God bless yoall Craig

I don’t want to give him bank details yet until I can also give him details of our status, strategy etc.

Craig

Am joting down some notes I’ve taken from the book I’ve shared with you as I have to pass it back. 

*Farmers loan of US$920 was paid back in 4mths It allowed them to buy fertiliser and grow tomatos, onions beans ….The impact was immediate.”Now after harvest I have money to buy rice and clothes for my children, to save for their future.” Farmers reported after 4mths 20% growth in income and 20 new jobs within the community.  Next loan , they enriched the soil…more crops, better yield, learned advanced farming techniques.

One farmer says he now had surplus to trade for chicken (improved health), The group bought bricks and built 2 roomed houses…stored thier tools and fertiliser in the old straw huts…started saving through a group savings plan…planning to buy a vehicle to save a 3hr bus ride (deliver fresh) and mobile ph (take orders).  Over 5yrs loans totaling US$7000 were paid on time, with interest.

*The last thing David wanted to do was to help create a class of of prosrerous people who would then turn around and exploit the poor. He saw raw capitalism, without constraints or values, as dangerous. If husbands still beat their wives, and neighbours still fought, what had changed?  The evidence of change…..when those who had been poor felt prosperous enough to help their neighbours who were in distress or need.

*Christian Micro Enterprise Development (CMED), an extention of Opportunity International, brings together Christians who either had plans to use Micro Enterprise Development as a tool for helping the poor they worked with in developing countries, or were already making small loans and needed to learn how to go about it in a more professional and efficient way.

*Dignity, Empowerment, Self confidence.  Focus is on the whole person.  Impact of increased income immediate an often lasting, resulting in familys ability to afford food, shelter, eductaion and health care.  Equally important changes…community service, personal development soon followed.

*Asking leaders “What does your community need?”

This stuff is real, its happening… Cool huh?

I have the site address info now now so I should be on every now and then.

But for now all I want to say is thank you all for an unforgettable experience.

It’s not hard for me to live as the new person i am though sometimes in the

struggles of everyday life no matter how small I loose sight of what realy matters,

I think we all do this and always have but it has only struck upon my mind just now,

anyway thanks again hope to read from you soon, it feels weird typing that .

on another note

it’s so humid in here I can barley stand it, after india it shouldn’t be a problem

but it’s such a contrast the the Dubbo dry heat of norm that it is a shock.

later. j

When you ask yourself, “What can I do now?” please don’t limit the answer to that question. Please raise money, write letters of encouragement, help us with legal advice in forming a registered charity and make a decision about what you would like to give now and regularly. You can settle that issue right here and now by going here. Please do that if you haven’t already.

27 Dec 09

Observations and information to date:
Accountant is getting an information package from the ATO. The ATO requires for a charity to be an entity which can be a corporation, association etc. The safest is a corporation limited by guarantee. The problem is that a corporation is to have share holders and a charity cannot have share holders. Catch 22!
There is obviously a way around this, we just don’t know what it is yet.

Chris has got onto some people who have established charities in the past. I’m awaiting details and will write to them seeking assistance.

One of these people has suggested that the biggest problem is to make sure that the other end is established as a charity, otherwise their Gov will start taxing their income which defeats the purpose. David, could you start to look into this? Maybe your church is already a charity and any money could be directed through those accounts, although that may not be satisfactory to you or to the church.

Am reading “Just Courage” at the moment, the author Gary Haugen, was the founder of IJM (International Justice Mission). He states very clearly that to supply education and welfare without addressing any injustice behind the problem is only a temporary solution. I think we all agree, and I expect that David will keep us informed of any behind the scenes injustice or bullying.
Gary Suggests that God has given all people; life, liberty, dignity, and the increase that flows from a person’s love and labour. Anyone who uses their power to steal these things is committing the sin of injustice.

Some verses to read: Matt 23:23, Mic 6:8, Isa 58: 6, 8&9, 11 & 12, Isa 1:17.

ACTION FROM HERE
• As soon as I can get the details I will write to Chris’ contacts.
• I will keep in touch with the accountant to get the ATO package.
• We need to think about who we want as directors of the charity and what we want to call it. I don’t know how many directors we need, but we need to appoint them with our application I expect.

I now have a moment to reflect a little more on our wonderful two weeks
away. I have visited India twice before. The last visit was 22 years ago and  I didn’t notice any significant change apart from all the mobile phones. That was weird!

I had forgotten the terrifyingly exciting experience of being in the traffic, but within seconds of leaving the curb in the auto rickshaw, that memory soon come flooding back to me.

Yikes!!! “Oh my goodness!! Mariah! Keep your arms in the rickshaw!!” Im sure all this noise is not good for her ears! (I don’t say this aloud of course) There is so much beeping and honking I wonder how the drivers know which beep was meant for them and which was not. Absolute kaos!!!

“Aaaggghhh. That was so close!!” (squeals from all the girlies) “OUCH!! that was my head!!” That pothole was big enough to bury a buffallo!

“LOOK OUT!! Puppy sleep on road!!” (I say frantically) Oh my goodness! that was SO close” (again) Are you OK Julie? Puppy is fine! How does anything sleep with screaming traffic wizzing past on either side???

As we turn at a slow busy intersection all of a sudden there is a cow/buffalo/ox thing with it’s head in our rickshaw!!! Oh my goodness MARIAH let go of that animals horn!! Just move back!!! MARIAH LET GO!!!! OK little miss coolness. You act like nothing phases you but remember that toilet at the village!!! Remember the frog!!! Remember the cow poop!!! And remember the??? No, I won’t go there, but it was funny!!

I was really excited to be a part of the team for a number of reasons but seeing the work in Bellary was up there on top of my list. As much as I believed in the work because of what I heard through emails from David and from those who had previously visited and, of course, from dear Ruth herself when she stayed with us, it was something else being there and seeing a portion of this love in action.

Since being home I have felt our stories of India have not left much impression with some folk, while with others they have really touched their hearts. In a week, Mariah and I are sharing about our trip with the Church that we are attending. I am hoping to clearly put across a summary of our trip and explain the wonderful work that has been done along with the amazing things that can still be done.

Our time in India was unforgettable for both Mariah and I and we would both love to return some time?? We loved getting to know the Nerellas. What an inspiring family. I loved seeing the love and admiration that the family have for their Mother, Pansy. I could listen for hours to the stories of how the work all started many years ago.

As we go into our busy worlds, it’s sobering to think of what even $5 can do in India if put into the right hands. Thank You David for being those hands!

Love Soni and Mariah