(photo: me with Chimwemwe, making the thank-you video after his biopsy was funded)
Five years ago when we lived in Malawi, a friend asked if I had ever heard of DonorSee. I had not, and maybe you haven’t either, so I’m going to fill you in and tell you what a blessing it’s been to HUGS for Tomorrow. My friend told me that a guy from Virginia named Gret Glyer started the crowdfunding platform and was looking for organizations like ours to join him in raising money for people living in poverty. He had moved to Malawi just three years before we had and had worked at the international school where I was currently teaching Kindergarten. By the time I talked to him, he was already back in the States, making his life’s work to end poverty. After a couple of phone conversations Gret signed me up to be a storyteller—my current role on DonorSee and one way we raise support for the kids in the program.
I posted my first video in May of 2019. It was perfect timing for us. We had been wondering what to do to help a ten-year-old boy name Chimwemwe. He joined us when we got the kids in the village together for food and games, but he wasn’t able to run with them and could barely even walk. One of his ankles was severely swollen and had been for most of his life. We had already taken him to the local clinic and even to the central hospital, but nobody seemed to know what was wrong with him or what to do about it. He needed a biopsy, but that would cost two hundred and fifty dollars and may lead to more expensive questions and answers and our personal funds were limited. What to do?
Telling Chimwemwe’s story on DonorSee allowed us to raise the money we needed to get him to the hospital for the test. People all around the world were able to see the need and give any amount towards the goal. Then when it was fully funded, we took Chimwemwe to the doctor AND made a follow up video saying thank you to everyone who pitched in and gave this sweet boy the chance to be healthy. This was before HUGS was HUGS. We didn’t have a school or even a proper feeding program, so when school started back up Chimwemwe went back to class and we didn’t see him any more. I suppose we thought we would hear about it if they needed anything else from us, and we were trying to be careful not to impose ourselves where we weren’t needed. The day of small beginnings is a delicate time.
We went on to post more videos of more needs for more kids. In fact, I started writing this article to celebrate the fact that, as of this week, we have raised over $100,000 on DonorSee. As supplemental funding to our program, we think that’s pretty great and certainly worth celebrating. Congratulations are in order to each and every one of you who has donated. I know, I know. This is kind of a lame celebratory paragraph. There aren’t even any exclamation marks. Here’s why: I asked Snoden during our most recent conference call about Chimwemwe. “Do you know what happened to him? Do you know how he’s doing?” I was hoping for great news to finish this article with a bang, but what I got made me sad.
Snoden said he sees Chimwemwe about once every month. He’s almost sixteen now and still has the same issue with his foot. The biopsy results weren’t comprehensive and the doctors ended up saying there was nothing more they could do. If he was going to really get well, he was going to need more tests and may even need to see a doctor in another country. When I asked why they hadn’t told us this, Snoden said it was because they didn’t expect us to continue funding something that was so open ended, which made me question what we’re doing here. I mean, is it enough to just give a kid a chance at health, or do we commit to more, and is there money for that?
I certainly want us all to celebrate the milestone that is the $100,000 mark on DonorSee, not because of the money in and of itself, but because of what it represents. Your donations have meant thousands of meals, articles of clothing, mosquito nets, beds, school fees, school buildings, jobs, doctor visits, and even the building of widow’s houses, all boldly in the name of Jesus Christ because the Gospel is our most valuable offering. Whether you have ever given on DonorSee or you just send the money straight to HUGS, you guys are awesome and you’re changing lives every day! (There’s your well-earned celebratory exclamation mark. Please take a moment to bask in it. We certainly are, and we plan to all week.) Then we want to take a fresh look at what still needs to be done, and we’re asking you to join us.
Let’s put another zero on the end of that $100,000. Our Father owns the cattle on a thousand hills and we are His heirs. We know we’re never going to end poverty completely; Jesus tells us that we’ll always have the poor. But let it not be for lack of trying. Sadly, Gret has passed away, but he leaves an amazing legacy. We’ve been impressed by his moxie and think God has too. Snoden commented that Chimwemwe remembers us well and so do many other kids who are not currently in our program. He added this, “Madam, there are still so many children here who remember you and need you.” By “you” he means all of us. I can’t do this; John and I can’t do this; our family can’t do this; not even one church can do this. We need your help to keep helping them. I plan to follow up with Chimwemwe to see if there’s anything more we can do for him. Check out DonorSee.com if you haven’t already. That’s where you get to see Chimwemwe and the other kids you’re supporting. Thank you for your part and God bless you for your generosity.
Here’s to five years on DonorSee and many more!
