I’ve been saving up for a new spring coat.  I intended to buy one this week, in fact, when I saw reports for all that rain.  But I decided against it.  I have a coat.  I’ve had it for a little under 20 years.  (LL Bean really does make stuff that lasts!)  Now, this coat is stained.  It’s got all sorts of marks on the front of it.  Maybe you can’t see it from a distance.  Maybe you can.  Because of the stains, I haven’t really worn it for much other than camping and hiking.  (It also folds into its pocket to make a nifty little pillow).  But it still works.  It still keeps me dry.  It still keeps me reasonably comfortable on a chilly spring day.

I’m keeping the coat.  And I’m going to start using it more often again, in spite of the stains.

And I’m investing the money I would have spent on a new coat in a small business in Rwanda.

World Vision has an amazing program of “Micro-financing.”  Explore the possibilities here. Basically, World Vision selects applicants for a small business loan.  Donations fund these loans to start or expand a person’s business, generating more income for the person and her family and enabling them to buy more basic things to survive.  The loan is repaid.  (WV reports an over 98% repayment rate)  The money is then loaned out to another small business.  When it is repaid, it is loaned out to another small business.  On and On and On.  Meanwhile, World Vision is at work in that community, providing help with clean water, clothes, food, shelter and schools.  As they say, it’s a holistic approach to human care.  And they take that seriously, caring for the WHOLE person, meeting physical needs and meeting spiritual needs with the Good News of Jesus.

Of course, with all of this now said and done, the zipper will probably break off in a week.  But I think I can get that fixed.