November 17, 2019 Good News and Giving thanks-An Update.

We come into this season with so much to be thankful for.  We are truly making a difference one life at a time.

We are thankful for your support:   On August 20, 2019, we put out an appeal, due to a projected budget deficit for this fiscal year.  Our prayer was that a simple appeal may be just as effective as our annual fundraiser.  Many of you rose to the occasion and we took in several thousand dollars in donations that helped to reduce spending from our reserves.  Some, who had slipped behind on sponsorship brought their accounts current.  Our board members pitched in to help financially as well.  Kids will be blessed due to the efforts of all.  We are not out of the woods yet financially, but the picture has improved with your support.  Thanks to all who have helped.

We are thankful for Gods protection:   October brought significant disruption to our lives here in Sonoma County.  The massive Kincade wildfire caused major power outages, significant smoke issues and resulted in the evacuations of some of our board members.  Bodega Bay Church, one of our support churches, was closed due to evacuation.  Petaluma Valley Baptist, another support church was host to many evacuation refugees.  The Kincade fire is now listed as the largest wildfire in Sonoma County history, scorching 77,758 acres of land  Thanks to the prayers of many and the tireless efforts of public safety personnel, housing loss was kept low and there was no loss of human life.  Thanks for your emails, your calls and prayer support.  Those prayers were answered. 

We are thankful for renewed growth:  In spite of a very turbulent October, we are back on track and with renewed energy.  Recent outreaches have brought in new general support and some new sponsors.  We are so thankful for those who have opened their doors to our work.  This renewed support should brighten our financial picture a bit as we close out 2019.   God is faithful.

Getting Ready for Christmas:  Letters from sponsored children will be going out this week.  If you are interested in sending a Christmas gift to your sponsored child we will include suggested gift items in the letter and the cost of each.  Cash donations, used to buy Christmas gifts for your child, can be made online on the website. Go to “Get Involved” scroll down to donate and follow instructions. Simply list the name of your child in the memo line and we will make sure the gift goes to your child. The final day for Christmas giving will be December 15th, 2019.  If you are considering a year end gift as the fiscal year closes, we would ask you to prayerfully consider making a tax deductible gift to Hope Milele Africa. God bless you all.

As mentioned in our last update, here is how your funds were spent in 2018.

In 2018 HMA took in $64,491 total income.  Our expenses for 2018 were $66,012 leaving us with a -$1,520 deficit for the fiscal year.  Fortunately, we had a balance carryover from a year end donation in a prior year to cover this deficit.  We are praying that recent efforts will keep us from going into reserves this year. 

Project Burundi Expense=$30,882.  (Burundi sponsorship income $26,814). These funds provided a hot meal a day for over 250 children, salaries for all school staff, teaching and cooking supplies for the Hope of Africa School and monthly package care for our 63 sponsored children.  Your funds also provided gifts of livestock, seeds, clothing and home repairs for some of our sponsored children.  Burundi remains one of the poorest countries in the world and the inflation rate worsens on an almost daily basis.  In early 2019 we conducted an independent audit in Burundi to identify potential accounting issues and improve overall accounting.  As expected, we found areas that need improvement and we are working with Hope of Africa to improve overall accounting.  Hope of Africa staff have been responsive and are eager to be accountable.

Project Kenya Expense=$3,845.  (Kenya sponsorship income $2,753). This project is supported primarily by two of our board members who knew the father of this family who died from typhoid.  Tragedy struck the family again with 16 yr old Elisha passing away from leukemia.  The additional funds primarily came from board members and went to hospital bills related to Elisha’s illness.  We also helped with living expenses and food as the mother has not been able to work due to illness.  Four children live in the home and are currently in school.  Without HMA support the children would not be able to attend school.   

Rwanda Project Expense= $24,057. (Rwanda sponsorship income $19,704). There are currently 26 sponsored children in our Rwanda program.  The high expense rate here is because nearly half of these children are former Asante children and are in boarding school.  Three of our Rwanda children were orphaned when their father took the life of their mother.  Three former Asante Choir students recently began university studies and are fully supported by HMA for housing and tuition. Others hope to attend college. Your gifts also helped with livestock purchases, food, clothing and housing repairs this year.  Since this is our second largest project, we hope to conduct an audit in Rwanda this year as well.     

Uganda Project Expense= $2,480.00. (Uganda sponsorship income $2,269.65). There are currently 4 children in our Uganda program, but for part of the year there were five (a sponsor dropped). These children are in boarding school and receive all school supplies.

General fund and miscellaneous donations.  $12,910.63.  These general fund donations were used to make up the expense deficit shown in each country and to cover operating costs.

Total project expenses $61,264.00 in direct aid to Africa.

The remainder of our expenses were for bank fees and printing fees $1,200, insurance costs  $1,258, bookkeeping $1,275, and computer services of $780.  The remaining expenses were for legal fees, printing, etc.  Currently our only employee related cost is for bookkeeping services.

As you can see, we are extremely careful with your money and your sponsorship funds go directly to support children.  You can support HMA with confidence that your funds are being used as intended.

Important change in telephone number.  You can contact us with questions, make changes, or donate by calling our new telephone number 707-861-9154         

Thanks for your help and God bless.  Your Board of Directors, Neil Church, Jerry Lites, Arden Lites, Theresa O’Connor, Patrick Parks, and Stephen Rustad.