December 2011 Newsletter

By the Numbers:

112,544
NUNBER OF PEOPLE REACHED TO DATE WITH WATER AND THE GOSPEL!

107
NUMBER OF WELLS DRILLED

3
Number of ongoing, in-country partnerships

20
NUMBER OF CURRENT, ACTIVE WELL AND BIO-SAND FILTER PROJECTS

150,000+
MONEY EXPECTED TO BE RAISED BY YEAR’S END (2011) IN CONTRIBUTIONS AND MONTHLY COMMITTED PLEDGES…
MAKING 2011 THE BEST YEAR IN THE HISTORY OF THE MINISTRY!

1 MILLION
DOLLAR GOAL FOR 2012 – REALLY!

3
NEW FUNDRAISING INITIATIVES FOR THE COMING YEAR

A MUST READ from our Founder and Executive Director, Todd Phillips

MOMENTUM. Momentum is the word that best describes what TLW has experienced in the last six months of 2011 and what we have on our side moving into the New Year. What was once a local ministry supported primarily through the passionate pursuits of young adults in Frontline, the young adult ministry of McLean Bible Church in Washington, D.C., is now an expanding, multi-state movement of people of all ages and walks of life moving toward one clear, compelling goal – provide clean water to the entire nation of Liberia and share Christ with those we serve.

Not only has 2011 turned out to be our most productive year in terms of moneys raised and wells drilled, we’ve also worked to improve the information on – and look of – our web site, developed several new church partnerships who have supported and will continue to support TLW financially in the coming years, and we’ve developed several new, creative fundraising initiatives. The initiative I’d ask all of you to pray about for 2012 is:

ONE BIRTHDAY: ONE WELL

It’s simple. You decide to give up your birthday in 2012 in order to raise awareness and money for the mission of The Last Well. I gave up my birthday this past August and asked friends, family and co-workers not to send me gift, but to give instead directly to The Last Well! I sent 17 emails out and raised over $3000 for The Last Well! Amazing! Imagine if we all gave up our birthday in 2012 for the purpose of saving lives and altering the eternal destinies of men, women, and children in Liberia.

I’m praying daily that we’ll have one hundred people become part of ONE BIRTHDAY: ONE WELL in 2012. Will you prayerfully consider being one of them?

All you need to do is click on the email address below:
jenniferh@lakepointe.org
and send us the following info about you…
NAME AND BIRTHDATE

Our team will contact you via email to help you set up a web page on one of several fundraising websites we currently use (like www.crowdrise.org). Don’t worry…you don’t have to be tech savvy to do this…we’ll take care of you! Then, you let everyone know about your page. They’ll give online directly to The Last Well.

Lives saved with clean water!
Destinies altered by the Gospel!
God gets the credit!
All because you decided to celebrate your birthday in a different way.

Here are several “to dos” for 2012:
1. Pray for the momentum to continue in the New Year
2. Be a giver on your birthday – sign up for ONE BIRTHDAY: ONE WELL
3. Read the monthly newsletter. We’ll likely announce an exciting national fundraising and awareness initiative in the first quarter of next year. You won’t want to miss this!

One last thing…please consider THE LAST WELL for your end-of-year giving. Go online to www.thelastwell.org , click on “DONATE” and give.

Press on!
Todd Phillips
Founder and Executive Director, The Last Well

Check out the video from The Last Well’s trip to Liberia in 2011!

For one final look at Aconcagua, we spoke with climber Rob Kossowsky about his experience and how the Lord has grown him through TLW.

How and why did you get involved with the Last Well?

In the fall of 2007, I began feeling that it was time to participate in an international missions trip, as I had never left North America at that point in life. I attended the interest meeting for The Last Well’s Elbrus climb, but didn’t feel I could make the financial commitment required for personal climbing expenses at that time. Shortly thereafter, I joined a missions team that took me to Peru in the summer of 2008. The trip opened my eyes and softened my heart to the plight of those in need around the world. After the trip, I attended interest meetings for other Last Well climbs but never felt that it was yet my time. Having wanted to climb Mt Rainier since I first laid eyes upon it at age 11, however, I always joked that a Last Well Rainier climb would be my sign that it was time to become involved in the mission. I received the Rainier announcement in the winter of 2009 and immediately knew that it was time to combine a deep-rooted desire to climb with a growing passion for helping those struggling around the globe.

Why did you decide to join the Aconcagua team?

