First, a few pictures of amazing things on two wheels:
Where in the World Am I?
--what day is it? Is it a holiday here?
--let’s see…which bank account should I pay this bill from?
--what currency am I operating in….better think in…dollars!
--which address should I give this person?
--the gas station pump wants my zip code! Ha ha! Wish I could remember which
address this credit card is billed to….
--how do I explain why I can’t do jury duty next month?
--how should they reach me to verify this order? Well… can’t remember my
Colombia cell phone number, or David’s….but I think I remember the U.S. one…which will be shut off in a few days…
Life can get quite complicated when one is living, sort of, in two or three places at once!
We left Colombia on December 17 and enjoyed spending the holidays with our kids, as we reported in our last e-mail. As 2008 began, I (Connie) headed in to the LAM office on a regular basis to work with staff there on a number of issues related to my position as Director of Member Care, and to plan for the upcoming Orientation for new missionary candidates.
--what day is it? Is it a holiday here?
--let’s see…which bank account should I pay this bill from?
--what currency am I operating in….better think in…dollars!
--which address should I give this person?
--the gas station pump wants my zip code! Ha ha! Wish I could remember which
address this credit card is billed to….
--how do I explain why I can’t do jury duty next month?
--how should they reach me to verify this order? Well… can’t remember my
Colombia cell phone number, or David’s….but I think I remember the U.S. one…which will be shut off in a few days…
Life can get quite complicated when one is living, sort of, in two or three places at once!
We left Colombia on December 17 and enjoyed spending the holidays with our kids, as we reported in our last e-mail. As 2008 began, I (Connie) headed in to the LAM office on a regular basis to work with staff there on a number of issues related to my position as Director of Member Care, and to plan for the upcoming Orientation for new missionary candidates.
On January 11, David came back to Colombia. He immediately began working with his Community Bank groups (per our Blog entry of January 22) and also did a trip to Honduras to give a conference on Economic Development, with a quick side visit to his mom in Costa Rica. In addition he spent several days preaching and giving workshops on economic development in the slums of Cartagena. So each evening as I tried to call him, I needed to remember what country he was in and what cell phone system to use!
Meanwhile, I was deeply involved in the LAM Orientation, giving classes to new candidates, doing psychological testing and interviews, and generally helping out in the office. During the Orientation I stayed at the hotel with the candidates; at other times I was at the apartment of one of our kids, or at the condo we still have in Key Largo. After the Orientation was over I helped son Jon move out of the house he had been renting—sharing a rental became way too complicated—and to our condo in Key Largo. Next I furiously packed as much stuff as I could into two 55 pound suitcases for Colombia: it involves careful packing and weighing to exactly hit 55 pounds! Jon helped me get these heavy bags into the car and on February 4th I headed back to Colombia—and David!
One night shortly after my return, I woke up and literally was not sure for several minutes where I was! I knew exactly who was in bed with me, though, and that helped me realize that I am, indeed, back in Sincelejo!
It has taken several days to clear away the dust and grime that gathered in my six weeks away… David figured, “Why clean it up, it would just get dirty again!” Now there’s a rationale for you! Of course there are also piles of mail to go through, papers to organize…and dirty clothes… It has been much more fun to unpack the things I was able to bring from the U. S. that help make our home here more “like home.”
I’ll just get settled and caught up again (hopefully!) and turn around and head back to Miami on February 25 and then to the LAM retreat in Mexico (Feb. 28-March 2) which it is my responsibility as Member Care Director to coordinate. I hope to come back to Colombia on March 6th.
All this “back and forth living” between countries is a huge privilege and adventure….but sometimes just downright….complicated. Travel lost its allure for me long ago and represents merely the way to get where I am supposed to serve, even as I try to remember what language and currency to use, what addresses and phone numbers to give, and…where I am.
Fortunately, I always know to Whom I belong, and why I am in this “back and forth life.” For at the other end of each plane trip, at the other end of a phone call, or an internet connection are lives. People Jesus died for. They may be new missionary candidates who need encouragement, and guidance. They may be missionaries hitting rough spots who need a listening ear, reassurance and prayer. They may be Colombian brothers and sisters who need to learn that God cares about their poverty and cares how they live out their faith in their daily business transactions.
