FAQ’s

 

1. When was Living Water Global Initiative formed?

 

Living Water Global Initiative was formed as a Corporation on September 17, 2014.

 

2. Are my donations to Living Water tax-deductible?

 

Yes! Living Water Global Initiative was incorporated in the State of North Carolina as a non-profit corporation. As of September 17, 2014, all contributions made to our organizations are considered tax exempt. As with all charitable contributions, we advise that you consult with your tax advisor as to the deductibility of any gifts you make to our organization.

 

3. How many projects have you done?

 

Our first trip as an organization was to Vietnam in September, 2014 when our Leader and President, Kim Smith travelled to Da Nang to meet with with Mr. Sam Minh Luong, Deputy Head of the Department of Foreign Affairs and with Ms. Thao Tran Thi Phuong, MA, Deputy Head of Division Consular - Overseas Vietnamese and NGO Affairs. During this two week trip, Kim made plans with these foreign dignitaries for future projects. At this meeting, she also began the preliminary steps toward securing permission throughout all Provinces of Vietnam, with the hopes of being approved to also serve at Duc Son Pagoda orphanage in Hue City, in a different Province than Da Nang, by the time she returned with a team in 2015.  She also met with the Housemother of the Street Children’s Program of Family #2 in Da Nang to make plans to return with a team in March 2015 to meet the needs there. In her capacity of leadership, Kim has had a lot of experience traveling overseas, working on mission trips and navigating the ins and outs of international exchanges.

 

4. Can just anybody go with you on a trip?

 

No. To maintain the integrity of our organization, we have a very thorough process by which we choose our Team members that involves a lengthy application, background check, medical release form, and several interviews. It’s also very important that each Team member chosen for a trip is able to work well together before traveling to a foreign country. Therefore, our vetting process is quite involved to make sure we are sending only our best wherever we serve, that they will be able to work hard together as a Team, and that each member will be able to get the most out of his or her journey serving the people in country with Living Water.

 

6. Can I apply online to serve?

 

Not yet. Right now, we have only 2 trips scheduled for 2015–one to Vietnam in March and one to Ukraine scheduled for sometime later in the year.  The one to Vietnam is already full and the one to Ukraine is yet to be determined, as far as the date, as well as the other details. We will eventually have a way for individuals to apply online, but it will be months in the future. Our policies regarding requirements for qualification to serve, necessary waivers, background check permission forms, etc. will be on our site eventually. Because we are located in NC, and because part of the culture of our organization is to make sure each Team that travels is just that — a Team — anyone who wishes to serve and who fulfills the application and interview requirements must also be able to attend the mandatory meeting requirements prior to and after the mission trip.

 

7. What does it cost if I get to go?

 

That depends on where you go and how much money you are able to raise on your own behalf.  Living Water will be holding fundraisers and selling merchandise bearing its logo to help with certain expenses, but as a general rule, individuals will be responsible for raising a large portion of the cost of travel, accommodation, meals, etc. when they travel with Living Water. Having said that, our organization always seeks out the best price it can when it comes to accommodations and we will be able to get humanitarian rates with our airfare. The countries we travel to are generally poorer in economy when compared to the US, so most expenses like accommodations and meals are much less expensive than they are Stateside. One thing that sets Living Water apart from other mission groups is that we occasionally sponsor individuals in part or in full who cannot raise enough of the money to go on their trip. However, this is on a case-by-case basis and must be approved by the Board of Directors.

 

9. How can I donate to Living Water Global Initiative?

 

Stay tuned to our fundraising page for upcoming events. In the meantime, if you’d like to contribute to our organization, you may submit a check or money order to:

 

Living Water Global Initiative

c/o Kim Smith

3466 Hahn Scott Road

Mt. Pleasant, NC 28124