship with Jesus Christ.  

As you celebrate the joy of our Savior’s birth this Christmas, consider blessing families like Maria’s with safe and Living Water.  

Your Christmas gift brings joy to the world’s most vulnerable people. 

GIVE TODAY

The post Safe Water for Refugee Mothers: An Answer to Prayer  appeared first on Water Mission.

As Christmas nears, we celebrate the joy of our Savior’s birth. We also remember those around the world who await the life-changing joy of safe water and the Living Water message of Jesus Christ. 

In Nyarugusu refugee camp in Tanzania, our team has installed safe water solutions that have brought joy and health to some of the world’s most vulnerable people. Maria and her one-year-old daughter Margaret are two such people.  

Maria was born in the refugee camp over two decades ago after her parents fled Congo. Before Water Mission came, she used to spend four hours each day collecting water. Unfortunately, the water she collected often made her sick. 

Because of friends like you who care about people like Maria, we were able to build a safe water solution to serve the entire camp—more than 150,000 refugees. 

“When we started using water from the tap stand, I was very happy,” Maria says. “We can bathe. We can wash our clothes. We can wash dishes. Since the presence of the water project, everything has been good. Health is very much improved.” 

The blessing of safe water was especially evident for Maria after her baby daughter, Margaret, was born last year.  

“I’ve never had any issues with my baby having a waterborne illness. I am a Christian, and Margaret is one of my blessings. God has blessed me in so many ways. When Margaret and I wake up healthy, I count that as a blessing every single day.” 

Safe water builds joy. Access to clean, safe water means new mothers like Maria can experience the blessing of seeing their babies wake up healthy every morning. It means little ones like Margaret can experience the joys of childhood. 

During this Christmas season, consider blessing families like Maria’s with the gift of safe water and the Living Water message of our Savior, Jesus Christ.   

GIVE TODAY 

The post Give the Joy of Safe Water This Christmas appeared first on Water Mission.

Few people can understand the pain and suffering refugees experience when forced from their homes. Whether fleeing from violence, natural disasters, or other traumatic events, families leave their lives behind in search of safety. 

The emotional burden is heavy, leaving mothers like Mary heartbroken and angry. She is a refugee from South Sudan, a nation that has endured years of violence and turmoil.

“I lost two of my children to the hopeless war,” Mary shared with our team. “I came to the [refugee] settlement with negative thoughts and bitter hate in my heart.” 

This level of trauma can destroy families, faith, self-worth, and, most importantly, a connection to God. If not addressed, trauma can be a mortal wound to the soul and create a barrier to hearing the gospel. 

“I told my elder children to join a militia group and kill any [rival group member] they could find,” Mary continued. “I cannot imagine how much pain they have caused others.” 

Water Mission’s ministry work in refugee communities focuses on physical and spiritual restoration. We meet physical needs by providing clean, safe water and spiritual needs through sharing the Living Water of Jesus Christ.  

In partnership with Concordia Lutheran Ministries, Water Mission is involved in the Northern Uganda Refugee Trauma Healing Project. This biblically based initiative promotes forgiveness and reconciliation.  

Facilitators encouraged refugees to take their pain to Christ, who died on the cross for our sin and everything sin brings with it: death, pain, sickness, conflict, and abuse. The training focuses on helping refugees who have gone through horrific experiences start a grieving process. The goal is that refugees experience healing and can begin to rebuild their lives and communities. The goal is to comfort those who mourn and heal the brokenhearted. 

A total of 150 church leaders were equipped during this training in March. They learned to facilitate trauma healing in their church communities and are actively sharing through their churches in both corporate worship and small group bible studies.  

As these church leaders bless their communities, refugees like Mary are experiencing Christ’s restoration.  

“This conference has made a difference in me,” Mary shared, telling us that she plans to call her children home from fighting with the militia.  

Walking alongside refugees as they grieve and process pain is essential to trauma healing. Such restoration allows individuals to express their feelings openly to God, encourages refugees to rely on Christ, and equips them with resources to help others heal.  

GIVE SAFE WATER

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How Reliable Access to Safe Water is Transforming Livelihoods in Chikola 

Time is precious. With enough of it, people have the opportunity to achieve their dreams.  

For Helena, a 16-year-old in Chikola, Tanzania, time was rarely on her side. Like many women and children around the world, Helena was responsible for walking long distances to fetch water for her family. 

