Some have left us

I lost a friend. He delighted me. I’ll call him “R.” 

We worked together decades ago, and stayed friends many years after the work was finished.

He was in his 80s, not “old” by today’s standards, but he had serious medical issues, he was struggling.

This was one of those situations where people say “it was time to go,” but that doesn’t make it pleasant.

“R” was enthusiastic about New Thing’s work of compassion in Belarus, caring for so many children and adults in need.

He gave faithfully every month, almost from our beginnings, 20+ years ago.

When he died, his widow was determined to keep supporting the work.

She couldn’t keep giving as much — she had to cut it by half — but she carried on.

I got to thinking about those we’ve lost ... friends and family who supported New Thing every month, but then couldn’t.

Those who passed on, or lost a job, or were sideswiped by a medical problem, or some other issue.

In every case, we’ve thanked them and wished them well and trusted that someone else would come along to carry on the work.

In the past several months, we’ve said a sad goodbye to a number of friends.

For the first time in many years, gifts from monthly pledges don’t cover the basic costs of our “Response of the Heart” team.

So today — also for the first time in many years — I’m asking you and every other friend of New Thing to consider a monthly gift.

We try to keep fundraising very low-key. Sometimes, though, you have no choice but to speak up.

This is one of those times.

Let me simply invite you to think about committing to donating a certain amount to New Thing each month.

• You can do it from memory, manually mailing a donation or giving online—

• Or you can choose an automatic monthly online option by clicking here—

• Or you can arrange with your bank to automatically mail a check.

Maybe monthly giving isn’t to your taste. Maybe it’s not feasible for you right now.

No worries. This isn’t intended to be a pressure thing.

Just an honest expression of where we’re at, and an opportunity to turn your compassion into an even greater personal impact.

Thanks for thinking about it.

More adventures to come!

Much love,

Doug Brendel

(Photo by Oleg Yarovenko: orphans in the boarding school at Rudensk.)