Here We go Awandering: You Are Created for Good Works in Christ !

In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, Chapter 2:10 we are reminded that- “We are what God has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life”. One way that we have enjoyed playing out this “way of life” recently has been our involvement in Kiva. We learned about Kiva while listening to a radio podcast during a trip to Yellowstone with our son Chad and his wife Lynde.

Kris and I have just recently funded our 21st loan thru Kiva. Over the past 18 months, we have helped fund loans to people in Togo, Kenya, Pakistan, Cambodia, Bolivia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, The Dominican Republic, Lebanon, Nicaragua, Viet Nam, Paraguay, Azerbaijan, Indonesia, and Mozambique. Our portion of these loans have been only $25 each, while the total amount of each loan these people have received have ranged from $250 to $2200. We choose to re-loan monies as they are paid back to other recipients.

Our money is pooled with the money from people from around the world to make these loans possible. We have joined people from all across the US, and Poland, Australia, Belgium, Israel, England, South Africa, Chile, Mexico, Canada, Brazil and virtually every other 1st and 2nd world country to make these loans possible. Retirees, newlyweds, workers, students, children, people from all walks of life have joined in these loans. The money has been used for such diverse purposes as buying an additional milk cow, to repairing a taxi, to purchase inventory for a small grocery store, to buy seed for a harvest, to buy a new sewing machine, to buy flour for a bread shop, etc. You get the drift. Important things that make a small business work. Important things that allow parents to earn money to feed their children.

We have been struck by the impact these loans have made to the recipients. These are truly life-changing opportunities. These are real loans, often at interest rates of 20 to 25% versus loans of 30 to 60% in their local regions. What amazes us is the fact that people take these loans seriously. Of the 21 loans we have made, 7 are totally paid back, 13 are making regular payments and are on-time. We have had one loan default, due to the death of the head of the local micro-financing agency. (Simply no one else is there to take over). Loan terms vary from 3 months to 14 months on our loans. Our loans are made to Kiva interest free. They work with local micro-financing agencies to qualify, distribute and receive payments, as well as working as coaches for these small businesses.

Overall, the default rate on loans made thru Kiva is 2.06%... the delinquency rate is 2.09%. I wonder what that has to say about our North American Society. In the 4th quarter of last year, the consumer delinquency rate was almost 3.22%, with 7.88% delinquency in mortgages. The default rate on student loans in this country was 6.9% last quarter and is expected to rise to 9% by the end of 2010. By 2010 the corporate default rate in the US will likely be over 23%. Importantly, very few people here are paying 20 to 25% interest and most of our consumer loans have not been made to buy the things these people are buying with these loans.

Since 2005:
· Total value of all loans made through Kiva $66,650,360
· Number of Kiva lenders worldwide 471,742
· Number of loans made through Kiva 95,392
· Percentage of loans made to women 77,84%

Join us in supporting this work. For more information go to www.Kiva.org or email us for more information.