My time in Nueva Suyapa is winding down...only 2 weeks left of work. 3 going away parties on the agenda. lots of purging and packing to be done...it's all coming so fast! As with each phase of my life, it is never easy to say goodbye, but you never can anticipate what is in store for the next adventure. A year ago at this time I had no idea I would be so blessed to have such a great family here in Honduras, a crazy bunch of coworkers who are truly great friends, and a pile of other experiences I can't even write down. If I had never said goodbye to my friends in central PA and my family, I would have never gotten to live like this!
So it is with the same anticipation that I must say goodbye to these friends in Nueva Suyapa (with the comfort that I will come back and visit from time to time) and forge ahead into the next phase of hellos and goodbyes.
It is in this spirit of wrapping up that I would like to share some stories from the Income Generation Program that I have worked in for the past 11 months. There are dozens more incredible, independent women just like the ones I'm going to post about this week. I hope you enjoy their stories and offer up a prayer for them, their loved ones and this community.
Gloria Maribel Reyes
Gloria Maribel is 35 years old and has lived in Nueva Suyapa with her family for 30 years of her life. Her husband left her 7 years ago, so she raises her 3 children as a single mom. Since then she has taken care of her family with God’s help and has seen how the community has grown and changed over time. There are better houses and streets, more schools, potable water, more churches and a growing population.
Gloria gives thanks to God for her friends Gloria Pino and Esperanza Sanchez who invited her to be part of their solidarity group at MCM 18 months ago. A solidarity group is a smaller group of women who co-sign on each other’s loans. In most cases, 5 or 6 solidarity groups will join together to become a community bank.
In the Matthew 6:33 group Gloria has made some good friends who have helped her grow her snack shop business. Before coming to the group, Gloria had very little capital to work with. The loan she receives each cycle has enabled her to buy an industrial stove to produce and sell more product. The trainings she has received through MCM have helped her see the importance of saving and managing money wisely.
About 12 months ago, Gloria was able to hire another women to help her in her snack shop because she has seen such an increase in her sales. She is happy to be able to provide employment to someone else who needs it, and by having someone else to work in her business, Gloria was able to achieve another dream: completing her nursing courses to be a certified nurse.
Although Gloria has not accepted Jesus into her heart, she feels that the devotionals at her bank meetings have helped clarify some of her doubts, and she has decided to send her children to Sunday school at a local church. We hope that she will soon be accompanying them.
Although Gloria has not accepted Jesus into her heart, she feels that the devotionals at her bank meetings have helped clarify some of her doubts, and she has decided to send her children to Sunday school at a local church. We hope that she will soon be accompanying them.
Gloria gives thanks to God for MCM’s work in the community and how they have helped so many women like herself, single moms who need an economic spark to move forward and want to see their children graduate. Gloria is proud to belong to the Matthew 6:33 group and believes that with God’s help and that of MCM, she will one day be able to open a second location for her business.
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