Microloans
“Master, he said, you entrusted me with five talents. See I have gained five more.” – (Matthew 25:20)
India
Our microloan program in India is centered in a rock quarry where families are trapped in a life of hard labor. They are from the untouchable caste and often their children are forced to work along side them. We give loans of about $100, usually to women with children. Most use the money to buy more rock, which they are able to sell and supplement their incomes. Often it is just enough to enable them to feed their children decently. One loan recipient recently said, I used to think that God looks out only for the rich because He is rich. Now I know this is not true. I understand that the real God cares for the poor too.
Mozambique
In Mozambique our microloan program is distributed among AIDS widows. These loans are around $50 and are used to buy food items or charcoal for resale in the market. Along with the loan we give each woman a $30 supplemental gift so that they can buy food for their family. We also provide training and encouragement. The goal of the microloan is to help these women feed their families and gain back their dignity. One loan recipient said, This is a small step out of poverty. But it provides a path for my children to follow.