Many of us have been strangers in a foreign land for a few months or a few decades. We understand the importance of a community that invites others in, empowers, and loves.<\/span><\/p>\n We believe with our whole heart that Toledo is a place for all people to belong.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Our Story” _builder_version=”4.9.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”gcid-5ca36566-93d0-4ca8-8aae-6e3bcb465b6f” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-0b1f2bb6-b28b-46d4-a263-3ecdea3aee4c%22:%91%93,%22gcid-5ca36566-93d0-4ca8-8aae-6e3bcb465b6f%22:%91%22background_color%22%93,%22gcid-b7b8a603-5451-4cc3-a987-9b593bacf29e%22:%91%93}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.9.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.9.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”||||||||” header_text_align=”center” text_orientation=”center” background_layout=”dark” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-b7b8a603-5451-4cc3-a987-9b593bacf29e%22:%91%22header_text_color%22,%22header_2_text_color%22,%22header_3_text_color%22,%22header_4_text_color%22,%22header_5_text_color%22%93}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-b7b8a603-5451-4cc3-a987-9b593bacf29e%22:%91%22header_text_color%22,%22header_2_text_color%22,%22header_3_text_color%22,%22header_4_text_color%22,%22header_5_text_color%22%93}”]<\/p>\n Abraham, a foreigner himself, heard from God, who said, \u201cI will make you a great nation, and I will bless you <\/span>so that <\/span><\/i>you are a blessing to the world.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n Our passion comes from <\/span>the God who wants to bless the world, and we believe he\u2019s brought the world to Toledo so we can do just that!<\/span><\/p>\n In 15 years, Water for Ishmael has evolved from English classes around a dining room table to three distinct English schools, after-school tutoring, and Conversation Partners\u2014all centered around quality English education and relationships that make anything possible.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/staging.waterforishmael.org\/what-we-do\/” button_text=”Our programs” _builder_version=”4.9.4″ _dynamic_attributes=”button_url” _module_preset=”b68cf37a-faf2-4245-acb5-24c2352b3443″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Our Board” _builder_version=”4.9.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.9.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.9.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”||||||||” header_text_align=”center” text_orientation=”center” background_layout=”dark” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-b7b8a603-5451-4cc3-a987-9b593bacf29e%22:%91%22header_text_color%22,%22header_2_text_color%22,%22header_3_text_color%22,%22header_4_text_color%22,%22header_5_text_color%22%93}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.9.4″ _module_preset=”a6da19b0-0f38-4005-b66e-58ca3bfbb7cd” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.9.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_toggle title=”Pastor George Williams- Board Chairman” _builder_version=”4.9.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n \u201cAs a lead pastor and a community leader, I knew I could help be a guiding voice and a helping hand to an organization that gives hope, community and opportunity to so many that find themselves far from their native land.\u201d<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_toggle][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.9.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_toggle title=”Rev. Wes Blood- Board Secretary” _builder_version=”4.9.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”gcid-0b1f2bb6-b28b-46d4-a263-3ecdea3aee4c” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-b7b8a603-5451-4cc3-a987-9b593bacf29e%22:%91%93,%22gcid-21d5a038-08d9-4c7f-843f-39e276d74264%22:%91%93,%22gcid-5ca36566-93d0-4ca8-8aae-6e3bcb465b6f%22:%91%93,%22gcid-3bef2449-68a2-44a5-9b17-6aa647b23901%22:%91%93,%22gcid-0b1f2bb6-b28b-46d4-a263-3ecdea3aee4c%22:%91%22background_color%22%93}”]<\/p>\nOur Story<\/span><\/h2>\n
Our story starts 4,000 years ago with a \u201cso that<\/i>.\u201d<\/h3>\n
Our board
<\/span><\/h2>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/staging.waterforishmael.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/george-1-150x150-1-150x150.jpg\")
\u201cI had never cried listening to the news. Not until August of 2014 hearing about the Yazidi people in Syria trapped on top of a mountain surrounded by ISIS waiting to kill them. There has always been a tender spot in my heart for the refugees, the foreigners, the asylum seekers but never an outlet for me to get involved utilizing my skills until I got invited to join the board of Water for Ishmael.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/staging.waterforishmael.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Wes-Blood-150x150-1-150x150.jpg\")
Wes and his wife, Marjie Blood, moved to Toledo in 1991 where Wes served as a pastor in the area for 13 years. Eventually, Wes began to reach out to the international students to meet their unique needs for friendship, English practice, and furniture when they first move in to our community. He currently works with a large team of people on several projects, under the umbrella name, ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/staging.waterforishmael.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/MichaelRMetzger-150x150-1.jpg\")
Very early in their relationship, Mike and Janelle agreed to commit themselves to cross-cultural overseas work. It was in fact their intent to live and work there indefinitely.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/staging.waterforishmael.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Paul-Munn-pic1-150x150-1.jpg\")
Paul Munn currently works as a Project Manager and Environmental Engineer for The Mannik & Smith Group, Inc., a civil engineering and environmental consulting company. He has a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Toledo and is an Ohio registered professional engineer. As long as he can remember, he has been fascinated with the privilege of befriending people from other countries.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/staging.waterforishmael.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Betsy-White-pic-150x150-1.jpg\")
Betsy\u2019s undergraduate degree is a B.S. in Kinesiology from UCLA. Her master\u2019s degree is in Christian Education from Talbot Seminary. Her love for Jesus compels her to love the stranger, to treat them in the way she would like to be treated. She works with the immigrant community as well as with international students at the University of Toledo. Recently, she has been most involved in teaching English to Chinese senior citizens at the Asian Resource Center, helping facilitate English Corner at the university, and developing friendships with women from around the world.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/staging.waterforishmael.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/moses-1-150x150-1.jpg\")
Moses is well aware of the struggles that immigrants face. His parents emigrated from Mexico to settle in Ohio decades ago. Moses has lived in Northwest Ohio all of his life with his wife Anna whom he married in 1977. He has a two children, Madalyn and Edwin. Moses attended Northwest State College and had a successful career with First Energy. In 1991, Moses felt the call of God to enter ministry as a pastor. He is a graduate of the Spanish Eastern Bible Institute and is currently pastoring Iglesia Hispana Evangelica (Spanish Evangelical Church) in Maumee, meeting the needs of the Spanish speaking community.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/staging.waterforishmael.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Tim-Alley-Board-pic-150x150-1.jpg\")
Tim grew up in Alaska and along the West Coast. He attended Cedarville College where he received a BS in History and Political Science. He moved to Toledo in 1997 to attend the University of Toledo College of Law, where he received his JD in 2001. He married his wife Michelle in 1998. Michelle is a homeschool Mom of two boys. Tim works as an attorney at the Chamberlain Law Group in Perrysburg. Tim and Michelle are both active in their local church, First Alliance in Uptown Toledo. Working with Water for Ishmael gives them both an opportunity to be a part of God\u2019s work in the Toledo area.<\/p>\n