Every morning, she would spend two to three hours traveling from her home, standing in line, filling her jerry cans, and trekking back. This is time that could be spent receiving an education or chasing her dream of having a farm of her own.   

“Girls in my community face challenges because they have to go fetch water before they go to school. So, most times, they are either late or unable to make it to school,” she says. “The water is very scarce. Sometimes girls are able to get to the well, but there is a long queue, and they are unable to get water in time [to get to school].” 

Collecting water so far away puts young women like Helena in dangerous situations. It also takes away valuable time from school and other activities. 

Like young women everywhere, Helena dreams of a prosperous future and knows that both time and access to safe water play an important role in her success. She says she loves her community and wants to stay there and have a farm of her own. 

“With farming, you have to go fetch water before you can work on the farm,” Helena says. “With water close by, you can just get the water and start working.” 

No matter an individual’s dream or aspiration, the gift of time and access to safe water play an integral role in a person’s future. 

Thanks to the monthly support from our Thirst Quenchers, more than 7 million people around the world have access to safe, clean water.  

GIVE TODAY

The post With Time on Her Side, Helena’s Dreams Can Become a Reality  appeared first on Water Mission.

Charleston Magazine featured us in its December 2021 issue. Read the full article below.

In 1998, Molly and George Greene developed a water treatment system to aid people in Honduras in the wake of Hurricane Mitch. Three years later, the couple founded Water Mission as a faith-based nonprofit. Though Molly passed away in a drowning accident in 2019, her husband and son and their staff, now 400 people and counting, continue to carry out the vision: “That all people would have access to safe water and the opportunity to experience God’s love.” 

Continue reading the full Charleston Magazine article here

GIVE TODAY 

The post An Outpouring of Love appeared first on Water Mission.

For the community of Sur de Guillen, Mexico, safe water was a resource many families prayed for. When Water Mission answered God’s call to implement a safe water solution at a local church in 2020, residents witnessed a transformation in physical and spiritual well-being.  

Water Mission serves our global neighbors, regardless of their faith. Believers and unbelievers alike rely on the safe water provided at the church in Sur de Guillen, including Floridalma, a mother of six and grandmother of seven. 

“I have used Water Mission water since the project was commissioned,” she shared. “It’s a great blessing for us because all my family is consuming water that is good quality.” 

When she began retrieving safe water from the church, Floridalma was not a Christian. But when she fell ill, her perspective shifted. The next time she went to the local church, she sought something more than safe water—she went in search of God’s guidance. 

She asked the pastor to pray with her. After praying together, the Lord answered, and she recovered from her illness. After this experience, Floridalma kept coming back to church, now for the Living Water of Jesus Christ. She became a Christian and shared her faith with her family, who eventually also found salvation in Christ. 

“I have seen the hand of God over our family,” she said. “I’m so happy to see all my family on the path of righteousness.” 

Wherever Water Mission serves, our vision is that all people have safe water and the opportunity to experience God’s love. We believe the Lord is concerned about the physical and spiritual well-being of all people.  

Safe water access in Sur de Guillen made that possible for Floridalma. 

“Jesus is my father and is the source of my life, I trust in Him,” she said. “He is my everything. I will never leave Him because I need Him in my life.” 

Give Now

The post Sharing the Good News in Mexico appeared first on Water Mission.

This article below appears as it does in the print edition of the Summer 2022 Newsletter. For the latest updates on Water Mission’s crisis response in Ukraine, click here. 

The conflict in Ukraine has left more than 6 million people in Ukraine struggling to access safe water. Without reliable water sources for their families, people have resorted to desperate measures, often filling buckets, gas cans, and plastic bags with unsafe water from streams and waterways.  

Water Mission is on the ground working to meet safe water, sanitation, and hygiene needs. We have shipped emergency water treatment equipment and water purification supplies to get safe water flowing in multiple cities in Ukraine. We are also distributing hygiene kits for refugees and those displaced inside Ukraine to help people stay healthy.  

“These hygiene kits are small boxes of hope,” says Craig Williams from our Partnerships and Emergency Coordination team. “They contain basic sanitary supplies—toilet paper, toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap—and are sent into Ukraine for women and children who have fled their homes. These supplies can make their lives easier.”  

We continue to partner with local churches to address physical and spiritual needs, bringing the reassurance of God’s love to those who have experienced tremendous loss. Our local church partners share stories of refugees, young and old, who have given their lives to Christ after witnessing how Christians are serving in His name.   

