As we celebrate a new year and look ahead with hope, I want to take a moment to reflect on the past twelve months and what it has meant for Blood:Water.

2020 tested and tried us all in ways we couldn’t have imagined. And while most of the world was experiencing a global health crisis for the first time, our partners were not. The reality is that they spend most of their days addressing the world’s greatest health challenges experienced from lack of clean water or the effects of HIV/AIDS. When the time came for them to rise to this new challenge, there was no wavering, only action. And from what we have seen, their efforts are working.

And because of the investment you’ve made in Blood:Water over the years, you knew that the best way to slow the spread of this disease in Africa was to give – and give generously – to our partners on the frontlines. You’ve seen how successful they’ve been in addressing the world’s greatest health challenges. There was no wavering from you, only action. And from what we have seen, your efforts are working.

You understood that providing clean water, sanitation, and hygiene was critical if we wanted to slow the spread of coronavirus in Africa. So you helped us provide clean water, soap, sanitizers, PPE, and COVID-19 related education and information to over 650,000 people across sub-Saharan Africa.

You understood that the advances we have made in the fight against HIV/AIDS over the last 15 years could be lost if neglected by those who desperately needed care but were unable to access it. So you helped us equip hospitals, clinics, and community health workers in developing delivery systems for medications so that people living with HIV no longer have to travel to a health center to pick up their monthly medicine.

You understood that leading during a pandemic is one of the hardest things a leader will ever face. So you helped us provide critical resources to partners like leadership coaching, weekly calls with partner leaders to provide support, insight, and understand what their ever-changing needs were from week to week, and you enabled us to provide flexible funding to meet their most urgent organizational needs.

The scriptures ask us to rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances. In reflecting on what we have accomplished together this past year, rarely has this admonition from Paul held so much significance. Because you understood the challenges our partners in Africa face, and chose generosity in the midst of everything you have personally faced, we rejoice that this work will continue strong into 2021 – providing opportunity for countless men, women, and children in sub-Saharan Africa through health support, access to clean water, and much more.

With gratitude and hope for the year ahead,

Jake