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A life changing trip to Bolivia

Tiffany

January 26th, 2012 Post date

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In August of 2010 I had the amazing privilege of going on World Vision‘s 30 Hour Famine Study Tour to Bolivia. Imagine … ten days in small quarters with teenagers! For some people they would run with fright, but I love it! I love their energy, late nights, the crazy games and endless laughter. But more than this I enjoy their exuberance and ability to run headlong into new experiences - and to be willing to let God stretch and use them. What an honor to have a front row seat to see God work in these amazing teenager’s lives. While on the trip I met two guys – Dylan (red shirt in center) and Chris (green shirt far left). Below, they’ve described some of their experiences on the trip, and their visionary ideas that came from it…

World Vision's 30 Hour Famine Study Tour in Bolivia --www.worldvisionmicro.org

In the summer of 2010 we were selected by World Vision’s 30 Hour Famine to attend a study tour in Bolivia with seven other students from around the United States. The first and last village we visited was a small community named Viloma. Inside of Viloma, there was a town square with a church, a small store, a playground, and other miscellaneous buildings. The little store made and sold coin bags, purses, etc. We had the opportunity to visit this store and see all the work being done by a young lady with a sewing machine. It was truly incredible seeing the final product that this lady had made for people in her community to buy. So like any other tourists, we had to have a bag to take home and show our friends and family.

Sewing bags and purses helps this woman feed her family. --www.worldvisionmicro.org

This woman sewed bags for a living in a community that had trouble putting food on the table. It was clear that this business was located in an area where most could not afford handmade purses like this. However, there are millions of people in the world that can afford things like these bags, and would buy them not only because they are great products, but because of the meaning behind their purchase. Why couldn’t we make the bridge between the small businesses in developing countries and the consumers that can afford those products?

This is where the idea for ThirdWorldExchange.com got started. We work with small businesses in Peru and hope to expand to other countries, like Bolivia. Our goal is to expand their customer reach to people in the United States. Every single product sold by Third World Exchange is handmade and helps a hardworking entrepreneur.

Santa Rosa is located about 30 miles outside of Lima, the capital of Peru. Poverty in Santa Rosa is extreme. There is no running water or real roads. Some of our products at Third World Exchange will go to help build a new church in Santa Rosa. Many mission groups are already planned and will pass through this church further transforming the Santa Rosa community. Other products are made by a family in their home. This family struggles to provide for themselves but they host many missionaries from Germany and other countries and sells these products to be able to continue doing so. Millions of Peruvians- more than half the country’s people- struggle to survive. Close to one fourth of Peruvians live in extreme poverty.

With every product that is bought and sold through Third World Exchange, it gives businesses an unimaginable boost towards success and prosperity. Our goal is to change the world one business at a time, and we will not stop until that goal is achieved.

- Dylan Mckenzie & Chris Mosteiro
ThirdWorldExchange.com

Categorized in: Uncategorized

What will you give the King this Christmas?

Tiffany

December 20th, 2011 Post date

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Every year for the past 18 Christmases since my husband and I got married we have had a very special present that we put under the tree. It’s in a 12X12 box wrapped in silver wrapping paper. The lid is wrapped separately so it can be taken off easily. Most people wouldn’t take much notice of this present under the tree, but to our family it holds great meaning. It’s our present to Jesus.

We put our annual Christmas card and letter of what has happened during the year inside. Yes, it’s a good reminder of what God has done in our lives – but that’s not the gift part. We also write on the envelope or add something to the box we decide on as a family – something we want to give God that year (and hopefully for longer than just that year). It could be more time with Him, or maybe giving back to the community and volunteering more our time to others. Then we prayerfully give it as a gift to Him, the one who this whole season is meant to celebrate.

My daughter Karsyn placing the gift for Jesus under the tree.

Don’t you think it would be sad to have a birthday and everyone give gifts to each other but not to the one whose birthday it is? His birth was so amazing and was the beginning of the ultimate gift to us – His death on the cross for our sins.

This Christmas as you spend time with your loved ones, I encourage you to take the time to pause and remember the one who came for you so many years ago. And ponder in your heart what gift you will give the King this year.

From my family to yours during this amazing time of year - Merry Christmas!

Tiffany

Categorized in: World Vision

Armenia: Day 3

Tiffany

June 20th, 2011 Post date

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The following blog post was written by Tiffany, World Vision Micro’s Project Manager, after a recent trip to Armenia.

On a recent trip to Armenia I met Vlad, his wife Anush and two children. Vlad is a biology professor at a local school and I was amazed to learn that he does not make enough as a professor to support his family. Armenia is a former communist country, and the average monthly income is $70, but the prices for many of the basic items there were similar to the U.S. Can you imagine trying to feed your family and survive on making $70 a month but paying the same cost for food as you do here?

As a child Vlad learned to be a beekeeper and when World Vision presented him with the opportunity to start his own beekeeping business he jumped at the chance. Vlad is an excellent teacher – he taught us all about bees, beekeeping, how to make the honeycomb frames and his journey in becoming a beekeeper. We even got to help him make some frames for his beehives – what at great experience. When Vlad started he had 3 beehives and now he has 30! He is even certified to train others how to become beekeepers too.

Vlad uses the income from selling the honey in the summer to pay for the needs of the children.

It was so great to see Vlad doing something he was passionate about – beekeeping, to help support his family. And to see his son, watching his Dad’s every move from a safe distance. Maybe someday he’ll be a beekeeper too – but I know his Dad hopes he’ll do it for fun, not because he’ll need to supplement his income.

Categorized in: Armenia, Entrepreneurs, Success Stories

Matilda’s dream come true

Tiffany

December 29th, 2010 Post date

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Matilda (right) is a single mom of three. She also keeps her niece, daughter of her brother who passed away. She has a strong desire to provide for her children. She also had a dream to give them a hope for the future through an education.

Matilda applied for a World Vision loan of $75 to start a small dry goods store to serve her tiny community. She was approved for the loan and became part of a group called Harmos, for harmony. Together they learned the principals of small business.

Matilda was able to repay her loan in nine months and apply for a larger amount. She continues to grow her business, pay back her loans and apply for larger amounts. She now has a loan of 5,000, 000 Kwachas, nearly $1000 US dollars.

She makes a long trek by bus to Lusaka to supply much of the items she sells in her store. She also purchases dried Kapenta, the sardine-like food from the Lake Kariba fisherman and sells these in her shop and to markets in Lusaka.

Matilda has vision, determination and a goal to be able to afford a vehicle to help her make deliveries of Kapenta and to buy supplies in Lusaka.

As we visited with her, she was very quiet, patiently answered our questions, but humbly kept her eyes lowered.

Her tiny shop had chitenges (2 yard long pieces of fabric that wrap around as a skirt) for sale. Our group of nine women went into a little shopping frenzy and purchased every single chitenge in her shop. We thanked her, said good-bye and began to focus on the groups of children outside who had gathered to have a look at us.

One of the ladies in our group, however, took another peek into Matilda’s shop. She told us that she saw Matilda grinning from ear to ear as she counted her unexpected windfall profits.

Matilda’s children are now in school, they no longer wonder where their next meal will come from. She has a small savings and they all have a new view of the future. What a wonderful dream come true for Matilda!

As we are upon the New Year, consider how you might fund a loan for someone like Matilda and make the future brighter for them too.

Categorized in: Entrepreneurs, Field Partners, Microfinance, Success Stories