One HOPEful weekend

Bill and I just returned from a crash course in microfinance in the Dominican Republic. Somehow we were invited on the HOPE International President’s Trip, somehow we decided to go, and it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We are amazed at the people we met, from the HOPE and Esperanza employees, to the associates, to the fellow President’s Trip attendees. We are just grateful for the opportunity.

In a nutshell, Esperanza provides Christian-based microfinance services in the Dominican Republic. When HOPE decided to work in DR, they discovered that the better mission would be to support Esperanza’s efforts that were already in place. It seems to be a terrific partnership. (And as a donor, you have to love an organization that doesn’t feel the need to recreate the wheel!)

Honestly, we just got back this afternoon and we are still kind of reeling from so many great things that we saw this weekend. But let me leave you with three thoughts for tonight:

About the HOPE and Esperanza employees: total commitment to loving Jesus and loving the associates (loan recipients), and wanting to deliver the best possible loan products even as they come alongside the associates to teach about Jesus, health care and business practices. This is how they serve the whole person, not merely the business that the associate owns.

About the associates (loan recipients):  dignity and pride as they shared their individual stories with us, and beautiful communities that we were able to glimpse.

About our fellow attendees: what amazing enthusiasm to see the Kingdom of God advanced not merely through a hand-out, but through entrepreneurship and a commitment to work and achievement.

If I had to think of one verse that encompassed  the whole weekend, it’s actually pretty easy:

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.–Colossians 3:17 (NIV)

I’m looking forward to sharing some specific stories as the week goes by!