Staff / Travels Archives | Page 2 of 30

by Chris Horst, chief advancement officer

For reasons outlined in more detail on my personal blog last month, I’ll be stepping back from my current leadership role at HOPE International into a part-time role in January 2023. This transition was made for positive family reasons and the desire to decrease travel and be more present with my family during this stage.

My transition means that two of my colleagues will be stepping into more senior leadership positions. For more than a decade, I have worked closely alongside both Dan Williams (pictured above in black) and Erika Quaile (pictured above in pink). They have both proven to be exceptional leaders of their respective teams. But even more significantly, I’m impressed with who they are as people. I am thrilled that they will be promoted to vice presidents and fully confident in their ability to move HOPE’s mission forward.

Dan and Erika embody the best of HOPE’s culture, and we are inspired by how they follow Jesus. They desire to grow, learn, wrestle with their own shortcomings, and serve others—their families, churches, communities, and colleagues.

It has been a joy and privilege to manage Erika and Dan, and I’m thrilled to share more about their unique qualifications for the roles they’ll be stepping into in the new year.
Continue Reading…

HOPE International is launching a new savings group program in Tanzania! And Anna Makundi recently joined us as the country director, with the task of forming a new team and bringing on new church partners. We’re grateful for her pioneering spirit and willingness to set the foundation to serve more people through savings groups.

Born and raised in Tanzania, Anna holds a master’s degree in public policy from the Victoria University of Wellington and has extensive international development experience with several prominent nonprofits. Anna lives with her husband and their three sons in Arusha, a city in northeast Tanzania.

Recently, Anna sat down with us to share her thoughts on why HOPE is launching in Tanzania, her dreams for HOPE’s impact in local communities, and how we can pray for her growing team. Continue Reading…

by Ugochi Obidiegwu (pictured third from left), 2022 Innovation and Design fellow

Joining HOPE International as an innovation and design fellow, I was curious about HOPE’s operations. I particularly wanted to see if the amazing things I saw on the website happened in real life.

Therefore, when I saw there was an opportunity to see the work of Esperanza International, HOPE’s microfinance partner in the Dominican Republic (D.R.), I signed up. And I was not disappointed. HOPE’s method of Christ-centered economic development works.

We are now in the third month of the war in Ukraine, with heavy fighting continuing in the east and south of Ukraine where Russia has occupied several cities where HOPE Ukraine operates. Missile strikes continue in Kyiv and other areas across the country.

The United Nations is reporting that more than 5.6 million Ukrainians have now fled the country as a result of the war. And 7.7 million people are displaced internally—most fleeing the violence in the eastern and southern regions. Continue Reading…

by Ruthie Claydon, Experience Team Assistant (summer 2021 intern) During my internship with HOPE International, I experienced spiritual growth in completely new and unexpected ways. Throughout the summer, I felt fully welcomed and integrated into the vibrant staff culture. Overall, here are four of the biggest ways I was impacted by HOPE’s employee-directed spiritual practices. […]

By the time we reached Rigoberto’s home, the sun had set, and I was feeling wiped out. Traveling to homes, through markets, and up the surrounding hills of Comas, Peru, we’d had two full days of meeting incredible savings group members connected to Comas CMA Church, HOPE’s partner in Peru. But stepping into Rigoberto’s home, I immediately felt soothed.

Part of it was probably because Rigoberto (pictured above) reminded me of my own dad: Both of them have a gentleness about them, and both have served as teachers for decades. Another piece was the warm greeting we received from Rigoberto and the members of his family—two daughters, his mother, sister, brother, and one grandchild—who welcomed us and invited us to sit with them to talk.

At first glance, they seemed like a close, happy family—but as we talked, Rigoberto shared that this hadn’t always been their reality.

Archives For Staff / Travels

Chris Horst

Chris Horst

Two leadership promotions to advance HOPE’s mission in 2023

HOPE Intl

HOPE Intl

Q&A with HOPE Tanzania’s new country director

HOPE Intl

HOPE Intl

Four insights on economic development from a trip to the Dominican Republic

HOPE Intl

HOPE Intl

Ukraine update: how we’re helping entrepreneurs

HOPE Intl

HOPE Intl

How my HOPE internship invested in my spiritual growth

Kristine Frey

Kristine Frey

Father’s Day: not about perfection

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