But...does it work?

This is the most frequently asked question by donors and potential donors after they listen to how the programs Invest Hope offers works.

Does it work?

Do they really repay their loans?

Do they really contribute to their child's school fund?

Does it really help Haitian families stay together?

And the answer is...

 Yes! Yes they do! Yes they do! Yes it really does!

 Amicie finished repaying her first loan this past Sunday!

 

 Rosemirline finished paying off her 3rd loan this past Sunday!

 Family who was reunited with help from Invest Hope and remains together through help from our programs!

One of the perks of our microloan program is that the funds are loaned out and then as they come back in, new loans are given out with the same funds that were originally given.

In 3 years, 60 Haitians have participated in our microloan program. Out of those 60 people, only 2 have not repaid their loans.

96% of our loan participants have repayed or are currently successfully repaying their loans!

You are directly helping families stay together!

That being said, we are currently raising funds to build on our mission property in Peredo, Haiti!

This land will house our mission office, which currently housed in a shoulder bag that I carry around!

 For the past 3 years, we have been setting up office under a tarp with a small table.

 

 As you can see, this is not the best set-up for a loan type program. Plans for the land include an office and a large gazebo to offer classes and waiting space. Haiti is very hot so the open sides of the gazebo will allow air to pass through while offering shelter from the sun.

This gazebo will also be open for the public to reserve for meetings, weddings and funerals. 

This is just a taste of what we dream of doing for the people of Peredo on the mission property!

To do this, we need the funds. This is the largest fundraising task I have ever taken on! But my Father in heaven owns the cattle on a thousand hills! Psalms 50:10.

 We are trusting in Him to provide!

If you would like to help us in this project, please contact me at ginnyandrews@hotmail.com. We are looking for new partnerships with new churches and further partnerships with churches who currently support us.

Direct donations can be sent to:

Invest Hope

1578 Dayton Rd

Newark, OH 43055

I look forward to hearing from you!

 

I've blogged about Marline before.

She is pictured above sitting behind the basket. While this isn't the best photogenic picture, it captures the sense of the market in Peredo. 

Merchants setting up shop where ever. 

Marline is a graduate of our microloan program. She was actually the 2nd lady to be helped through this program. You can see her white 5 gallon bucket that she keeps clean water in to wash the utensils people use after eating her cooked food. She primarily sells to others selling in themarket who sit all day, without time to go home and get themselves something to eat. 

Inside the basket, perched on top of the 5 gallon bucket, is a pot of rice and beans, sauce and dishes for people to eat off of. 

And in the midst of her working, she is buying vegies off a child walking through selling.

There are lots of children in the market on market days. They are helping their families sell. These children do not go to school and learn what work means at a very young age.

I want to try to get more market photos...it's just hard in the chaos of the everything to pull out a camera and ask if you can take a picture.

Certainly isn't Krogers or Publix...but it works!

Check out our first newsletter!

To be added to email list, send a request to www.investhope.gmail.com.

Chikungunya

Chicken what a?

Yea...that's what I was asking this time last week...

Then last Thursday, we met. 

David and Omri had already had it. Chantal was getting over it. And then the no good, cotton picking, joint breaking, headache giving, stomach turning, energy zapping virus hit me with all it had.

And took me down.

One day if not being able to get out of bed by myself. Literally. 

Two days of fevers over 102.

One day of a total body rash.

And today, 4 days later...I am still limping around as if I have arthritis in my feet and very nauseous. 

Odessa is the "last man standing" in our house. I would venture to guess 85% of the Haitians I know have it...so it is only a matter of time for Odessa!

This virus has spread like wild fire across Haiti. And, according to this CNN article, it could be coming to YOUR town too.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/06/12/health/virus-chikungunya/

So not to scare you or anything, but brace yourself...it's a bummer of a virus.

Please pray for the Haitians currently fighting this virus. Some to do have access to fever reducing medications, most do not have electricity during the hottest parts of the day so are sweltering with fevers and great pain.