THE SOURCE OF FUNDS

   The question comes to mind, “Where do the funds come from for Helen Krueger’s type of missionary work?”  From the time she left home to attend high school in Medicine Hat, Alberta, help came from her parents in Orion, a 65 miles drive.  School buses were not available at that time.  For her board and room a church family, the Keyes, in that city added her to their own family of two children near the same age for a modest $30.00 a month and treated her as their own.  It was so reasonable our parents brought farm produce like butter and eggs to the host family whenever they came to the city and the family deducted it from her monthly board and room making it a wonderful opportunity for Helen to receive her higher education.  A warm friendship continued throughout the years with correspondence which Margaret, the Keyes daughter, kept and sent back which helped Helen over half a century later put a book together.  The Keyes son, Bob, sent money each month to support Helen’s work in Africa.  Our family also sent help when special needs arose, like a small kerosene refrigerator, and later a car.   Helen never asked for any money or had fund raisers.  She and another Bible student who worked with her in Africa prayed for their necessities and they seemed to miraculously arrive at the right moment.

   Let’s spend a day with Helen during her early years in Ivory Coast.  First aid after minor accidents, dressing ulcers and pulling teeth were morning and afternoon duties on her schedule.  About 5:00 pm the heat is bearable so she and Juliette, another helper missionary, are ready to leave for an evening meeting. Helen explains:The French commandant, or Government Administrator found out I was from the wild west and offered me the use of his horse that needed to be exercised more often.  The guardian for the horse brought it over, all ready to mount.  The cook boy came along to translate our French into their native language.  We followed footpaths through the bush, hurrying along both coming and going before darkness to be sure not to encounter a snake or a scorpion.  Juliette and our cook boy rode bicycles and I rode upon the horse.  Some of the natives called out in French “ca va,” meaning ‘does it go well’ Finding a few hills too steep for bicycles, a rope would be attached to them and then to the horse to be pulled up the hills.  At the meeting we sang native choruses and told again the old Gospel stories, emphasizing believing and then practicing the Golden Rule that could bring peace and joy to all in their daily lives instead of devil worship and constant fears of curses from witch doctors.”  The “practicing” part seems to be the challenge for us here in our country as well.