I don’t really know that I decided, as much as God did for me. I had just come off of an epic [failed] attempt on Rainier, and had spent most of my discretionary income in the process, but for some reason could not bring myself to send the final notice removing my name from consideration. After several weeks of prayer, financial analysis, and seeking counsel from trusted individuals I just felt compelled to step out in faith on this [potentially] once in a lifetime opportunity.

How did you see the message of the Last Well (Fundraisers First, Climbers Second – Ambassadors for Christ Always) come to life during your trip?

While we were all busy training and taking care of logistics, it was quite clear that fundraising was at the forefront of the team’s mind during the months leading up to the trip. Members set some pretty ambitious goals that were considerably higher than those required by The Last Well; it’s one thing to merely set a goal and another to actually work toward that end which I believe everyone did in spades between sending out support letters, giving presentations, seeking Gala auction items and even in getting tables filled for the Gala. While on the trip, I genuinely believe that our words, actions and camaraderie were all a great testimony to our faith. Time and time again our lead guide made comments to the effect of how well we worked together and could not believe that many of us had only very recently met (or had only met once prior to trip). Others commented that they had never seen such a happy, pleasant group. While some may have jokingly attributed it to good cooking from the guides, I believe the truth of the matter is that we were all genuinely rooted in Christ.

Not to be overlooked, I also believe that the entire team showed up for the climb in great physical condition despite the all of the busy schedules and focused efforts on fundraising and trip logistics. While this may seem like a seemingly minor detail, I believe it is just another example of the character of the team as we all know that a team is truly only as strong as its weakest climber.

What is the biggest lesson God taught you on the mountain?

Namely, that I wasn’t in this alone. I tend to be a bit self-reliant but learned rather quickly that the only way I was going to make it up any portion of the mountain was through reliance on Him. I also learned the value and importance of having strong brothers and sisters around to help carry spiritual and physical burdens (and sometimes gear).

What is the biggest lesson God has taught you since coming home?

That all of the various lessons learned on the mountain apply to my daily life, 365 days a year – not just while climbing at 20,000 feet.

How do you see God working through TLW to spread the Gospel?

The obvious answer is the great impact on His kingdom through ministering to the physical and spiritual needs of the people of Liberia. Perhaps the less obvious (but equally as great) impact is on those with whom we live, work and play on a day-to-day basis. The Last Well not only gives them an opportunity to become part of something greater than themselves, but also opens up an avenue for us to share the Gospel as they see our passion and commitment, hear our stories, and watch us live out our faith in support of people we’ve never met.

Andrew Good – Aconcagua Interview

Q. How and why did you get involved with the Last Well?

A. In January of 2008, I was at Frontline when Todd first announced forming a team and an organization that would first be climbing Mt. Elbrus.  I had dreamed of climbing the Seven Summits since 2000, and had just returned from a Global Impact mission to India at the end of 2007.  When I heard him mention the creation of this ministry, God moved my heart to jump headfirst into this opportunity.  As it turned out, the country of our focus was Liberia – which is a nation I had learned about in middle school and had a passion for ever since.  When God gives us desires that stay with us, we can know that it is only a matter of time (even if it is many years) before He brings about an opportunity to do the good works that He created for us in advance to do.

Q. Why did you decide to join the Aconcagua team?

A. There were several reasons that I believed it would be important to be on this team specifically.  I wanted to show my continuing support for the mission of The Last Well, even though I was living in Colorado when the decision to join this team needed to be made.  I also felt that God had shown his faithfulness to me in pursuit of climbing the Seven Summits, and that He was giving me the freedom to continue to attempt big mountains for His glory.

Q. How did you see the message of the Last Well (Fundraisers First, Climbers Second – Ambassadors for Christ Always) come to life during your trip?

A. The Aconcagua team impressed me most because it was evident to me how much my teammates relished not just the fundraising aspect, but the opportunities to share a vision of meeting global needs through all the conversations they were having.  I think that inspiration brings out the best in everyone.  Once we were traveling together, the focus can shift to being Ambassadors for Christ by our actions within the team – and to everyone else we come across.  It allows us to grow through encouraging one another, and correcting one another.

Q. What is the biggest lesson God taught you on the mountain?

A. God taught me a ton on the mountain – so much of it practical.  Reading Scripture and praying with our tentmates brought an entirely new dimension to craving those things, because the increased regularity and heightened intensity show how much we actually need that in our life.  The nature of an expedition-style climb like this also brings an entirely new appreciation for the Biblical truth of living for, worrying about, and being sustained by Him each day.  In many cases, the Lord took things we had already been taught, and deepened our understanding of those fundamentals.

