1 IN 5...

It was sad for our team to see the heartbreaking situations that many people in Burkina Faso face. God showed us His faithfulness in the midst of pain and human tragedy. This picture below is one of our students holding a precious baby. One in five (1 in 5) children will die before the age of 10. God used simple interactions (like the one below) to show our team the reality of poverty and malnutrition and how God's heart breaks over this. God grabbed our hearts!

God-sightings in Burkina Faso...

I took a group of students and adults from my church to Burkina Faso a few weeks ago. Their were 14 of us. It was a life-altering trip. God was so good to us. The photo to the left is our team with some children in one of the villages that we visited. Our hearts were turned towards the beautiful faces and dreams of these precious children. God used simple interactions that our team had with these children to understand their world, what poverty is and how we can be better advocates for the poor.

These two women in the picture to the left received loans just a few weeks ago. It was so special to meet with these women recently and hear how these small loans are empowering them in their respective businesses. I was so encouraged by their diligence, creativity and motivation to provide for their families. God is using these loans to enable us to share Gospel of Jesus Christ with each and every borrower.

Check out the shirt the boy at the left is wearing. Notice the words on his "Obama shirt". The word, "Change" is on his shirt. It makes me think who is really capable of delivering change. Although President Obama based his entire presidential campaign on the word, "Change", there really is only one Change Agent. Only Jesus Christ can Change lives. Only Jesus Christ can help a person escape the nasty grip of poverty. The micro-lending in Burkina Faso is helping people change the course of their lives and alleviating spiritual and physical poverty. This is only because of Jesus Christ---the great CHANGE agent!

God has provided a moped!!! God has given our ministry a moped that enables our first loan officer, Jean, the ability to drive into the remote villages where we're doing the lending. As God continues to direct and expand this ministry, He will be the One who will provide. Our hope is in Him. The moped is His. The ministry is His. I'm thankful for this provision!

On our July trip with our high school students, we were able to go into several different villages where micro-lending is already taking place. On one of these trips, some of the women who had received loans pooled some of their own monies and purchased "wraps" for all the girls in our group. You can see them wearing them in the picture to the left. This was extravagent love. These women have very little, and they showed love and appreciation in a lavish way. Our students were moved. I was moved. A very humbling experience!

A Picture = A Story of Hope

This picture is of a borrower just getting her loan. Jean (the loan officer) is seated and in front of him is the table where he distributes the loans and then meets with each individual borrowers. Very informal...but it works.

Once the loan is given, the borrower agrees to pay their loan back in a certain time period (usually 6-9 months). In this time, the borrowers gather for training, mutual encouragement and of course saving strategies.

A little different than Wells Fargo and Bank of America...but every loan is a story of hope, not only for the woman, but for an entire family.

Some Borrowers Under a Mango Tree

This is a group of women who all received loans. A few of the children are sitting in the front. Notice the massive mango tree they are sitting under (literally, hundreds of mangos). Most of these women are Muslim. Most of these women received loans in the amount of $20-$100. All of the women pictured demonstrated a sustainable business plan and has the ability to repay their loan. It's so cool to be able be a small part of bringing hope to these women...and their families!

Micro-Lending Stories...and pics

This picture is the site in the village where we showed the JESUS film. We're getting things ready in this pic. The screen is to the right. The generator is on a trailer, not in the pic.
All the borrowers, children and other people from the village came and heard the Gospel. Many had never seen a movie before in their life...let alone a movie about Jesus Christ. Many heard...and some responded to accept Jesus following the movie.

This picture (left to right); a man I don't really know who he was, the Mayor of one of the villages where we're lending, me, Jean (the loan officer), Dieudonne (our interpreter), Jeff Rinck, and an elder from a local church that we're partnering with.

More Micro-Lending Stories...and pics

This picture is of me and three women who purchased this peanut machine with some loans. The machine shells the peanuts; the peanuts are then sold at the local market. The peanuts are also used to make other local foods that are used for consumption or sold at the market.










This picture is of Jeff Rinck (front row) with some women who just received some loans. These borrowers were excited as these loans gave them hope and a sense of dignity. Each face has a story...and each face represents a family. So exciting...

A Micro-Lending Dessert Night---You're invited!!!

Come and enjoy some delicious desserts and hear about the micro-lending work happening in Burkina Faso, West Africa. See pics, videos and hear some life-changing stories from people who have eperienced the love of Jesus Christ through the power of a loan. Also, here about some exciting "next steps" happening in the ministry.

When: June 4th
Where: @ the home of Jeff and Sherry Rinck in Cortland
Time: 7pm

Please RSVP to lendingtothepoor@gmail.com or (330)856-9664

Why Mass Immigration Can't Fix World Poverty

Check out this clip on Why Mass Immigration to the United States can't fix world poverty. It's fascinating. Enjoy!
www.numbersusa.org

To help the poor, and empower and give dignity to women in Burkina Faso through small loans, email lendingtothepoor@gmail.com.