So where am I today? It is a great comfort, even if I can’t remember my phone number, to believe that I am right where I belong in His plan.
What’s the matter with your eyes?
David sat patiently waiting for a meeting to begin in the suburb (actually a slum) of Cartagena called Mamonal. He was sitting outside, on a plastic chair, waiting for lunch to be served. Slowly, little boys, six to eight years old gathered around him, staring. He could tell they wanted to ask him something, and wondered what was fascinating them. Finally, one of them, who had clearly been elected to gather his courage and ask the question for all of them, stepped up and said, “What is the matter with your eyes?”
“My eyes?” responded David.
“Your eyes…they look strange. Are they bleached by the sun?”
David realized they were fascinated and scandalized by his blue eyes. They had never seen blue eyes before!
In this beautiful city of Cartagena, jewel of the Caribbean, with its pirate lore, ancient forts, European tourists and skyscrapers, there exist slums in which nine-year-old boys know little of the world beyond their streets of mud and houses of cardboard. They have never seen tourists, skyscrapers or airplanes. They have seen so few cars they don’t even know they should get out of the street when one approaches. And they have never seen anyone with blue eyes.
Colombia is a huge and wealthy country, with millions of well-educated and sophisticated people. Some of them, in fact, have blue eyes. But in this vast land there are pockets of unbelievable poverty…immense pockets of excruciating poverty. It is hard to see this poverty, and painful to realize how little these people have; but it is in those pockets that David wants to work.
There is nothing wrong with his eyes.
“Good news…..Freedom for the Prisoners” (Luke 4:18)
The widow of the pastor who had been killed in the civil war needed a loan to expand her business of selling clothes, and at first glance this appeared to be another good deed, a service to a needy family. But when we gathered the information for the business plan, we discovered that her existing business was based on supplier credit that was charged at 50% per month, i.e. a 600% per year interest rate. Since she had been successful in managing inventory of over $500 per month, on which she paid $250 per month, she has been quite successful with the interest payment she now makes, which is so small, she says, that she does not even notice it! She was used to being enslaved by the money lenders, and is now free.
Many, many people we are working with are managing small loans at very high interest rates, but without such high interest loans, they have no capital. The “best” rate we have discovered, thus far, is the four-week flat rate of 10%. This figures out to about 13% per month, as the person pays back interest and capital daily. Again, clients successful with such a ‘paga-diario’ are extremely successful in our program, as we eliminate most of the interest they are accustomed to paying. They can now be free from the exploitative money lenders.
How wonderful to help free them! This freeing ministry is an important aspect of the Desarrollo Integral program.
“Big Brother” Knows Better?
At the special program for families displaced by the civil war in Montelibano, there is a big sign with the US AID initials, and underneath it explains that the program is funded for the poor by the people of the United States. But I think that most people in the U.S. would find the rules for this program, coming down from the top, to be silly.
For example, people in this community have small businesses funded by money lenders (see above) and need access to capital. But the US AID program does not allow for their funds to be lent, only provided as a gift. So the first result is to turn hard working business people into social welfare recipients.
To get this gift, the people have to go to many, many meetings. This takes them away from their businesses. But also, anyone going to the meetings is going to get the money, so operating a viable business does not matter, anyway.
The amount of the gift for business is $750, no matter what. Everyone gets the same gift, regardless of need, regardless of age. And once the recipient receives the gift, that’s it: no help with the business, no advice. Unfortunately, here there is no on-going loan program being created, no incentive to keep working, no additional investment. There is no monitoring of progress or results. People can drink away the “gift,” and some of them probably will.
I am from the United States, and this does not make sense to me at all. Probably the Washington bureaucrats that hatched it had good intentions, but I think they must never have had a business…..and never thought through the implications of their policy on displaced people: who need a business that supports them for years more than they need one large gift that their relatives will all want a piece of.
