Water to Thrive

Dear Friends and Supporters,

Recently I returned from my first Water to Thrive trip to Ethiopia. While I was there I was able to visit many of the water projects that your gifts and contributions have made possible for the people of rural Ethiopia. My heart is forever touched, and changed.

I struggle now to find adequate words to tell you about this trip. It seems that words may never come close enough to adequately describing the joy that these communities now experience because of your kindness and willingness to create change through the gift of clean water.

If I could summarize the emotions and gratitude of the people into one word, it would be “halleluiah!” This proclamation was exclaimed over and over in many of the communities, as people gathered around to share in the joy and tears of the transformative gift of clean water.

I watched as women proudly walked up to a water faucet for the first time in their lives and turned it on. Seeing the water flow out of the faucet was somehow a new and intriguing experience even for me, as I watched and witnessed the reaction of those that had never used a faucet before. As the water filled the jerry can beneath it, I knew that the 45 pounds that a mother was about to hoist onto her back and carry home, was the first water that she would carry without the fear of quenching her child’s thirst with disease.

As we watched the fresh water flow for the first time in many communities, the people of the villages showered us with their elation and thanks, giving back to us in whatever ways they could. We were presented with flowers, coffee beans, corn stalks, and even native apparel. At each project we had the opportunity to sit down and exchange a few words with the community. Sometimes this was with only a handful of people, and other times there were over a thousand people.  We took these opportunities to recognize and lift up your contributions in making this possible. We communicated that we represent the thousands of people here in the United States that send their love, support, and faith in a better future for the people or rural Ethiopia.

Having witnessed the dire conditions for water, I have a deeper conviction than ever to continue to serve the rural poor in Africa that are in need of clean water. I need your help and continued support. We must not stop short of all that we can do. It only takes a small sacrifice on your part to make a monumental difference in the life of a person in rural Africa that is struggling each day to survive. Join me in the effort to carry this change forward in each day to come.

If you are not already actively supporting Water to Thrive as a “Friend,” then I ask that you become a Friend of Water to Thrive. When you become a Friend of W2T, you’ll receive news about our progress, invitations to special events, and more. Becoming a Friend is an automatic way of helping to change more lives through the gift of water. To become a “Friend,” simply refer to the end of this letter, detach the Friends Form and mail it back to us.

Thank you for supporting W2T. As we move through 2009, we have a few simple requests. We ask that you help us to continually be a voice for the world water crisis. We ask that you lift up our mission to others, pray for our project, get involved, and make a difference in the life of someone who needs your help.

With Hope and Gratitude,

Becky Turner

Program Director, Water to Thrive

As many of you know, Water to Thrive has expanded its reach to include projects Sierra Leone. We are working hard to raise funds for our first ten wells there and want to take this opportunity to thank Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Dallas for their wonderful support of our efforts. Thank you, Mount Olive, for helping us help our brothers and sisters in Sierra Leone!