| Financial Accountability
(of orphanages)
This is particularly my thoughts and views.... And I don't intend in hurting anyone with this entry. The above mentioned subject is something that is meant to be found in any company, be it corporate bodies, government sectors, churches, orphanages, SME's, small businesses, home businesses, etc... I, being a B.A. (Hons) Accounting grad from a UK university (twinning with INTI University College, then known as INTI College Malaysia) realised this was an important topic and did a reasearch on it. My research was entitled : "A study on the Financial Accountability of Orphanages in Selangor" and I realised it was important that even orphanages needed to have audited accounts that are according to proper Financial Reporting Standards & Formats to ensure transparency, trusts, honesty and ethics. I'm proud to say that Desa Amal Jireh (DAJ), the orphanage founded by my parents have their accounts audited internally and externally as well. A copy of it is also sent to the State Welfare yearly for them to examine before they can give their support. I realised that our many supporters would prefer to know that their funds are put to good use and are sent to a trust worthy organization. By saying, I AM NOT saying that other orphanages are not following the proper accounting procedures so please do not quote me wrongly. 
The entrance to Desa Amal Jireh
DAJ has been in operation for the past 24 yrs and I am VERY VERY thankful to our Heavenly Father for being our Jehovah Jireh - Our Provider. It is with FAITH my parents took the step to start this home and I can tell you that GOD has seen the home through THICK & THIN and HE has over and over again proved to be a GOD who doesn't FAIL. Humans may fail us but GOD never will. 
My beautiful, God-loving, Compassionate parents
God has been blessing the home and also my family. The Bible said God loved the poor, the needy, the blind, the lame, the deaf, the prisoners, the strangers, etc... ALL OF THEM were/are/will be special to Him. And, when a person touches the heart and shows care, love and concern to these special people, God's heart is touched, and in return, His blessings is poured upon them. 
My good buddies who are very helpful & supportive as friends... This was taken outside the TA-DAJ Multipurpose hall.
My mum (the Director) was an accountant for 20 over years before she resigned to fully concentrate on the daily operations of DAJ. Dad (the Chairman) was a full time Senior Pastor, ordained minister of The Assemblies of God Malaysia, a Principal of the Malaysian Tamil Bible Institute before he resigned to further concentrate on DAJ. Both my parents are very ethical and make sure they follow the rules or guidelines as much as they can. At the end of the day, the Bible & God is the one that will judge if they were good people. They both love the Lord very much and always put God first before anything else. Both of them also have a vast experience in the Accounting & Finance background, as such, they make sure that DAJ follows proper Accounting Standards. Since it was them who started DAJ, they made sure they DO NOT take any salary from the home. Both my parents are smart and people always ask me where do they get money to fund my brother & my education OR how do we even live in this world where money is a necessity for everything. The answer is SIMPLE! They used to save up when there was a monthly salary coming in those days. They bought education insurance for both Reuben and I and that came in handy when I was studying. Dad still preaches and he gets love offering. Churches put us in their missions programme and support us monthly. All we do is live simple lives and God sees us through. 
My family
God always grants the desires of your heart and every Christian know's that. For HIM to grant your heart's desire, you need to learn to put HIM first in all you do. Our family love to travel and we travel A LOT as a family. God provides for our needs. NO, we don't take money from DAJ because that money is for the children & the daily operations of the home, such as, Staff salaries, utility bills, school expenses, food, clothings, pocket money, etc... Ask any parents how much they'd need to take care of growing children, they'll tell you that it takes a lot and with such economic situations, it can be expensive. Most families may have 2 children at average and they may already say its expensive. Please multiply that with 100 children and 13 senior citizens and you'll know how much is needed daily. Our montly expenses come up to RM85000/mth. So, to my parents, they money is not for themselves to spend. They have the children at heart. 
Dad bringing some pastors & the previous General Superintendent of AG M'sia on a tour around DAJ
Any company gives benefits to their Chairman and Directors, similarly, DAJ's Management Committee (consisting of various responsibe people who work in the corporate sectors but have the passion for the poor & needy) approves of certain benefits for my parents as well. ie: rental, utilities, entertainments, transportation fee, etc... It's only fair that they get these benefits as well. :) Recently, my dad was blessed with a car. It is a MERCEDES BENZ. It may not be the latest version, but it is still a MERCEDES BENZ. He found it hard to drive it around because it may cause an uproar amongst certain supporters or even people in the home. For some time, I was the one driving the car and he refused to drive it. After much advice from the Management Committee, friends and loved ones, he decided he will drive it BUT he will put the DAJ logo on the doors. In that way, it shows that it's a DAJ car although it was NOT bought with the DAJ money. If you don't belive, come ask me, I'll tell you where the car came from and who gave us the car. You can speak to the person directly and ask him why he gave us the car. It saddens my heart if people can comment that the Chairman driving a Merc = not showing concern to the home or children's welfare or even considered utilizing home finances. Again, it's for GOD to judge. 
The Mercedes Benz without the DAJ logo.
I thank God for his countless blessings for the home as well as our family. I thank God for granting continuous wisdom, strength, good health to my parents to run the orphanage. IT IS NOT EASY at all. If for any reason you don't believe me, why not try working as a staff for 1 month and tell me how it is. I'm thankful for the staff in DAJ who have been there showering their love and care upon the children. And most importantly, I love the children because they are family and they bring joy to our lives... My point of this whole long entry was to say that my parents are ethical and they make sure the home is as well, be it,financially or any other way. However, there are people who may be jealous because the home has been sustaining with God's Providence for so long and are waiting to attack at any slightest possible way. Just a reminder to everyone: NOBODY IS PERFECT! TALK ABOUT PERFECT=ONLY GOD IS. BEFORE THINKING OF RUINING ANYTHING OR FINDING FAULTS WITH PEOPLE, REMEMBER THIS FAMOUS PHRASE QUOTED BY JESUS: "LET HIM WHO HAS NO SIN, CAST THE FIRST STONE". IF DISCIPLINING CHILDREN IS A SIN - HERE'S A PROVERB: " SPARE THE ROD & SPOIL THE CHILD". If you think it is so easy to run an orphanage, please do go ahead and open one and then tell me all about it after one year... :) 
My adorable kids...
I have still so much to learn and I know my burden is to carry on the good work my parents have started. I am learning and still learning and will continuously learn. Everyday is a learning process and every child or senior citizen that comes to DAJ can teach me something... I will only take over my parents position when my parents slowly hand it over to me. As for now, I will serve alongside them and learn as much as I can with God's leading & guidance. Oh, did I say, I WILL NOT TAKE ANY PAY/SALARY as well from DESA AMAL JIREH because I don't want to. That's why I will be working to save up (still looking for a fulltime job) for my future and the rest, I'll leave to God to settle. Let HIM be my Jehovah Jireh and provide me with a good hubby (not getting married anytime soon & no one in the picture yet so don't hv to ask me lar ;)), financially and in everyway possible as I learn and make sure I put HIM first in all I do. 
more of them...
Sorry to bore you. If you read to the end, thank you. If you gave up, it's ok... I Don't think I'll write anything this long anymore... There's so much I can write but I've also got a lot of other things to do and I can't bore you. Talk to me, I'll tell you more! Just felt very troubled and I felt I had to clarify matters, things that may be bugging certain people. As I said, I've friends asking me about the above mentioned issues, hence, an entry for your reading pleasure. Sorry for any grammatical errors... brains thinking faster than fingers. A Big THANK YOU to all who have been supporting Desa Amal Jireh. You've been a blessing to the HOME and God will Bless you! Please continue to support and keep us in prayer. Love you guys... Thank you! With love,
Shanti |