Discipling through business
David has been having the time of his life this past week, because he has spent three days in a row meeting with the Community Bank groups that are set up and running in Sahagún, Tuchín and Colombóy. He meets with them in one of the businesses, provides a “coffee break,” and starts his Training Session by asking the members how their businesses are going. All kinds of problems are brought up; successes too. The loan recipients learn from each other, give each other ideas, and sometimes come up with delightful synergies: ways they can help each other out.
If a pastor is present (and usually at least one of the loan recipients is a pastor) David asks that pastor to give the devotional. If there is no pastor, David has a devotional ready to give. During and after the devotional, time is devoted to talking about how to honor God in their business dealings, with their employees, and in their families. In one group a back-sliding member was gently chided and prayed for. In another group a young man questioning his faith was treated kindly and offered a book that can help answer his questions. The Training Session ends with a time of prayer: not superficial, general prayer, but real, honest prayers about the problems and opportunities discussed that day.
This is what David loves: down-to-earth problems discussed openly with God’s Word brought in and practically applied.
Who says you can’t disciple through a loan program?
Meanwhile, I was deeply involved in the LAM Orientation, giving classes to new candidates, doing psychological testing and interviews, and generally helping out in the office. During the Orientation I stayed at the hotel with the candidates; at other times I was at the apartment of one of our kids, or at the condo we still have in Key Largo. After the Orientation was over I helped son Jon move out of the house he had been renting—sharing a rental became way too complicated—and to our condo in Key Largo. Next I furiously packed as much stuff as I could into two 55 pound suitcases for Colombia: it involves careful packing and weighing to exactly hit 55 pounds! Jon helped me get these heavy bags into the car and on February 4th I headed back to Colombia—and David!
One night shortly after my return, I woke up and literally was not sure for several minutes where I was! I knew exactly who was in bed with me, though, and that helped me realize that I am, indeed, back in Sincelejo!
It has taken several days to clear away the dust and grime that gathered in my six weeks away… David figured, “Why clean it up, it would just get dirty again!” Now there’s a rationale for you! Of course there are also piles of mail to go through, papers to organize…and dirty clothes… It has been much more fun to unpack the things I was able to bring from the U. S. that help make our home here more “like home.”
I’ll just get settled and caught up again (hopefully!) and turn around and head back to Miami on February 25 and then to the LAM retreat in Mexico (Feb. 28-March 2) which it is my responsibility as Member Care Director to coordinate. I hope to come back to Colombia on March 6th.
All this “back and forth living” between countries is a huge privilege and adventure….but sometimes just downright….complicated. Travel lost its allure for me long ago and represents merely the way to get where I am supposed to serve, even as I try to remember what language and currency to use, what addresses and phone numbers to give, and…where I am.
Fortunately, I always know to Whom I belong, and why I am in this “back and forth life.” For at the other end of each plane trip, at the other end of a phone call, or an internet connection are lives. People Jesus died for. They may be new missionary candidates who need encouragement, and guidance. They may be missionaries hitting rough spots who need a listening ear, reassurance and prayer. They may be Colombian brothers and sisters who need to learn that God cares about their poverty and cares how they live out their faith in their daily business transactions.
So where am I today? It is a great comfort, even if I can’t remember my phone number, to believe that I am right where I belong in His plan.
What’s the matter with your eyes?
David sat patiently waiting for a meeting to begin in the suburb (actually a slum) of Cartagena called Mamonal. He was sitting outside, on a plastic chair, waiting for lunch to be served. Slowly, little boys, six to eight years old gathered around him, staring. He could tell they wanted to ask him something, and wondered what was fascinating them. Finally, one of them, who had clearly been elected to gather his courage and ask the question for all of them, stepped up and said, “What is the matter with your eyes?”
“My eyes?” responded David.
“Your eyes…they look strange. Are they bleached by the sun?”
David realized they were fascinated and scandalized by his blue eyes. They had never seen blue eyes before!
