Swim for Him

The Facts

1.5 billion people suffer from parasitic worm infections.

~ World Health Organization

Safe Water International Ministries - Swim for Him

One billion people do not have access to potable water. Many of these same people are existing without the hope offered by Jesus Christ. Drinking water and Living Water.

Safe Water International Ministries (S.W.I.M.) was organized in 2004 as a way to bring these two types of water to those in need. The S.W.I.M. hand-held Chlorine Producing Unit is a ministry tool designed to give all people around the world the opportunity for safe water. It is purposely made to be durable, lightweight, inexpensive, and so simple that anyone can use it safely.

Safe Water International Ministries is a ministry that focuses on physical needs first and then on the spiritual need for faith in Christ. CPU's are not marketed by Safe Water International Ministries for the purpose of making a profit, but are sold at cost in order to make it possible for others to use them as ministry tools. We freely provide any information or part sources to those wanting help in their own ministries. Please see our Technology Page for more details.

Safe Water International Ministries also distributes Bibles, Sunday school materials, and other evangelistic materials to local churches in the countries in which we serve. We believe in coming alongside the church in order to enable them to better reach their communities for Christ. Please visit our Ministry and Contact Pages for more about how God is touching lives for his kingdom.

 

Team Members

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Greg & Vickie Stout left their jobs in the United States to immerse themselves in the Spanish language in Esteli, Nicaragua in 2004. Greg's language tutor, Rafael Castillo, showed much interest in the mission of S.W.I.M. From this relationship sprang S.W.I.M.'s Central American base.

Greg and Vickie spend approximately 6 months of the year in Esteli, doing water presentations, showing gospel videos, distributing Bibles and teaching materials, and other work as the Lord leads. While the Stouts are back in the States, Rafael enthusiastically carries on the ministry as a part-time S.W.I.M. missionary. The work is carried out mostly among the villages within 50 miles of Esteli. These villages are typically remote, being several hours' drive over very poor roads. The Nicaraguan government is making strides in providing electricity to rural areas, but power is still lacking in many places. Water is usually drawn from contaminated wells or rivers. The Stouts have also spent time in Venezuela among the indigenous Waraos of the Orinoco River delta. Accessible only by boat, this is one of the remotest locations being served to date. Clean water needs are critical in this area since the main water source is the polluted Orinoco River. Parasitic worms and dysentery are rampant – especially among the children. In addition to CPU training, S.W.I.M. was also able to experiment with a well-drilling project. Other countries in the Americas which have S.W.I.M. CPUs in operation are Ecuador, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Haiti, Dominican Republic, and Guatemaula.

Rafael Humberto Castillo Arauz is a Nicaraguan SWIM team member who lives on location in Esteli, Nicaragua. His role with the organization is varied, requiring multi-tasking skills. Every week he organizes and coordinates the water project in each community with the Nicaraguan Health Department, CAPS, and other organizations. He also attends the pastor’s meeting the first of each month, organizes all the paperwork for SWIM in Nicaragua, and helps Greg’s wife, Vickie, with the English classes.

Rafael describes his introduction to SWIM as follows: “I was Greg's Spanish teacher, and one day I asked him, ‘What is your purpose in Nicaragua?’ He answered me that he would like to work in Nicaragua with the churches. Later we visited one church in one community, and we showed them a chlorine machine. It is very interesting for me when I visit the different communities and see the interest they have about the presentation of the water and the gospel, and they are always happy to pray with us. Also, I like to do the water project because the people don’t have money to pay for the chlorine machine and the bibles, and we give them free as a gift from God.”

Regarding goals for the future of the ministry in Nicaragua, Rafael would like to see a SWIM building in his country and an increase in different projects, which would include water tanks and wells.

As a final note, he adds, “SWIM has changed my life because through Greg and Vickie, I have learned how to drive a motorcycle and a pick-up, and now I am learning English with them, but the most important thing is they have trust in me. I feel that when they are in Nicaragua, I grow in my faith because every day we talk about the bibles, the churches, and God. I am also very proud of my family - my wife Karla, my son Carlos, and my daughter Olivia. Carlos is going to school now. He is in second grade. Now he can read and write, and Olivia is two years old. I would like you to pray for my family because Karla now is visiting church more, and she wants to have a better relationship with God.”

Richard “Rich” Grant has been and advisor to the SWIM board for four years. Living in Grand Rapids, Michigan, he is a consulting engineer, specializing in water treatment, energy, and public health and environmental protection. He describes his role with SWIM as three-fold: 1) technical and engineering advisor, 2) installation and missions’ team member, 3) training for full-time role in field missions. Rich became acquainted with the ministry when “a client of my engineering company, Vermeer Mfg., recommended that we meet.” When asked for a personal story regarding SWIM, he related the following:

“I love the way God provides for this mission time and time again. He consistently puts us together with the people, material, and situations where it becomes easy and fun to do His work. I recall a few years back, just as we were enroute on a journey where Greg and Rafael were to finally convince the Nicaraguan government to allow us to help in their clinics, and Greg was seated on the plane next to Brent Smith, a strong Christian alumni of Peace Corps. They struck up a conversation (imagine that!). His knowledge of water chemistry, fluent Spanish, and friendly rapport was an important addition helping to kick off the ministry with the Nicaraguan Health Department . . . and he just happened to have a flexible schedule for these key first clinic CPU demonstrations. Last year I was looking for some dough to help fund the Nicaragua trip (and I) won exactly that amount in a drawing. So many other stories! God answers our prayers, provides for the needs of SWIM, and provides new directions and challenges just at the pace we seem to be able to keep up. Truly He does provide our Daily Bread.”

