Micro-loans

We are all very excited for the next phase of Arms of Love. We have always been more interested in "teaching a man how to fish" versus "giving a man fish" - many of you are familiar with this African proverb. The next phase for Arms of Love has already begun - micro-loans. Our team was able to leave $1000.00 U.S. for the widows to begin various small businesses. These women WANT to work - they simply require the funds and opportunity. We have already identified 1 woman, Claris, who needed $100.00 U.S. to expand her fruit stand. She is so excited to buy more goods for her small business. This will ultimately help her feed her family and eventually NOT be a recipient of the Arms of Love food program. She will be able to support herself and her family, pay back the loan and open up her space in the Arms of Love feeding program for another orphan or widow in need. The other $900.00 U.S. will be used to start several small chicken businesses. After much discussion with Jackson and Rhonda, we are hoping that 10 other widows can run a larger chicken business in the church building (the building WMB sent funds for construction - it does not have a roof YET so the congregation still meets in the older building) For the time being, this new "roof-less" church building is an ideal location to begin a large chicken operation. Rhonda has had great success with her chicken business and will assist the widows in this project. Once the 10 widows are trained, competent and comfortable with the business and care of the chickens, they will each take several chickens home to begin their own business in their backyard. All loans will be repaid by the women as their businesses grow and revenue is generated. The repaid loans will go into a reserve "pot" that will then be used to start new projects with micro-loans for more widows. Jackson and his team of deacons and elders are more than competent in choosing and overseeing the widows who participate in this new micro-loan project. We are not yet ready to stop the feeding program - there are simply too many families dependent on the food distribution still. Our goal is that eventually all the widows and orphans in this community will have their own small business that they "own" - one that is able to support their family and help others in need. We are really excited about God's leading in this and the privilege to be part of this ministry that He has grown. Thanks to all - more to come.

Carolyn