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Mission Statement - Our History - The Company - Corporate Partners - Press Releases |
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First, we want to be very clear that our primary purpose is "to further the gospel of Jesus Christ." Hydromissions is non-denominational, and we work with a wide variety of NGO's, for-profit companies, non-profit organizations, religious groups and government agencies. Second, Hydromissions International, LLC functions "worldwide." We are a global company, and as such, we service all countries and people groups. Third, we "provide clean water" as our focus of operations. Hydromissions is a great way to share the love of Christ while meeting a desperate physical need. The practical component of water ministry is often the passport for bringing the gospel into countries otherwise closed to traditional missionary activity. We are involved in all aspects of the water cycle, including water acquisition, drilling, filtration, treatment, irrigation, hygiene and sanitation.
Finally, we provide
products and services that are "low-tech and/or technologically
appropriate."
Our products are unique because they are designed to be operated, reproduced, repaired and
maintained by the local people
in whatever country is served. In addition, our products
are designed to be extremely portable, allowing others to expand
their water ministries
into new areas that would be difficult to reach by other
methods. We
emphasize non-electric, non-motorized equipment whenever possible,
but we will utilize other methods if they are technologically and
economically
appropriate for the situation.
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Hydromissions has always been, and
will always be about the "little guy." We are committed to
helping missionaries and churches establish or enhance their own
water ministries as God leads. Together, we can make a
difference! |
 Our History:
Hydromissions
founders, Steve and Jennifer Lorch, were introduced to water ministry
in 2001 through a basic drilling course conducted by
Living Water
International and
Brookwood Community Church in Greenville,
South Carolina. In January, 2003, Steve (a surgical
nurse) served as a triage doctor in a medical clinic
in the Dominican Republic. He saw over 800 patients in 3 days,
and noted that nearly 85% of the medical problems were water related.
This realization led to the focus on water.The Lorches furthered their training in October 2003 at Equip’s Appropriate Technology Institute in Marion, North Carolina. While enrolled at Equip, they met several missionaries who introduced them to low-tech solutions to water problems, including bio-sand filtration and hand drilling for water. Innovative designs for manual pumps and hand drilling rigs quickly followed, and the concept for Hydromissions began to take shape. In November 2003, the couple traveled with Living Water Carolinas to drill their first water well in Nueva Mesicales, Honduras. The trip was successful and further inspired the vision for developing low-cost, non-electric, non-motorized systems that could be used and maintained by the local people.
Hydromissions
International, LLC became an official company in January, 2004.
With more field experience, Jen saw the need for teaching good
hygiene, and for giving village women an opportunity to play a
larger role in the water projects. In September, 2005, having
checked out a book from the local library, she started learning how
to make soap in order to train locals in the field. She also
developed a gourmet soap recipe to give to Hydromissions supporters
in the U.S. as a way of saying thanks. The soap became so
popular that people began to ask how they could buy more.
Before long, soap had funded water projects in Sri Lanka and Kenya!
By June, 2006, the single-car garage was converted into a soap
factory, and Hydromissions International Soap Works was in full
swing. The company is also launching a nation wide network of
soap retailers to fund more water projects.
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The Company:
Hydromissions International, LLC
is a missionary company with the same corporate structure as that
of any standard limited liability company with retail licensing and
registration in the State of South Carolina. The name, Hydromissions®, and
accompanying logo are federally registered trademarks of
Hydromissions International, LLC. Our
501(c)3 non-profit organization is just called "Hydromissions" (the
name is licensed from the LLC). In simple terms, the LLC
handles all manufacturing and retail of products (drills, soap,
etc), while the non-profit handles donations only. Any buying
of a product or donation of a "gift in kind" (equipment, raw
materials, etc) goes through the LLC and is not tax deductible.
General monetary donations go through the non-profit and are tax
deductible. This sounds confusing, but there is a method to
the madness. Basically, we want to cover as much of the overhead
and administrative costs through profits from sales rather than
through donations. If you are giving toward water, then it
should go toward water (not toward copy paper or electric bills,
etc). No non-profit is 100% efficient, but this structure lets
us get as close to that 100% as possible. Your money matters -
you've entrusted it to us, and we want to be excellent stewards of
it.
Please note: Hydromissions is
not yet 501(c)3, and current donations are not yet tax deductible
(we have filed the papers, and are waiting final approval). We
will remove this note from the website once our status is approved.
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Corporate Partners:
We have been blessed by countless companies and individuals that
have helped us out in ways too great for words. All we can say
is, THANK YOU!
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KTM Solutions Inc
is a seasoned engineering services company. They have
partnered with us in r&d, and in designing many of our machined
parts. |
| Press Releases: From time to time, Hydromissions has been on television, in newspapers and in magazines. The following are some photos and articles that have made the press: WYFF/NBC (Jan 2, 2008), Watch VIDEO, Rotary Club Award (2005), Tribune Times (Sept 14, 2004), Tribune Times (Jan 18, 2004), . (top) |
