EL SALVADOR
Paul & Umber Darilek - Country Director
Living Water El Salvador drilled 29 new wells in 2004, repaired 11 pumps and constructed 150 bio-sand filters. Wells were put in at churches, schools, clinics, a home for the elderly and a rural nutrition center- a daycare center for the rural working poor with malnourished children. An ambitious project to drill a well at every church in and around the community of Astoria resulted in a miracle- the unity of all of the church pastors. The pastors are now working together to reach the unchurched 80 percent in their community instead of squabbling over the 20 percent who are Christians.
COUNTRY FACTS:
Population: 6.7 million
Population lacking clean water: 1.54 million
Climate: Tropical; rainy season (May to October); dry season (November to April); tropical on coast; temperate in uplands
Natural Resources: Hydropower, Geothermal power, Petroleum, Arable land
Government: Republic
Languages: Spanish, Nahua
Religions: Roman Catholic 83%, other 17%
Ethnic Groups: Mestizo 90%, White 9%, Amerindian 1%
Population below the poverty line: 36.1%
Life Expectancy: 71 years
Infant Mortality Rate: 24.39 deaths per 1000 live births
Currency: US dollar (USD
GUATEMALA
Jaime & Liliana Torres - Field Representatives
Guatemala is located in the northern part of Central America. In a joint effort with LOI and CBN, Living Water International drilled 12 wells in 2004 along the Pacific coast of Guatemala and rehabilitated two wells, helping more than 4,500 people improve their health and quality of life. Health and hygiene classes were held for the women and children of four villages, incorporating the gospel in lessons about basic sanitation.
Lew Hough, Vice President and Director of Training/Short Term Mission Trips, and his wife, Rita, Administrator of Short Term Mission Trips, oversee all LWI mission trips to Guatemala. You may contact Lew at 281.207.7800 or e-mail him at lew@water.cc .
In 2005, 11 new wells were complete and 16 wells were rehabilitated.
COUNTRY FACTS
Population: 12 million
Population lacking clean water: 1.1 million
Climate: Tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands
Natural Resources: Petroleum, Nickel, Rare woods, Fish, Chicle, Hydropower
Government: Constitutional Democratic Republic
Languages: Spanish 60%, Amerindian languages 40% (23 officially recognized Amerindian languages including Quiche, Cakchiquel, Kekchi, Mam, Garifuna and Xinca)
Religions: Roman Catholic 75%, Protestant, Indigenous Mayan beliefs
Ethnic Groups: Mestizo and European 59.4%, K'iche 9.1%, Kaqchikle 8.4%, Mam 7.9%, Q'eqchi 6.3%, Other Mayan 8.6%, Indigenous Non-Mayan 0.2%, Other 0.1%
Population below the poverty line: 75%
Life Expectancy: 69 years
Infant Mortality Rate: 30.94 deaths per 1000 live births
Currency: Quetzal (GTQ)
HAITI
LWI Project
Since July 2004, three LWI Pump Repair teams have gone to Leogane, Haiti surveying and repairing pumps in the area. A total of nine pumps have been repaired since this program began. Due to increased civil unrest in Haiti, LWI has temporarily put on hold taking volunteers into this area.
In 2005, 12 wells were rehabilitated.
COUNTRY FACTS:
Population: 8.1 million
Population lacking clean water: 4.3 million
Climate: Tropical; semiarid where mountains in east cut off trade winds
Natural Resources: Bauxite, Copper, Calcium Carbonate, Gold, Marble, Hydropower
Government: Elected government
Languages: French (official), Creole (official)
Religions: Roman Catholic 80%, Protestant 16%, none 1%, other 3% (note: roughly half the population practices Voodoo)
Ethnic Groups: Black 95%, Mulatto and White 5%
Population below the poverty line: 80%
Life Expectancy: 53 years
Infant Mortality Rate: 71.65 deaths per 1000
Currency: Gourde (HTG)
HONDURAS
Mike & Georgann Gullikson - Country Director
In 2004, Agua Viva Internacional completed 27 new wells, rehabilitated 17 wells and constructed 238 bio-sand filters. Fourteen groups from Canada, Virginia, South Carolina and Texas came to Honduras and saw 2,300 medical patients and 340 dental patients in 27 villages. They witnessed 486 professions of faith and gave away 1,450 Bibles as well as numerous New Testaments and tracts. Agua Viva Internacional also helped Life Outreach International in two crusades at La Colonia Lidia Trejo in La Ceiba and Esfuerzo. A complete outpatient medical clinic worth $65,000 was donated to Dr. Hector Gomez's church clinic.
In 2005, 18 new wells were completed along with 28 well rehabilitations. Also, 252 bio-sand filters were installed.
