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Helping needy Malagasy kids to become Jesus’ kids! March 2010 Volume 13, Number 3 "A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with
the poor." Proverbs
22:9 |
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We
are now “celebrating” (in reality, we are mourning) the one year anniversary
(February 23, 2010) of Andry being on dialysis. This has not been an easy year
for us and especially not for Andry or Solofo, who has been so faithful in
making sure that Andry gets to all of his dialysis appointments, lab tests,
blood tests, and checkups throughout the year. Solofo is very instrumental in
running down all the necessary medicines and expendables that are needed for
each dialysis treatment.
This alone is no small task in
a country where the people are infamous for waiting for their supplies to run
out before they reorder items. I already mentioned in a previous newsletter that
the government hospital where Andry receives his dialysis treatments runs two
pharmacies. However, often Solofo is forced to find another pharmacy or hospital
that still has the required supplies or medicines in stock that are required on
a daily basis. As the Malagasy political crisis drags on the ability to find the
necessary supplies and medicines is getting harder and
harder.
Many things have changed during this last year. Sadly, none of them changed
towards an easier life for Andry, or in being able to get the necessary items
that are needed for Andry to be considered stable in his health. Sometimes
things are so frustrating. Just this last week Andry almost missed two dialysis
treatments at no fault to him or Solofo. They showed up on time, only to find
out that the three remaining dialysis machines were all broken. Both times they
had to be rescheduled. This is really frustrating to us, because we know that
six machines were donated last year to the hospital where Andry receives his
dialysis treatments sometimes two, sometimes three times a
week.
Those six donated dialysis machines that were donated made it to Madagascar, but
they never made it to the hospital. The six machines are still sitting on two
pallets while the government customs officials twiddle their thumbs and bide
their time while trying to extract a large sum of money for the release of the
dialysis machines. Solofo can attest to the fact that the machines are in fact
in the care of the customs department. However, we are powerless to do anything
to get them released outside of paying the exorbitant amount that is being asked
for the release of the machines. This amount was supposed to be waived, since
the machines are being donated to a government hospital. The longer the amount
is not paid each month adds an amount of money to the already high amount being
required by the customs officials.
While this “playing” of the customs officials goes on, people continue to suffer
due to a lack of the needed equipment. In the last year Andry made several
friends that are also on dialysis. However, Andry and us are saddened by the
fact that seven of Andry’s friends are now dead within that year. Some of them
died not having enough money for the necessary number of treatments to keep them
“healthy”. Others died having enough money for the treatments, but in too poor a
shape physically to continue living. Some of them waited too long before seeking
dialysis treatments and their bodies could not recover from the long time of not
being taken care of properly. Still others died because they could not be
scheduled to receive regular dialysis treatments because there were not enough
dialysis machines available for the number of patients that require dialysis
treatments three times a week.
I already mentioned that Andry sometimes receives dialysis treatments two times
a week instead of the normal three times a week. When Andry is not scheduled for
a dialysis treatment this gives someone else a chance to have a treatment at
least once a week. When the dialysis machines are operational they are worked to
the max. Some patients are scheduled for treatments on Mondays, Wednesdays, and
Fridays. While other patients are scheduled for Tuesdays, Thursdays, and
Saturdays. The machines are in operation morning and afternoon servicing
different patients during those times. It is no wonder that the few remaining
dialysis machines are always broken down. The number of patients requiring
dialysis continues to increase, while the number of serviceable machines
continues to decrease.
Finances for Andry’s dialysis treatments for the last year (March 2009 through
February 2010) cost $ 29,417.03.
We do not have the Betikara sponsor report for January and February
2010 on hand, so I calculated the Betikara donations for March through December
of 2009 and calculated the expenses for Andry’s dialysis for the months of March
through December of 2009. All figures are in U.S. Dollars. From March through
December of 2009 Betikara received $54,187.37 in donations. Of that amount
$30,750.00 ($75.00 per month per child, times 12 months, times 41 children) was
received for the daily care of the 41 Betikara Lambs. When you subtract this
$30,750.00 from the total received in donations from March to December of 2009
you find a balance of $23,437.37 in the Betikara account for those months.
However, Andry’s dialysis expenses for the same period of time cost Betikara
$24,598.93. When you subtract the amount paid for Andry’s dialysis treatments
from the amount remaining in the Betikara account ($23,437.37) then there is a
deficit of $-1,161.56 for the 10 months of 2009 that Andry was receiving dialysis
treatments.
Betikara feels greatly blessed that everyone who donated to Betikara in 2009
donated so generously out of love for the Betikara Lambs. If we had only
received the needed $30,750.00 for the daily care of the Betikara children then
we would be looking at a deficit of $24,598.93 instead of the $1,161.56. Thank
you so much for your caring hearts and continued dedication in supporting the
Betikara Lambs and the efforts of the Betikara Orphanage in Madagascar. We pray
that God will richly bless all of you as you serve Him.
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Indiana Church of Christ “He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him
for what he has done.”
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