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Click here to sign the guestbook
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December 29, 2011 - 10:12 AM
Jim Sorensen
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Had a great Christmas with family. Thought of all of you, and prayed you all had blessings with the coming of Jesus.
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October 21, 2011 - 07:29 AM
Jim Sorensen
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Bob and Bev Braun, and Jim and Carolyn Sorensen are pleased to be planning the next reunion. We thought that by scheduling it in February of 2013, some of you who live up north, would get an opportunity to get out of the snow for a while. Please keep in touch, and pray for peace to endure in Ethiopia.
Dick Moeller and three others left today for Ethiopia to view well sites and to assess communities who are soliciting wells. We have not yet reached our goal of funding a whole well, so keep soliciting funds toward the $5,000!
Jim
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June 30, 2011 - 07:07 PM
Leonard Flachman
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The reunion was a powerful event. The family bond is still there. The interest in and passion for Ethiopia still runs high. The offering was designated to "Water to Thrive" an NGO that was begun in Jim Sorenson's congregation to build wells in Ethiopia. We have half a well. If anyone wants more information or to contribute so that we reach the goal of a well, contact Jim Sorenson (His email is in a post to this site earlier).
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June 19, 2011 - 03:37 PM
Leonard Flachman
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The reunion is upon us. The plans are made. Only the last minute tasks remain, like killing the lamb. We anxiously await your arrival.
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April 15, 2011 - 06:48 AM
Bonnie Jensen
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Trudy Gilbertson requests prayers for healing for son Bruce who is in treatment by radiation for cancer of the neck after radical neckcise section removals in neck/mouth area. Prayer for peace and healing only our loving God can give Bruce and his family.
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April 15, 2011 - 06:41 AM
Bonnie Jensen
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Trudy Gilbertson has moved to Bemiji, MN and also changed her phone numbers. Contact a committee member if you wish this informtion.
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April 02, 2011 - 08:54 PM
Leonard Flachman
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During the last week in March an email went out with the meeting agenda and the registration form attached. If you didn't receive it (the email) or can't open it (the attachment), please let me know. We will resort to old fashioned paper, in an old fashioned envelope, with an old fashioned stamp.
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December 06, 2010 - 09:20 PM
Jim Sorensen
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Because the Comment box will allow only a limited number of words, This comment is continued in three boxes.
One of the best things for continuing my ministry to Ethiopia has been being a board of directors member for Water To Thrive (W2T) (www.watertothrive.org). I wanted to take some time to let you know something about it. “Water to Thrive emerged from an adult Bible study that was conducted at Triumphant Love Lutheran Church (TLLC) in Austin, Texas, during the summer of 2007. Over the course of six weeks, an average of 40 adults gathered to focus on the topics of world hunger and poverty, being exposed to a deeper understanding of both local and international needs (website).” That church went on to build 12 wells in Ethiopia. Dick Moeller went from that bible study and founded Water To Thrive. Working with A Glimmer Of Hope (AGOH), also headquartered in Austin, Texas, we have now built about 140 wells, a few in Sierra Leone.
What appears to be different from other water ministries, is W2T’s and AGOH’s programs for accountability for the wells. AGOH staff members determine the most needy areas by working with Regional government and non-government agencies. And then, in order to get a well, the following requirements must be followed:
• Community Involvement: 5% of the total project cost must come in the form of community support (labor, materials, etc.)
• Water Councils: At each water project, a six-member committee is appointed from the benefiting community and made responsible for the care and upkeep of the well.
• Training: Water Council members are trained in management and maintenance of the water point and receive support from the implementing partners when needed.
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December 06, 2010 - 09:16 PM
Jim Sorensen
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• Well Maintenance/Sustainability: Water Councils are also responsible for collecting nominal fees from people collecting water from the project; that money is then used to cover maintenance costs to keep the water point operational.
• Reporting: We require detailed completion reports on all projects funded by major contributors. These reports include detailed written accounts, photographs, GPS coordinates, and in some cases, video. (website)
When we were in Ethiopia in October of 2010, we visited well sites to ascertain the maintenance and follow-through of the Water Councils. It was refreshing to find that most of the councils had membership of half being women, and that the best guards for the wells were women. People reported that their communities had way less diarrhea and other water-born diseases, and that the children were now attending schools. In one area, the people were complaining that the well was not open when they could get water. The council members present fired the guard that day, and hired a woman to be the new guard. Guards tend to get paid with cans of tef from the community’s families.
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December 06, 2010 - 07:13 PM
Jim Sorensen
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Probably the most thrilling responses to clean and safe water came when we visited wells near schools. The children appeared clean, healthy, and thankful; demonstrating that they are learning about water use and maintenance. <br><br>
But, we also visited many who do not yet have clean water. These folks showed the effects of unsafe water use: less attendance at school, malnourishment, stunting, ragged clothing, trachoma, etc. There is much need for what W2T can provide. Please consider getting involved with this ministry by donating yourselves, and by getting your churches to consider sponsoring a well. A general hand-dug well now is costing only $5,000.
W2T has been blessed that Shirley Flachman came to the water ministry in her own, quiet but oh, so sharing manner. Shirley saw the W2T need and contributed a second printing of a painting she did of a woman digging in the dry bed of a river by Weldia. It was not only the painting that so affected the board of directors members, but the explanation which accompanied the painting. Shirley makes one “feel” what women feel when they are trying to provide for their loved ones. W2T intends to give the limited prints with the accompanying explanation to donors who give a whole well in appreciation of their generosity. Leonard and Shirley so graciously helped W2T with this generous offering.<br><br>
I have attempted to add some of the pictures we took during our October ’10 trip so that you might “see” the need and the difference clean water can make.
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