The Basics

It takes nothing more than a quick glance at the life of Christ to realize that Christians should be all about holism. In my intern orientation a few weeks back, the president of HOPE international spoke some profound words into my life. He challenged us to look at the ministry of Jesus and recognize that everywhere He went, Jesus not only brought “good news” to heal the soul but also brought physical healing and restoration to hurting, poor and broken individuals.

I have heard the call on my life; I have been given a heart for those who have not been fortunate enough to possess an American passport. In my naïveté I believe everyone to be created equal and in my empowered generation (possibly to a fault) I have set out to see that I do not sit idly by when I have been given valuable skills and tools to empower.

I say empower and not help because I firmly believe that the majority of the working international poor do not need clothes donations, a soup kitchen or any other institution funded by often generous, well-intentioned individual from more developed countries. Yes, there is a percentage of individuals who live in such absolute poverty, they need a hand out instead of a hand up, but the majority I believe to be skilled and driven. They simply lack the opportunity to work their way out of poverty.

That’s where microfinance comes in. Microfinance is exactly what it sounds like, small loans to impoverished persons, equipping them with enough capital and training to empower them to climb, rung by rung, out of poverty. And that’s what I’m doing in the Dominican Republic. I’m working for a Christian Microfinance organization called HOPE international and its partner organization down here in the DR, Esperanza Internacional.

The basics of my job: I coordinate HOPE Vision trips to the DR and host visitors in country. I work in the capital city of Santo Domingo with an awesome team of passionate individuals that I’m proud to call my friends. I’ll be in the DR until early November when I plan on returning the land of my birth, good ol’ Cali.

I look forward to this blog as an arena where I can share my experiences, a forum through which we can have thought provoking discussions and a contact point for many of you to keep in contact with me while I’m away. I am honored if you take the time to read this and I’ll strive to make it unique and interesting!