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Personal Stories

Albertine Djedjro, Surviving Spouse, Cote d'Ivoire

Albertine Djedjro has many children to support on a small pension she receives as a result of the death of her husband, a United Methodist pastor. “Some of our kids are very young,” says Djedjro. “There is not enough for them.”

Medical care for Djedjro and her family is out of the question. “Before 1985, we could go to the United Methodist hospital in Dabou,” she says. “But the hospital can no longer afford to support us for free, so now they charge us a small fee. We cannot afford it.”

Despite few resources, Djedjro and her husband valued education and their connection to the Church. She continues to instill those values in her children now that her husband is gone.

“All of our kids are educated,” she says. “Three of my kids sing in the choir, one is a lay preacher and one is a teacher.”

The Central Conference Pension Initiative was started to provide a retirement with dignity to retired pastors and their surviving spouses, such as Albertine Djedjro. To find out more about the initiative, explore www.ccpi-umc.org or write to ccpi@gbophb.org. Donations can be made online or by calling 847-866-4230.