COUNTRY FACTS:
Population: 6.9 million
Population lacking clean water: 828,000
Climate: Subtropical in lowlands, temperate in mountains
Natural Resources: Timber, Gold, Silver, Cooper, Lead, Zinc, Iron Ore, Coal, Fish
Government: Democratic Constitutional Republic
Languages: Spanish, Amerindian dialects
Religions: Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant 3%
Ethnic Groups: Mestizo (mixed Amerindian & European) 90%, Amerindian 7%, black 2%, white 1%
Population below the poverty line: 53%
Life Expectancy: 65 years
Infant Mortality Rate: 29 deaths per 1000 live births
Currency: Lempira (HNL)
MEXICO
Vic & Tracy Spillman - Country Director
Since inception, 15 wells and two rehabilitation wells have been completed with approximately 1,000 hearing the gospel. In 2004, 17 new wells were drilled along the border of Mexico and the United States.
Reynosa
In 2005, five new wells were completed along with 22 well rehabilitations and two bio-sand filters installed.
Tampico
In 2005, one new well was completed.
COUNTRY FACTS:
Population: 106 million
Population lacking clean water: 12.7 million
Climate: Varies from tropical to desert
Natural Resources: Petroleum, Silver, Copper, Gold, Lead, Zinc
Government: Federal Republic
Languages: Spanish, various Mayan and Nahuatl
Religions: Roman Catholic 89%, Protestant 6%, other 5%
Ethnic Groups: Mestizo (Amerindian-Spanish) 60%, Amerindian 30%, white 9%
Population below the poverty line: 40%
Life Expectancy: 75 years
Infant Mortality Rate: 20 deaths per 1000 live births
Currency: Mexican peso (MXN)
NICARAGUA
Phil & Chris Wilson - Field Representatives
Since inception 19 new wells have been completed and 14 others have been rehabilitated. 15 mission trips to drill new wells are scheduled for 2005.
In 2005, ten new wells were completed along with 15 rehabilitated wells.
COUNTRY FACTS:
Population: 5.4 million
Population lacking clean water: 1.24 million
Climate: Tropical in lowlands, cooler in highlands
Natural Resources: Gold, Silver, Copper, Tungsten, Lead, Zinc
Government: Republic
Languages: Spanish (official)
Religions: Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 15%
Ethnic Groups: Mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 69%, white 17%, black 9%
Population below the poverty line: 50%
Life Expectancy: 70 years
Infant Mortality Rate: 29 deaths per 1000 live births
Currency: Gold Cordoba (NIO)
PANAMA
Dr. Cleveland Cooper - Implementing Partner
Living Water Medical Ministries' (LWMM) sister ministry in Panama, FCMS, used the mobile medical and dental coach on 12 brigades this year until the coach encountered operational problems this summer. LWI has continued to provide pharmaceutical support for these brigades through an affiliation with King Pharmaceuticals.
In 2005, one new well was completed.
COUNTRY FACTS:
Population: 3 million
Population lacking clean water: 300,000
Climate: Tropical maritime; hot, humid, cloudy; prolonged rainy season
Natural Resources: Copper, Mahogany forests, Shrimp, Hydropower
Governement: Constitutional Democracy
Languages: Spanish (official), English 14% (many are bilingual)
Religions: Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 15%
Ethnic Groups: Mestizo (mixed Amerindians and white) 70%, Amerindian and mixed West Indian 14%, white 10%
Population below the poverty line: 37%
Life Expectancy: 71 years
Infant Mortality Rate: 20 deaths per 1000 live births
Currency: Balboa (PAB); US dollar (USD)
PERU
Tommy & Angela Head - Country Director
Tommy and Angela have served deep in the heart of the Amazon Rain Forest since 1998. In 2003, the Heads partnered with LWI to bring clean, life-saving water to indigenous Peruvians in the Amazon.
Things are different in the jungle. The average life expectancy is 47 years, rather than the national average of 69. The infant mortality rate is more than 50 percent. In fact, most tribes don't even name a child until he or she reaches age two, fearful that they may grow too close to a child that may not live.
In 2005, 18 new wells were completed along with seven rehabilitation wells.
COUNTRY FACTS:
Population: 27.9 million
Population lacking clean water: 5.58 million
Climate: Varies from tropical in east to dry desert in west; temperate to frigid in Andes
Natural Resources: Copper, Silver, Gold, Petroleum, Timber, Fish, Iron Ore, Coal
Government: Constitutional Republic
Languages: Spanish (official), Quechua (official), Aymara
Religions: Roman Catholic 90%, other 10%
Ethnic Groups: Amerindian 45%, Mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 37%, white 15%
Population below the poverty line: 54%
Life Expectancy: 69 years
Infant Mortality Rate: 31 deaths per 1000 live births
Currency: Nuevo Sol (PEN)