“Your God will be my God,” a 67-year-old Ukrainian refugee shared about her salvation, “because what you’ve done for me, the care and love you’ve shown, is more than I ever expected from people that are not my people, in a country that’s not mine.” 

Please pray for the men, women, and children of Ukraine. Pray also for our team working in Ukraine and the surrounding region; may God protect and guide them in this vital service. May we continue to bring hope to our global neighbors in their time of greatest need, serving as an example of our Lord’s great love. No matter how great the need, our God’s love is greater.    

Give Now

The post Ukraine Crisis Response appeared first on Water Mission.

In honor of World Refugee Day, we are publishing this story from the Water Mission 2022 Summer Newsletter on June 20. This year, World Refugee Day focuses on every person’s right to seek safety. We are honored to provide those seeking safety with one of life’s most important resources, safe water. 

“World Refugee Day is an international day designated by the United Nations to honour refugees around the globe. It falls each year on June 20 and celebrates the strength and courage of people who have been forced to flee their home country to escape conflict or persecution. World Refugee Day is an occasion to build empathy and understanding for their plight and to recognize their resilience in rebuilding their lives.”

—UNHCR 

Dzaleka refugee camp lies just north of Water Mission’s office in Lilongwe, Malawi. Built in the late-1990s, the settlement provided refuge to thousands of people fleeing violence in Burundi, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. At the time, its capacity was between 10,000 and 14,000 people. With a recent influx of refugees, Dzaleka now houses more than four times that number of people. Because of this, the camp infrastructure is stretched beyond capacity. 

With the steadily rising population in Dzaleka, one of the biggest concerns was access to safe water. Safe, treated water is essential to prevent the spread of waterborne illnesses in refugee camps. It also provides the foundation for supporting other critical services, such as food distribution and medical-related needs. 

Because of our proven track record of building best-in-class safe water solutions in other refugee settings, we were invited to assess the situation in Dzaleka. We then provided our recommendations to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).   

“As part of our initial assessment, we identified that there was no water treatment happening in the camp,” shared Nathan Schneider, Water Mission’s project manager for East Africa. 

Because even clear water can contain deadly bacteria and other contaminants, Water Mission’s report to UNHCR recommended improvements to the water systems, including the addition of residual chlorine dosing systems. On December 8, Water Mission was asked to move forward with implementing our recommendations. Because safe water saves lives, we mobilized quickly and, within just a few weeks, completed the system upgrades. 

“It was a short time to execute,” Nathan said, “but the Malawi team worked through the Christmas holiday to ensure this project was done well.”  

Our team retrofitted existing water systems with erosion chlorinators to treat the water. The safe, treated water is then distributed to men, women, and children in the settlement. This project serves more than 25,000 people and is the first verified safe water solution in Dzaleka.  

Appropriate engineering design takes into account geographical and cultural context, as well as supply chain limitations. The chlorination systems we installed in Dzaleka are ideal for rural settings because they do not require electricity, are easily transported, and are simple to operate.  

Water Mission first started working with refugees in 2013, and today has major initiatives supporting refugees in Western Tanzania and Northern Uganda. With the Lord’s provision and because of faithful partners who come alongside us, we have provided safe water, sanitation, and hygiene solutions for hundreds of thousands of refugees. 

Water Mission is honored to work with UNHCR and Welthungerhilfe to fight the global water crisis and serve refugees. According to UNHCR, there are more than 84 million forcibly displaced people worldwide—a devastating statistic that continues to grow each year. 

Serving in vulnerable communities like Dzaleka is an incredible opportunity to show God’s love to our neighbors. By providing one of life’s most important resources, safe water, we can help refugees have a chance to lead healthier and more prosperous lives. 

give today

The post 2022 World Refugee Day: Safe Water for Refugees appeared first on Water Mission.

God calls each of us to use our talent and treasure to serve others. Whether this means giving to certain causes, volunteering in our communities, or working at our jobs, these callings are unique and don’t necessarily fit a specific mold. 

“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.”

—1 Peter 4:10-11

For former college baseball player Kyle Hanlon, his passion is to help end the global water crisis that impacts 2.2 billion people. 

