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A Good Neighbor Idea from IN HIS NAME MINISTRIES, INC. |
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CASE # 4352eln Mary and her husband were the moving force in a prospering business until his death. She tried
to keep the business going, but without him it just didn't
work. He had done
the work of two or three people. Eventually the business went under. There had been no life insurance, so a small Social Security
survivor's check for her daughter has been the only income.
They lost the family home and they now she rents a small
house. In her mid-forties she entered college and last year graduated from Southern Nazarene University and was certified as an elementary teacher. While in
college she battled breast cancer. Now, four years later she
seems to be cancer free.
Margaret and I visited with her the week she had just been hired as a kindergarten teacher at a school near her home. She was ecstatic about finally having a full time job and doing something she dearly loved. She was hired over sixty other candidates. Then in
the second month a glitch in her certification was discovered
and she was terminated. She
lacked one 3-hour course. This was a
devastating blow. She
said, "I feel like a failure." But she
took the course and then passed the certification again.
The principal said a summer position was waiting for
her. Meantime she earned a meager income doing occasional
substitute teaching. Household
bills and a car payment stacked up. In His Name Ministries
paid some of her bills. The promise of a job in May lifted her spirits, until another event occurred. She must take one additional college course. This would delay her ability to teach until the Fall term - and her ability to earn a decent wage. So she is
looking for a job to tide her over. So far she hasn't found
one, so she continues to substitute teach.
She averages getting assigned three to four days per
week at a rate that is one-half the pay if she were certified. At age 52 she may not find a job outside of teaching that pays anymore than the part-time teaching, so she will keep falling behind on car payment and household bills. Her church, where she is very active, will give her some help. Most agencies will not help more than every six months. In His Name is walking with her and we want to help see her through these next five months. She will have a monthly deficit of $725.00. RETURN TO PREVIOUS PAGE 03/15/2009
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