By Duvon McGuire:
Did you know? Sometimes the future is buried in the past – and that is why it should excite us.
I knew it would eventually happen, but I was surprised when it did on Wednesday, December 17, 2025. My phone chirped with a text from Steven: a photo of Purifier 4649 shipping to Nicaragua, labeled on yellow duct tape with Sharpie: “Last Model 11.” The next day, another photo: Purifier 4650 to Colombia, tagged “First Model 12.” For over 25 years, the Model 11 (THE Water Company of the Poor) has been New Life International’s workhorse, providing safe water to millions.
Where did the Model 11 come from? Can we expect something exciting after the Model 12? Good questions. Our old-timers know – they built them, including all the Model 12 Hubs! For the rest…
Early Years – My water purification work started in late 1992, after turning 34 and getting engaged to Victoria. In 1993, significant changes arrived: marrying Victoria Grace, then building my first model – a frustrating, dangerous disaster. I nearly quit. We had no idea where these experiments would lead. The 1994 Model 2 was even worse – hazardous and unreliable.
1995-1997 brought more experimental designs, many of which were too problematic to count as models. 1998 was “ready-or-not”: A January talk with God led me to resign my 16-year industry job, trusting Him as provider. God continues to come through better than we could hope or ask.
From Disaster to Breakthrough – The early models were scary: overweight and prone to failure due to corrosion. But 1998’s version returned to basics – robust, modular, and rugged. During Hurricane Mitch relief in Honduras, units ran hot in the sun, beyond plastic limits, yet continued to disinfect water for survivors. Volunteers – “angels” made the impossible happen. New Life International was formed in December 1998; we soon gained tax-exempt status.
The Birth of the Model 11 – Post-Honduras, 1999, saw enhancements with deployments to Colombia, Sudan, Venezuela, and beyond. In October, East Timor’s independence displaced hundreds of thousands into rice fields without safe water – people died, and a friend in Indonesia asked us to help.
For Such A Time As This – Volunteers rallied. Drawing on six years of prototypes, three capacity levels with transparent tubing emerged quickly; all worked well, simplifying the safe delivery of water to meet East Timor’s changing needs. Field reports revealed a breakthrough: the mid-sized unit. At idle, it mimicked the small one. Could it outperform the large one without added size or weight? That led to the Model 11 (with a heat exchanger, it out-produced systems twice as big.) For 25 years, the Model 11 has been our most versatile tool. The Model 12 builds on the successes of the Model 11 to power HOCl (hypochlorous acid, what our body’s neutrophils produce) disinfectants, antiseptics, water purification, and more … strengthening futures where helping helps and never hurts, so none are lost.
Seeing What Is Next – Everyone has unique strengths; together, we achieve more. As we help, good things unfold. All Model 12s will be deployed in five years, providing safe water and wound washing solutions to over a million people. We’re already designing the next family of systems to go beyond the Model 12’s. We are looking for suggestions for what to call them. Join us! There are six “T’s” for impact: Time, Talents, Treasure (the usual), plus Ties (networks), Touch (kindness), and Testimony (vision). What could your family’s “T’s” become next year? Sometimes the future is buried in the past – and now you know – sometimes the future is discovered from the lessons of the past. Thank you for joining this journey to make heaven crowded. Prayerfully consider crossing your “T’s” to make an ongoing difference.
