A letter from Paul and Darlene Heller in Malawi
August 2010
SECOND WAVE
In the midst of the global financial crisis, in early 2009 we received an e-mail from Ministry of Hope (MoH) in the United States addressing some financial challenges that lie ahead. “The MoH finance committee met tonight to go over the end-of-year figures and the financial crisis in the U.S. is having its impact on MoH. Giving is way down and we are having to reduce our monthly allotment. … Thus, at this point, we will need to fund the Mzuzu Nursery from the reduced undesignated pot of money that Ministry of Hope receives every month and is shared (among two crisis nurseries and six orphan care centers).
Nevertheless, in spite of this drastic reduction in the “pot of money” to be shared, the Mzuzu Crisis Nursery was spared. The feeding centers and main office took the brunt of the financial blow.
This week the “second wave” has hit our shore without any early warning, and it is threatening to devastate the life of both crisis nurseries. An e-mail near the end of July tells the story:
This month’s allocation (July) will be as follows:Mzuzu Crisis Nursery [down] from $6,500.00 to $4,420.00
(Lilongwe Crisis Nursery [down] from $6,000.00 to $4,080.00)Financially speaking, the “bottom line” is that $6,500 per month is needed for Mzuzu Crisis Nursery to continue our level of care for the babies. As you can imagine, the loss of over $2,000 per month is devastating.
However, for Christians, the bottom line is never a minus sign (-). It is always a sign of the cross (+).
The babies + the staff + MoH Board + committed congregations + persevering presbyteries + compassionate corporations + interested individuals + our generous God all add up to the Hope which does not disappoint.
Blessings,
The staff of Mzuzu Crisis Nursery
There is always something new at our blog, Suffer the Little Children. We enjoy reading your comments. Thanks
Paul and Darlene Heller
The 2010 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 59
