100% and going strong

I haven't blogged much on the microfinance site lately, but that's not because it's not going well. Here are some encouraging stats after just 16 months since our first loan was given:

1. There are now 4 microbanks of 8-10 women each; MiBanco La Victoria, MiBanco Progresando, Mibanco Esperanza, and MiBanco El Tesoro
2. Nearly 40 women have loans
3. We have a bank in all 3 communities SI has been involved in over the past 10 years (El Callejon, Los Higos, and Mata Gorda)
4. We have a 100% repayment rate with no major problems to date.
5. MiBanco La Victoria has already paid back loans of $250 and $500. They each got a $1000 loan 2 months ago and are voluntarily paying it back at double the rate.
6. 2 women have accepted Christ and all of them have heard the Gospel and participated in Bible studies.
7. We regularly have women that show up at bank meetings with lists of women from their community that are ready and waiting to start businesses.

God has really blessed the program this past year. Pray that we would continue to grow as we continue to grow. Enjoy a few pictures from the past year:


Miriam, Lucy, and Milagros at Milagros' fried food stand. Miriam now works with me full-time in the microfinance site, Lucy worked with us as a student for 2 weeks and was one of the most amazing people I ever met. Milagros is in MiBanco La Victoria and started her stand with the loans.


Some students and I at Ramona's restaurant. Since this picture she's added a house behind and a roof over the area where all the students are sitting.


Dulce peeling the skin off of a yucca. She will later grind that yucca into a pulp and turn it into a flatcake called Casabe. Then she'll walk through town with her Casabe on her head until she sells it all.