Lifewater Canada
457 Heather Cres P7E 5L1 Thunder Bay, ON, Canada

COVID-19 hasn't stopped Lifewater donors from providing safe water in the developing world, including through a recent project in Haiti in which dozens of broken handpumps were repaired. These photos show workers repairing a pump, and children gathering water from the well after the pump is functioning again. Every new well, and every repaired pump that makes a well useful again, provides more water sources and lessens the need during the pandemic for people to crowd together for their water. Help struggling people in Haiti and Africa get access to safe water -- and avoid COVID-19. Donate to Lifewater Canada today.

Today (Oct. 15) is Global Handwashing Day 24 hours set aside to highlight the year-round importance of proper handwashing. Doing it right includes using soap, and washing at critical moments during the day such as after using a toilet or before preparing food or eating. COVID-19 has made all of us much more focused on proper handwashing. But how would we wash our hands if we didn’t have water? That’s what Lifewater Canada is all about meeting people’s desperate need for water in Africa and Haiti. Why not recognize Global Handwashing Day by donating to Lifewater Canada today? You can donate online, by phone, by mail, or through other options including your local United Way. https://www.lifewater.ca/?ID=63&Language=ENG

The employees and volunteers of Association Lifewater d’Haiti, which is an arm of and funded by Lifewater Canada and its donors, emailed us this week to say they are honoring Lifewater founder Jim Gehrels by painting his portrait beside the entrance gates to the work compound in Haiti. Jim died suddenly on July 28 after suffering a cardiac arrest. The work of the organization that he founded in 1995 has finished more than 1,916 drilling projects in Haiti and Africa so far p...roviding safe, accessible water to almost one million people. Jim’s portrait in Haiti reminds this active team of the time, effort, and energy he and other volunteers invested in training and equipping to continue his legacy by drilling new wells and repairing broken pumps in many rural Haitian communities. These vital projects in Haiti and Africa ensure that local people no longer need to constantly battle diarrheal diseases while drinking water from stagnant ponds and other contaminated sources. When we asked our friends and colleagues in Haiti why they painted the portrait of Jim so prominently, they deeply touched our hearts when they told us: Lifewater Haiti decided to honor our boss, friend, and brother in Christ. We want to see him every day we come to the compound. God bless you, Jim. We are thankful to continue your work in your name and the name of Jesus Christ.

As Jim and I often said, time passes like a raging river and so it has. 8 days ago Jim went home, leaving behind blind eyes and the frustrations that he constantly had to overcame on a daily basis. Today I found this note he had written, as I was going through papers. It is written to all who knew him, all who worked with him and volunteered with Lifewater, to all who generously stood behind his vision with donations and support. "In the past years, I have had the priveleg...e of meeting many gracious and wonderful people, here and abroad. It is impossible to acknowledge and thank everyone though I would try. I treasure each and everyone of you, and I value the journey we are on, giving children the gift of water and a healthy future." Because of Jim's vision to train and equip, the teams overseas continue to work. He will be missed, but his legacy will continue and the water will continue to flow freely to those in need. If any would like to see his celebration of life service, it is up on the www.lifewater.ca website. Thank you.

With great joy, I am pleased to say that our teams overseas are able to continue to work. Reports are starting to come in and water continues to flow to those in need. Not all the news is good though. COVID affects us all, but in Kenya, food supplies are scarce, people are blessed to have 1 meal a day! People are not able to work, schools closed; the nation is suffering. We have sent funding there to be able to establish tanks holding disinfectant for people to access. Th...ese are being placed at clinics and by Lifewater wells, A push is on to install water catchement systems feeding into large tanks so there is enough water to wash hands and drink.. We are also sending teams out to do maintenance on handpumps to make sure all are in good working order. These are good steps to helping this nation in this time. If you would like to help, please contact me at [email protected] or give on line at https://www.lifewater.ca/?ID=63&Language=ENG See more