What future goal would he like to see accomplished for SWIM? “I pray that we may continue the primary focus on the Gospel Waters of Life and perhaps minimize distractions. I pray also that God will guide us into new paths throughout the world such that we can comfort and provide healing for the ill, working side by side with our new brothers to inspire and thus live the Gospel.”

 

Board Members

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Every organization has a board of operations. SWIM has ten such members overseeing its work. How did they become involved in the ministry? The answer to that question is listed below in a brief profile of each member, including his or her goals for SWIM’s continued growth.

Lynn Verros is in her fourth year on the SWIM board, serving as treasurer. Residing in Knoxville, Iowa, Lynn states that she first became acquainted with SWIM through her long-time friendship with Greg and Vickie. She comments, “It's been a blessing to watch how God has used this ministry from the very beginning. Seeing how a mission ‘works’ has been an education for me. It has become apparent that it's usually best to work through existing social structures such as the local church, or, in the case of the water projects, through a governmental health commission. This is probably Missions 101, but I personally had to see that in action before I fully understood it.” Looking to the future, Lynn observes that SWIM's geographic ministry area has increased while its full-time field personnel have not. With that in mind, she adds, “If it is God's will, I would like to see another full-time missionary come on board in the next year or two to train with Greg and Vickie and then replicate their work in another area.”

Merrill Mason has been on the SWIM board for six years. He is retired and resides in Washington, Iowa, after many years of working in the business world. His background includes ten years in CPA practice and twenty-nine years of owning a True Value hardware store. This expertise has led to helping with the nonprofit financial aspects of SWIM and offering additional Christian life experience “that the Lord can use for board discussions.” Merrill first became acquainted with Greg and Vickie through a presentation at his church before SWIM was started. He states that he is impressed with the Stout’s devotion to their calling as well as their honesty, unassuming humility, and living for others. In the years ahead, he would like to see the “addition of more and younger Christians involved in the ministry.”

Vance Alexander of New Sharon, Iowa, has served on the SWIM board since its inception. He is recently retired from forty-five years of teaching at North Mahaska High School in the areas of cold and hot metals, drafting, and auto mechanics. Vance first became acquainted with the water ministry when Greg asked him for help in the developing the first hand crank generator, which they built in Vance’s shop. He continues to use his skills in building the chlorine producing units (CPUs), which transform unsafe water into potable water. He states, “I have known and respected Greg ever since he was a student in one of my classes in high school. He is a perfect fit for this ministry. I am in awe of his faith, his passion, his genuine love of people, his energy, his love of serving others, and spreading the word of God. It is my hope that SWIM becomes a supplier of CPU's for many groups ministering around the world. The units are an effective tool for saving lives and reaching people spiritually.”

If you’ve ever wondered who first handles the incoming support money and travel funds for SWIM, the answer is Karyl Miller. She and her husband Bill (also a board member) live in Washington, Iowa. Karyl is the secretary for the First Christian Church in Washington. She has also been a board member since the ministry began. The pastor of First Christian at the time was Rich Boyd, and he wanted Karyl and her husband Bill to become involved. Today, this includes making weekly deposits and handing the funds on to Greg and Vickie Stout and also to Lynn Verros who sends the year-end statements to everyone who gave money to SWIM. Like many others, Karyl is amazed at what the little water purifier can do to make clean water for people in Third World Countries.

Bill Miller Has been a SWIM board member since the very beginning. He began as a treasurer and making small CPU Purifiers. Soon he found himself working with Greg Stout on ordering supplies to support the team. Bill notes really impressed that the SWIM ministry has grown from only 2 or 3 people working with SWIM to having several from different areas of Iowa involved now with our ministry. For the future Bill hopes to see 2 or 3 full time Missionaries working for SWIM so we could reach more third world countries.


Joining the board in November of 2009, Earl Ratcliff of New Sharon, Iowa, uses his expertise as senior continuous improvement manufacturing engineer for Pella Corp. to manufacture and assemble chlorine-producing units for SWIM. He first became acquainted with the ministry when his dad, Rayford Ratcliff, made wooden parts for Greg’s early versions of the CPUs. Commenting on his involvement, Earl states, “In 2009, Greg asked for help producing the CPU's and I volunteered. Since then I have got to know Greg and Vickie well. I have been impressed by the humble servant's heart they both have. They don't pass up an opportunity to serve, no matter the circumstance. I have witnessed their compassion for people digging for food at the city dump, a widow needing a roof and outhouse, a friend needing a small business loan, and a school for rejected kids. My goal is to get thousands of chlorine producing units distributed each year. We now have that potential with our injection molded CPU that can be assembled in minutes. With each CPU distributed, we have the opportunity to share the good news of the Living Water that God has provided through his son, Jesus Christ! Please continue to pray for SWIM! To God be the glory for the great things that he has done!”

