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From an Accountant’s Perspective

By Sally Specht

Tsunami, earthquakes, disasters, war, terrorists, victims,

orphans; these are words we hear a lot about these days.

What do they mean to you and me? These things all cause

distress among the people of the nations, those in leadership

and those who help, but not nearly like those who are living

the nightmare. I’m looking at those agencies that come to the

aid of those in trouble. What would we do without them?

Then there are those who immediately loosen their purse

strings to help out. Even countries, large and small, have

come forward, as well as organizations, churches and small

groups of people giving of their means to help.

The Pacific Union College Church in Angwin, where I

live, has just raised $202,000, the last figure I have heard, to

help out with the tsunami disaster, and is working through

ADRA to help those in need. It was interesting to note that the

“Community Needs” or “Dorcas” had offered to give $40,000

in matching funds. A man came forward and gave the Dorcas

$50,000 to put with that

so the church would

have a bigger goal. Be-

fore that news was out,

the church had already

raised $112,000. What

was amazing to me was

how fast this money be-

came available. We do

live in a land of plenty

and a land of very giving

and faithful people. God

loves a cheerful giver.

I recently heard an

organization telling of

the orphans in need and

how eighty cents of ev-

ery dollar goes directly

for the needs of the chil-

dren. I know these big

organizations have to

pay for workers, and buildings, and advertisements, and

mailings, and these do cost money. The sponsors and donors

of Hearth to Hearth Ministries and the orphanages, can rest

assured that 100% of their money goes to meet the children’s

needs. There are mailing costs, and printing costs, and dona-

tions are given to meet these needs, too, but the workers

themselves also provide much of this.

I have been taking care of the accounting for the Hope

for Children Center orphanage since July of 2003, and have

found it to be a very fun, but at times a challenging, venture.

When I first started, there were around forty sponsors, and

sixty-plus children. The orphanage has grown now to 116

children and 90 sponsors. We have many faithful donors too,

so the work has increased greatly.

I used to worry about meeting the deadline for getting

the money to Pastor Maurice twice a month. For instance, I

would put down what I had gotten and what I needed to have

in the next three days. I must have thought that God needed

to see this. Then I would continue to stress a bit about it. The

money would always be there, and in most cases I would

have it in the bank so that Maurice could take out what was

authorized. I don’t do that anymore. I do still keep a little tab

on what is needed, but for my sake only. God knows what is

needed and He provides. Maurice and Esther both already

knew this, and I was learning.

What a privilege it is to work with people like you,

and the leaders in this organization, to help save a few

lives in Africa. I’m so happy that Esther has had the vi-

sion and burden to take on these orphans in the different

places. I’m so happy that she and the others who went

over to Kenya and Uganda, could see with their own eyes

what the life experi-

ences are over there.

This was very impor-

tant to me and I’m sure

to all of you, too, so

that we can know for

sure a difference is be-

ing made.

I am also thankful

for this man, Pastor

Maurice, and his dear

wife, Edith, who were

willing to take a few or-

phans into their small

home just a little over

two years ago, and are

now living on their own

land, growing pineap-

ples and other wonder-

ful foods for all their

116 children. They are

happy to be living in their own buildings and knowing they

will not have to move again. Surely the Lord has blessed us

all in this endeavor.

I want to express my sincere appreciation for the won-

derful support you have been to these desperate children.

To see their happy smiles and healthy-looking bodies wear-

ing nice clean clothes, you just know they are getting a lov-

ing home with wonderful training and care. This is our

reward.

?

[In addition to being Treasurer for the Hope for Children

Center, Sally was the Trasurer for the whole ministry until the

first of this year. We greatly appreciate Sally and her sacrifices

for this work.]

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Sally and Wally Specht