A New Season
I've always believed that life is made up of different seasons, and each new season brings both joy and challenges. Over 8 years ago, I was a stay-at-home mom when God orchestrated the most amazing career change for me, launching me into communications and fundraising work for Water at Work Ministry. I think the word "launching" is probably misleading because it was a slow start in many ways due to my inexperience, but what I lacked in nonprofit experience I made up for in enthusiasm and deep belief in the mission.
I get emotional every time I stop to think about all that God has blessed me with over these years. First and foremost, I've loved working alongside my incredible team- both in the US and in the Dominican Republic. We are small yet mighty and each person probably does the work of three (and with very limited resources). We've been able to stretch and make magic happen with a tiny budget, encourage each other when disappointment happens (the grant was rejected or the well collapsed!), and celebrate victories together. Visiting the Dominican Republic with donors and friends over the years and seeing some of the impact of this work up close has also been a highlight, as well as connecting with so many generous donors both near and far. God has also grown me in my boldness and shown me that I'm capable of doing things I never imagined - through his grace alone. This ministry has truly meant so much to me and been one of the biggest gifts of my life.
One of my favorite stories is of an elderly woman named Altagracia. My teammate Rosmery told me about her situation back in 2023. She was living without any plumbing in her home and the nightly treks out to her outhouse were getting increasingly difficult for her. She asked if there was any possibility we could pay for an indoor toilet for Altagracia. Although my heart wanted to say YES, I knew this was something we couldn't really do -- our ministry sets up church-based water businesses, we don't provide toilets. If we said yes to Altagracia, it might open up a cascade of other requests we just wouldn't be able to sustain.
Over the next week, Altragracia's situation weighed on me. I prayed for her and one night had a dream about her. The next day, I received a text message from a friend saying they had sold a property and wanted to donate some of the profits to Water at Work. I was stunned when I saw the amount because it was exactly the amount the indoor plumbing & toilet cost, almost to the dollar. It was undeniable that God was answering our prayer to help Altagracia. He used Rosmery's eyes to see and boldness to ask, my friend's generosity to give, and our ministry's willingness to step in even when it wasn't in our plans.
Center: Altagracia and I pictured in front of the spot where her old outhouse stood.
This is how God works, through people and in unexpected ways, to remind us of His love. My time with Water at Work has grown my faith both in God and in humanity. Together, we can make the world a better place than when we first entered it. And ultimately, isn't that what it's all about?
Six months ago I announced my departure to our team and slowly started telling close friends and some donors. Inevitably, the question I get it is, "so what are you going to do next?" For now, my to-list is long but ordinary: deep clean and organize my house, attempt to reverse my osteoporosis, cook and eat healthier, and most importantly, bring the best version of myself to my family. I know that in the blink of an eye, my kids will be going to college and I want to soak up this time I have with them.
Despite my role change, I am committed to being Water at Work's biggest cheerleader and will continue supporting them financially .... if you are reading this, you've likely donated to the ministry and I hope that my departure won't change that. I'm happy to have helped in the recruiting process for my successor, John Armstrong, who I know will do an outstanding job. He is a man of deep conviction, decades of nonprofit experience, and I truly believe he will help bring Water at Work to the next level in ways that I can't. I encourage you to get to know him and continue providing clean, safe water through this ministry.
THANK YOU for being part of this journey with me, for trusting our ministry and cheering me on, for giving generously over and over again. None of this life-saving work is possible without the generosity of friends like you. Please give John a very warm welcome and stay in touch.
All glory to God,
Jennifer Yin
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