Hanlon partners with Water Mission to help provide safe water, sanitation, and hygiene solutions for people in developing countries, refugee camps, and disaster areas. In 2019, he joined professional baseball players Jason Standridge and Blaine Boyer to travel to Uganda with Water Mission. Former MLB player and current Water Mission staff member, Scott Linebrink, led the vision trip. The group visited the Bidibidi refugee settlement, where Hanlon witnessed the global water crisis in person for the first time.  

“Hearing the various stories that were shared with us [during the visit to Bidibidi], from villages being raided to young children and women being slaughtered—the things that these people are going through are absolutely unimaginable,” Hanlon shared. 

While the settlement now has reliable access to safe water, the stories he heard impacted him deeply.  

Many of the residents in Bidibidi sought refuge from South Sudan, a war-torn country that is still enduring turmoil and strife.  

“Before coming [to Bidibidi], I lost my child and my husband,” said Mary Yangi, a South Sudanese refugee living in Bidibidi. “After my husband died, I asked myself, ‘From here, what do I do?’ I had to be strong in my faith so I could manage.” 

So much of what refugees witness in their lifetime is laced with tragedy and sorrow. Through trauma healing seminars, Water Mission walks alongside those who are suffering to share God’s abundant love, grace, and healing power.  

“Being in the refugee settlement has been eye-opening—the dire need for necessities like water and shelter and how life-changing it is,” Hanlon said. “When we see these people with true joy for the access to clean and safe drinking water for the first time in their lives.” 

Hanlon first got involved with Water Mission through his family members, who are long-time friends of the safe water charity. The trip to Uganda in 2019 was “transformational” for him—moved by the faith of the individuals he met in Bidibidi. He later shared with us that days before being invited on the trip, he prayed that God would give him an opportunity to expand his faith. This trip was that opportunity. 

Today, Hanlon is heavily invested in the sanitation portion of our work, as nearly 4.2 billion lack access to a safe place to use the restroom. His prayerful support is making a difference.  

No matter where you may find yourself in this season of life, consider using your time, talent, and treasure to serve others with safe water and sanitation solutions. 

Learn more about how you can get involved at Water Mission at watermission.org/get-involved. 

GET INVOLVED

The post Using Your Time, Talent, and Treasure to Serve Others  appeared first on Water Mission.

May 6, 2022

Ukrainian news report shares about Water Mission’s safe water systems arriving to get water flowing (in Ukrainian with English subtitles).

The escalating conflict in Ukraine has left more than 6 million people in Ukraine struggling to access safe water. Water Mission is on the ground working to meet safe water, sanitation, and hygiene needs. We have sent emergency water treatment equipment and water purification supplies to get safe water flowing for men, women, and children. Water Mission is currently one of few nonprofits producing water in multiple cities in Ukraine.    

We are also distributing hygiene kits for refugees and those inside Ukraine to help people stay healthy amid crowded conditions. We continue to partner with local churches to address physical and spiritual needs, bringing the reassurance of God’s love to those who have experienced tremendous loss. 

Moved by the plight of our brothers and sisters, former Major League Baseball player, Adam LaRoche, has generously offered to match all gifts to Water Mission’s Ukraine response, up to $125,000, through his foundation, E3. 

Please pray for the men, women, and children of Ukraine. Pray also for our team working in Ukraine and the surrounding region to get safe water flowing; may God protect and guide them in this vital service. May we continue to bring hope to our global neighbors in their time of greatest need, serving as an example of our Lord’s great love. No matter how great the need, our God’s love is greater. 

Double your impact by supporting Water Mission’s relief efforts during this generous match by clicking the button below. 

GIVE TODAY

April 27, 2022  

The escalating conflict in Ukraine has triggered an exodus of people seeking refuge elsewhere in the region. Tragically, more than 3 million Ukrainians have been forced to flee, and the vast majority of these refugees are women and children.  

Water Mission has been on the ground serving refugees in Eastern Europe since the first days of the crisis. We are partnering with local churches and civic groups to help with evacuations and meet physical needs, such as safe water, sanitation, hygiene, meals, shelter, and more. We are also working to meet emotional needs, bringing the hope of God’s love to those who have experienced tremendous loss. We are printing Bibles in Ukrainian and providing biblical trauma healing resources for people still in Ukraine, refugees, and church leaders ministering to those impacted by the crisis.  