Q. What is the biggest lesson God has taught you since coming home?

A. God desires to spend us.  He promises us and provides us with His strength so that we can carry out His will and bring Him glory.  And there’s no taking a day off.  Aconcagua required an exhausting and consistent devotion to discipline (especially in the little things), and so does a rightly lived Christian life.  But we never need to fear that His strength will be insufficient.

Q. How do you see God working through TLW to spread the Gospel?

A. Obviously the first priority – and intentional mission – is to preach the Gospel throughout Liberia with the help of our partner organizations.  But I also see through my own experience, as well as my teammates, that many of our friends and family in America will be exposed to the message of Christ through each of our involvement in TLW.  Some of that will come in a passive way through Facebook photos and the like, but I also have tremendous hope that the literal mountaintop experience has deepened our faith and compelled each member of our team to act more boldly out of their love for Christ – constantly, and outside the mere bounds of TLW.

Q. Anything else you want to share about the impact TLW is making in your life and in spreading the Gospel to Liberia?

A. God brought TLW into my life during my most important years of spiritual maturity to date.  God has helped shape my heart so that I personally desire to sacrifice more.  The experience of faithfulness and fellowship, combined with God’s lessons in discipline, patience, and trust are memories I will rely on the rest of my life.

Zach Casper – TLW April Newsletter

Q. How did you become involved in the Last Well and why have you stayed involved?

A. I was part of the 11-man team that started this whole thing off. Expedition Elbrus started as a single event with a vision to raise money for the clean water crisis in Liberia. At the time I was looking for a community within the church to get involved in but nothing seemed quite like a perfect fit. I was given a call one day by Jordan, one of the other founding team members. He told me the vision of this upcoming climb, the details and I was in, instantly. The vision of combining the adventure sport of mountaineering, ministry and fundraising just seemed like a perfect match in my eyes. Many of the original team already had trips similar to Mt Elbrus on our separate to-do lists. Mixing them with helping people just seemed like it offered so much more than just a personal goal. We were now fundraising and climbing for people living a lifestyle of daily challenge. When we returned from that amazing trip we had so many people behind us and had raised around $200,000+. That was amazing. Our one climb turned into a 501(c)(3) things started moving. It was obvious God was behind us given The Last Well’s early success.

Q. How do you specifically see God working in this ministry both in yourself and in others?

A. Being the DC chapter director is going to be challenging but rewarding job. I’m going to need God’s help in what we pursue in every aspect. I’ll need that so God’s agenda gets completed and not my agenda or that of just the people involved. Daily prayer for The Last Well is going to be critical. We have a very lofty but realistic goal. We won’t be able to execute it alone. I always describe to people the similarities of life and climbing a mountain. We hear pastors talk about the mountains and valleys of life which speak to the difficulties and high notes we all experience in our walks and daily routines. Actually getting to climb a mountain really puts these sermons into perspective – it’s not easy and for many of us who do it, it becomes a time we feel closest to God. Holding on to these experience after they’ve completed is really important. The Last Well has really seen some tremendous things happen in just its few short years. We’ve already been able to raise enough funding to reach many lives in Liberia with both water access and the gospel. We couldn’t do this without some of our critical partners like Living Water International and the other organization we continually seek to partner with who are on the ground drilling, rehabilitating and filtering wells.

Q. What are your goals for the DC chapter for 2011?

A. Wow, great question. I just accepted the DC chapter director role so I’m still processing what goals, events we should focus on to maximize our return on effort. I’m working with Todd and the board to put together a solid calendar for this year. Of course, we hope to follow-up last year’s annual gala with another successfully event for 2011. This is going to a extremely important and critical event for The Last Well. I’d really like to engage and empower others to set up fundraising events based on their interests. We started off with a large mountaineering expedition for our first piece and have attracted quite a few of other mountaineers. But, we aren’t a fundraising through mountaineering organization only, we are an organization seeking to raise money and awareness for clean water in Liberia and share the gospel in doing so. I really want to see The Last Well spread out to many more communities empowering other 20/30-somethings to get behind us. In addition to fund raising, I’d like to really reach out to other drilling organizations doing work in Liberia as well as grow our giving list with more private individuals, additional churches, etc.