In this beautiful city of Cartagena, jewel of the Caribbean, with its pirate lore, ancient forts, European tourists and skyscrapers, there exist slums in which nine-year-old boys know little of the world beyond their streets of mud and houses of cardboard. They have never seen tourists, skyscrapers or airplanes. They have seen so few cars they don’t even know they should get out of the street when one approaches. And they have never seen anyone with blue eyes.
Colombia is a huge and wealthy country, with millions of well-educated and sophisticated people. Some of them, in fact, have blue eyes. But in this vast land there are pockets of unbelievable poverty…immense pockets of excruciating poverty. It is hard to see this poverty, and painful to realize how little these people have; but it is in those pockets that David wants to work.
There is nothing wrong with his eyes.
“Good news…..Freedom for the Prisoners” (Luke 4:18)
The widow of the pastor who had been killed in the civil war needed a loan to expand her business of selling clothes, and at first glance this appeared to be another good deed, a service to a needy family. But when we gathered the information for the business plan, we discovered that her existing business was based on supplier credit that was charged at 50% per month, i.e. a 600% per year interest rate. Since she had been successful in managing inventory of over $500 per month, on which she paid $250 per month, she has been quite successful with the interest payment she now makes, which is so small, she says, that she does not even notice it! She was used to being enslaved by the money lenders, and is now free.
Many, many people we are working with are managing small loans at very high interest rates, but without such high interest loans, they have no capital. The “best” rate we have discovered, thus far, is the four-week flat rate of 10%. This figures out to about 13% per month, as the person pays back interest and capital daily. Again, clients successful with such a ‘paga-diario’ are extremely successful in our program, as we eliminate most of the interest they are accustomed to paying. They can now be free from the exploitative money lenders.
How wonderful to help free them! This freeing ministry is an important aspect of the Desarrollo Integral program.
“Big Brother” Knows Better?
At the special program for families displaced by the civil war in Montelibano, there is a big sign with the US AID initials, and underneath it explains that the program is funded for the poor by the people of the United States. But I think that most people in the U.S. would find the rules for this program, coming down from the top, to be silly.
For example, people in this community have small businesses funded by money lenders (see above) and need access to capital. But the US AID program does not allow for their funds to be lent, only provided as a gift. So the first result is to turn hard working business people into social welfare recipients.
To get this gift, the people have to go to many, many meetings. This takes them away from their businesses. But also, anyone going to the meetings is going to get the money, so operating a viable business does not matter, anyway.
The amount of the gift for business is $750, no matter what. Everyone gets the same gift, regardless of need, regardless of age. And once the recipient receives the gift, that’s it: no help with the business, no advice. Unfortunately, here there is no on-going loan program being created, no incentive to keep working, no additional investment. There is no monitoring of progress or results. People can drink away the “gift,” and some of them probably will.
I am from the United States, and this does not make sense to me at all. Probably the Washington bureaucrats that hatched it had good intentions, but I think they must never have had a business…..and never thought through the implications of their policy on displaced people: who need a business that supports them for years more than they need one large gift that their relatives will all want a piece of.
Discipling through business
David has been having the time of his life this past week, because he has spent three days in a row meeting with the Community Bank groups that are set up and running in Sahagún, Tuchín and Colombóy. He meets with them in one of the businesses, provides a “coffee break,” and starts his Training Session by asking the members how their businesses are going. All kinds of problems are brought up; successes too. The loan recipients learn from each other, give each other ideas, and sometimes come up with delightful synergies: ways they can help each other out.
If a pastor is present (and usually at least one of the loan recipients is a pastor) David asks that pastor to give the devotional. If there is no pastor, David has a devotional ready to give. During and after the devotional, time is devoted to talking about how to honor God in their business dealings, with their employees, and in their families. In one group a back-sliding member was gently chided and prayed for. In another group a young man questioning his faith was treated kindly and offered a book that can help answer his questions. The Training Session ends with a time of prayer: not superficial, general prayer, but real, honest prayers about the problems and opportunities discussed that day.
This is what David loves: down-to-earth problems discussed openly with God’s Word brought in and practically applied.
Who says you can’t disciple through a loan program?