Thanks to generous friends like you, we are thrilled to have met an initial $50,000 match. On March 21, two more generous partners promised to match an additional $125,000 in gifts to our Ukraine response. If you have been considering blessing those displaced by the crisis in Ukraine, please consider doubling your impact today. Your gift will bring hope amid this heartbreaking tragedy.  

In addition to meeting physical and emotional needs, your gift helps us provide emergency safe water systems and technical expertise to our partners serving displaced people in Ukraine. We are also coordinating with other aid organizations to prepare for recovery efforts, such as repairing municipal water systems, once the conflict ends.  

Water Mission is a safe water charity with more than 20 years of experience responding to natural disasters and humanitarian crises. We’ve served hundreds of thousands of refugees in Tanzania, Uganda, and Malawi. In each response, our team is there to reassure survivors that God is with them.  

GIVE TODAY

March 21, 2022 

More than 3 million Ukrainians have been forced to flee Ukraine in the last 20 days due to the escalating conflict, according to the UN’s International Organization for Migration. That’s more than 150,000 people per day—and the vast majority of these refugees are women and children.  

Water Mission has been on the ground serving refugees in Eastern Europe since the first days of the crisis. We are partnering with local churches and civic groups to help with evacuations and meet physical needs, such as safe water, sanitation, hygiene, meals, shelter, and more. We are also working to meet emotional needs, bringing the hope of God’s love to those who have experienced tremendous loss. We are printing Bibles in Ukrainian and providing biblical trauma healing resources for people still in Ukraine, refugees, and church leaders ministering to those impacted by the crisis.  

Meeting immediate needs is crucial, but so is preparing for the coming weeks and months. With this in mind, a generous partner has pledged to match all gifts to our Ukraine response, up to $50,000.   

In addition to meeting physical and emotional needs, these gifts will support our efforts to ship emergency safe water systems and supplies to Eastern Europe. We are providing technical expertise, training, and support to our partners serving displaced people in Ukraine. We are also coordinating with other aid organizations to prepare for recovery efforts, such as repairing municipal water systems, once the conflict ends.  

Water Mission is a safe water charity with more than 20 years of experience responding to natural disasters and humanitarian crises. We’ve served hundreds of thousands of refugees in Tanzania, Uganda, and Malawi. In each response, our team is there to reassure survivors that God is with them.  

Your gift will bring hope amid this heartbreaking tragedy.     

GIVE TODAY

March 7, 2022 

The escalating conflict in Ukraine has triggered an exodus of people, primarily women and children, seeking refuge elsewhere in the region. Water Mission is actively working with partners and local churches to care for and serve these refugees.   

Within days, Water Mission sent two assessment teams to border crossings in Poland and Romania to evaluate refugees’ urgent needs. We are partnering with local churches near the Ukraine border to help meet refugees’ physical and emotional needs.   

In addition, Water Mission is proactively shipping emergency safe water systems and supplies to the region. There, the systems will be prepped to support relief and recovery efforts.     

As a safe water charity with more than 20 years of experience responding to natural disasters and humanitarian crises, Water Mission has a background in providing immediate and long-term solutions. We’ve served hundreds of thousands of refugees in Tanzania, Uganda, and Malawi. In each response, our team is there to reassure those dealing with overwhelming loss that God is with them.  

We are blessed to serve alongside the local church as the hands and feet of Jesus. Please join us in praying for these refugees, and for the churches converting their sanctuaries into shelters where refugees can find safe water, food, a warm place to sleep, and the hope of Jesus Christ.   

GIVE TODAY

February 28, 2022 

During the last week of February, Russia launched attacks against Ukraine. The escalating conflict and potential humanitarian crisis triggered an exodus of people seeking refuge elsewhere in the region.   

During any humanitarian crisis, safe water is critical to survival. It helps prevent the spread of waterborne illnesses, which are especially deadly to young children. Water Mission is responding by sending an assessment team to the region. We will evaluate the safe water, sanitation, and hygiene needs of those displaced by the crisis and discern how to best serve those impacted. 

With more than 20 years of experience as a safe water charity responding to natural disasters and humanitarian crises, Water Mission has an extensive background in providing immediate and long-term safe water solutions. In each response, our team is there to reassure those dealing with overwhelming loss that God is with them. 

Please pray for the people of Ukraine and the surrounding region, and for our staff responding to this urgent situation. We also invite you to consider supporting Water Mission’s relief efforts to bring safe water to those displaced by the conflict.  

GIVE TODAY

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