It seemed impossible for the young, single, unemployed mother to find $850 for a brain shunt for her year-old son. A school teacher in Mongolia earns less than $60/month. She had been to several organizations and businesses to appeal for assistance before coming to ADRA. How I would have loved to help her with the full amount, but with so many coming so often for help, I have had to limit the assistance to $100 per person or less from my little discretionary fund I have from private donors. We drew up a donation list for her, setting out the medical challenge the child faced. I made up a file with plastic liners to protect each page giving all the facts and information regarding her case. There was a letter from the sub-district governor, the doctor's diagnosis, a picture of the boy, some downloads from the internet explaining hydrocephalus and the precious donation list. The first name on the list was ADRA with $100 and the ADRA stamp. This was hopefully a sign of authenticity, encouraging others to give.

Over a two week period she only collected $375 after visiting many organizations. She faithfully kept a list of all visited and their reasons for not giving. We then shared her story with our staff. They were so wonderfully generous. We in one afternoon raised a further $266 from commitments from them. Then the unexpected happened. She was given an opportunity to appear on a TV show to share her challenge. A Korean gentleman was touched by it and offered to purchase the shunt for her, allowing her to use the rest of the money to pay for the operation, the hospitalization, dressings, food, and post operative follow-ups with doctors. Our prayers had been answered. She had more than enough money.

Jesus was blunt: "No chance at all if you think you can pull it off by yourself. Every chance in the world if you let God do it." Mark 10 (The Message)


Llewellyn Juby, January, 2006