Clean water for God's thirsty children
A Wonderful Light at the End of the Year,
Bringing Great Hope
For the Future
We are being overwhelmed by your generosity.

With the donations coming in at the end of 2020, we have surpassed the total contributions received in 2019.

This is the sort of moment where we pause, take a deep breath, and let out a heartfelt “Glory to God in the highest! ...and on earth, peace, and clean water for God's thirsty children.”

This has been an extraordinary year of support and grace for our mission. I thank God for all of you, from the bottom of my heart. There was a long stretch when it seemed we would just be happy to receive enough support to stay afloat, and honestly, until recently I was excited just to think we might come close to last year. I did not dare to dream we would regain the ground we had lost...but God is the biggest dreamer of us all.

There was a long stretch of nearly five months when the pandemic forced us to suspend our field operations. We can give glory to God as well that we’ve been back in the field since late July, so that 10,950 mothers are now new Water Women, providing clean water to nearly 44,000 families.

That’s the real measure of success... many more children are drinking clean water today than this time last year.

The founder of my Ursuline Order, Angela Merici, had great confidence in God. She wrote: “Act, move, believe, cry out to God with all your heart…then without doubt, you will see marvelous things.”

As 2020 draws to a close, I thank God for you who have stood with us, and helped us meet the challenge: acting, moving, believing, crying out in prayer. Without doubt, we have seen marvelous things.

May God pour blessings on each of you and all of your families for a healthy and Happy New Year.

Sr. Larraine
Please Join Us For A Special New Year's Day Coffee Chat

Just as we mentioned last week, we know that with health concerns and travel restrictions, many of you are by yourselves during this holiday season. With that in mind, let’s all get together to ring in the New at Noon this Friday, January 1.

Along with providing a close to official year-end tally of contributions, Sr. Larraine will have an important announcement to make regarding our exciting plans for 2021, when we will be Makin’ Our Move For Hope!

We'll be joined by Dr. Jim Cobban, Pastor of First Baptist Church (Middletown, Kentucky), talking about his congregation’s support for Water With Blessings.

So grab a beverage (warm or cold, depending on your local climate), fire up your computer or other electronic device, and celebrate with us a successful 2020 and a hope-filled 2021.
Our fundraising success means more clean water for God’s thirsty children in the new year

Finding tax relief
at the end of the year

Remember that there are ways of giving that can reduce your 2020 tax burden. Whether you are worried about capital gains, received disbursements you would like to share, or have the ability to make a major gift, please consider Water With Blessings.

If you would like more information, please contact Rebecca Stutsman, our Chief Development Officer. Her phone number is (502) 939-7312. Also, check with your financial advisor to confirm your giving capacity.

Thank you for investing in Water With Blessings.

As always, please consider telling your friends about us.

Many of our friends who receive this newsletter are passing it along to family and friends, and we are getting new subscribers each week. We thank you for doing that, and encourage others to do the same.
You never know -- perhaps they would want to join you in providing
clean water for God's thirsty children.

And you can make a long-term impact by clicking the link below to become a sustaining donor to Water With Blessings. By giving $12.50 each month, you can sponsor two new Water Women each year.

We'll be sure to send you information on seeing where your Water Women live and the impact your gift is making.
Meet the WWB Staff
Steve Stratton
WWB Advocate

Like many others, when Steve Stratton retired, he began looking for something part-time to supplement his income. But he was also looking for something meaningful.

Around that time, Water With Blessings had a couple of positions open, and Sr. Larraine contacted the Pastor at First Baptist Church in Middletown, Kentucky, looking for people who might be interested in joining the staff.

“It was a Godsend, I think,” Steve said. “Sister had grown up around our Church, so I knew her from years ago. She was looking for an accounts-payable person, which fit my background – among other things, I had worked as a leasing manager and receivables manager. I applied, but when I went to talk with her there was another position open in shipping, so I took that.

“It really grew on me. At first it may have been just a job. But seeing the need, the children around the world suffering and dying because they have no clean water – it tugs at your heart strings. I got a passion for it. It becomes a part of you, and makes you appreciate what you have. The things we take for granted here, as basic as clean water, are a luxury for so many people.”

Steve encourages others to support and volunteer with Water With Blessings.

“The need becomes an eye-opening story and grabs you,” he said. “If you have any kind of heart and soul, you’re going to want to serve. We have volunteers who come in just to help one time, but once they see what we’re getting done, they want to do more.

“We cannot cure the problem, but we need to do our part, following our mission guidelines. We do the best we can with the resources we have to work with. But when you see what you can do, how it makes a difference, you’re just thankful.”
Why We Support
Water With Blessings
Dr. Jim Cobban, Pastor
First Baptist Church
Middletown, Kentucky

For 21 years, Dr. Jim Cobban has served as Senior Pastor at First Baptist Church in Middletown, Kentucky, which sits across the street from the Water With Blessings office. And as she was growing up, First Baptist played a crucial in the spiritual life of Sr. Larraine Lauter.

“She lived in the neighborhood,” Dr. Cobban said. “On Wednesday evenings she came to supper, went through mission training for children, and attended Vacation Bible School. I had been here for several years and met her through the Chamber of Commerce when she showed up with this new thing she was starting.

“We invited her to come and make a presentation to the Church, and people sat there in horror when I drank the filtered water that had come out of Floyd’s Fork. The Church fell in love with her. Some of our members have gone on to work there, and others have gone on mission trips with Sister.”

First Baptist often hosts Water With Blessings events, and also provides financial support.

“We made a three-year commitment to include Water With Blessings in our October Missions Offering,” he said. “We give them 10% of everything we receive. We do it because we know Sister and trust her determination and her heart.

“We love her and what she does. In October of 2019 she came and preached to us one Sunday. We try to share what we have with her, to enable her to do this important work.”

And there is the interfaith connection as well.

“Everyone calls her a Batholic,” he said. “Those Baptist potluck dinners have settled into her bones.”
Calling Our Crafters: Help Us Cover Those Filters

As we mentioned last week, with the tremendous response to our pleas for help, our supply of crafted filter covers is starting to shrink. Several months ago we thought we had enough to last for a long time. But with our success around the world, and the urgent need in Central America and Haiti, we need more now.

The Water Women love these colorful covers, and we have always appreciated the creativity of our Water With Blessings crafting community. To find out how to help, please click on the button below. Thank you again for your help.
We believe every child should be drinking clean water. Are you with us?
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