Blessing the Nations from Home By Carol Nowlin Dean Dawson is eighty years old, but he seems too busy to notice. Instead of taking it easy in his retirement years, Dean spends hours each day working in his shop, where he admits he has “too many projects to count.” He’s happiest when he is building things, especially things that can help others. Dean and his wife Betty felt God leading them to support Lifewater, but they weren’t sure how. Hearing about his gifting, Lifewater asked Dean to build bush pumps, which are low-cost hand pumps suitable for use in developing countries. They knew it was the perfect fit.   Not having built bush pumps before wasn’t a problem for Dean. Maybe that’s because he seems to have a knack for everything. He has worked as a merchant seaman, gold prospector, tile setter, carpenter, and art museum superintendent. As Betty says, “You’re never too old to learn something new.” As Dean steps into his shop, his eyes begin to twinkle as he points out the tools he uses to make bush pumps. Patting his drill press like an old friend, he explains how he made templates to streamline the building process. In a shed behind the shop Dean finishes each bush pump by welding together the parts. Once he is done, the pump is ready for its long journey to a community in need. Dean leans over and selects a piece of ordinary-looking metal from the workbench. Here, he says with a smile, are the makings of my next bush pump. You can also support Lifewater in unique ways. •Approaching retirement?You can create a legacy of service to others by including Lifewater in your estate plans. •Have drilling or machine shop expertise? Consider volunteering for a Lifewater trip. •Enjoy praying? Check the box on the reply envelope to sign up for the email prayer newsletter. Be sure to give us your email address and you will begin receiving monthly up dates. More Articles from the 2005 Spring Newsletter: Water & Disaster | Sharing the Amazon in Peru | The Ugliness of Contaminated Water in Kenya | The Silent Tsunami