Michael Glesener is the youngest member of the board, joining in October of 2010. Currently living in Oskaloosa, Iowa, he is a chef for the Relationship Enrichment Center at Strawtown Inn, in Pella, Iowa and also at Grate Expectations Catering, Oskaloosa, Iowa. Michael is the secretary of the board. His responsibilities include keeping the minutes of the meetings and printing “Thank You” letters each month. He has also been working with the Christian school in Condega, Nicaragua. On his last trip he taught cooking classes and is working with the organization to build a feeding center for the children there. He first became acquainted with SWIM through the church, but his journey with them began when he met Greg and Vickie about a year ago. Shortly after that he embarked on his first mission’s trip to Nicaragua and stated, “My life was forever changed by that experience.” He adds, “I am impressed that SWIM’s primary goal is to be a gospel proclaiming ministry. This primary goal helps us to make many decisions on what direction to go and what opportunities to take or leave behind. In the immediate future, I am really excited about the new SNAKE. I would like to see more of the SNAKE units installed in communities around Nicaragua. In the long term I would like to see SWIM expand to have an active presence in other countries around the world.

It has been truly amazing to see God working through SWIM. The countless thousands of lives around the world who have been touched, both physically and spiritually, through this ministry are astonishing. I am very honored to have been chosen to help lead SWIM into the future. I invite everyone to join me in praying for wisdom for the board so we may follow God’s will for the future of SWIM.”

Frank Reitsma from New Sharon, Iowa, was elected to co-chair SWIM in May of 2006. His role is to chair the business meetings, which oversee the many facets of the SWIM ministry. He states, “My goal is to see all the board members using their God given talents to help SWIM reach as many people as possible to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. God has placed each of us in our given positions with our personal and family responsibilities. So I often ask the board members this question - ‘What does God want us to do at this time with the talents He's given us?’ ”

Frank has known Greg Stout since 1974. He comments, “Although he moved away, we always kept in touch, and when he felt God's call on his life to start in some kind of ministry, I was privy to that information. Greg and Vickie told me of their decision to start their own ministry (SWIM) sometime in the early 2000's.”

What has impressed him about the organization? “We have always tried to give God the glory. Our goal has always been to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ to those who haven't yet received Him. The CPU has merely been a tool to do this, and a wonderful byproduct is that we've been able to improve the health of so many people at the same time. The little CPU, the handheld chlorine producing unit, has gone through so many changes over the years. The prototype weighed a lot and was so cumbersome. Every effort was made to make it as easy and simple as possible to operate, with a 100% success of operation when in the field. It was always operated with a 12-volt source of electricity, and we've done that with batteries, solar panels, transformers out of computers, and even a generator inside a five gallon bucket that was operated by hand. The 'handles' were bicycle peddles and the 'innards' included bicycle chains, sprockets and a little generator from who knows where. (It worked well, but took a lot of effort!)”

In the future, Frank would like to see more people getting involved with distributing the CPU's in many more countries and see nationals gain the vision of touching people’s lives with Jesus Christ through the CPU's, evangelism, and teaching efforts.

In conclusion, he adds this challenge, “As SWIM continues ministering, we've seen that there are a lot of areas of need that don’t necessarily relate to purifying water. If we see a hungry person, do we say, ‘God bless you, go in peace,’ or do we feed them? If we see a widow living in a house without a roof, do we say, ‘God bless you, go in peace,’ or do we put a roof on her house? If we see a patient in a hospital without the basics of medicine or food, do we say, ‘God bless you, go in peace,’ or do we provide some of that medicine or hygienic care? Because of so many of these needs, I foresee a time when we'll have a ministry center in Esteli -a center out of which we'll be able to co-ordinate ministries into many of these areas. I foresee a time when we'll have more nationals involved. I see a time when this ministry will be self-sustaining. It must be. Therefore, we must, with God's help, identify strong, gifted Christian nationals to eventually take over. I'd like to ask for the prayers of all who may read this - prayers for SWIM - to remain true to Him and His great commission, to preach the Word to all the world. To God be the glory.”

Board member Leon Kelderman, from Oskaloosa, Iowa, has been serving for three months. His role with the ministry is to ship the CPU’s and to wire small power supplies. Leon became acquainted with SWIM through Greg speaking at his church. He states that being associated with the ministry for the past year has made him aware of the great need for clean water. He is looking forward to the day when they can ship many CPU’s to a third-world country.

 

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Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than ourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 2:3-5 (NIV)