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Ate Tina

Twenty-one years ago, a series of devastating blows made caring for her family feel impossible for Ate Tina. 

She’d recently gotten married, and only seven months after the wedding, she became the sole breadwinner of the household when her husband suffered a life-altering medical condition. Employed by a factory in the Philippines, Ate Tina worked grueling, long hours. When she learned she was pregnant, the factory’s demands were downright inhumane. 

“I ended up giving birth at home because I wasn’t allowed to leave work,” she recalls. 

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God cares deeply about each person living in spiritual and material poverty—and He calls us to love and serve them. Many of you are already responding to that call, but you might also be wondering: How can I help the next generation care about these same things? 

Maybe you have kids, grandkids, nieces, or nephews who love Jesus and love others, but haven’t yet encountered the realities of global poverty. Inviting them into this conversation can feel daunting. How do you share honestly without overwhelming them? 

Questions are a fantastic place to start. They create space for kids to wonder, process, and respond in their own way. 

Here are a few questions to initiate those conversations in everyday moments, whether on a walk, in the car, or around the dinner table.  Continue Reading…

By Bethany Hammond, HOPE International staff member

“Something you want. Something you need. Something to wear. Something to read.” 

It’s begun—the endless chorus of “Mom, can you put this on my Christmas list?” And here I am, caught between two worlds. 

In one world, I want my kids to experience the wonder of Christmas: the miracle of Christ’s birth, the glow of lights, the smell of cookies baking, and the magic of traditions that make the season sparkle. 

But in the other world, I feel the weight of frustration. Every message aimed at my kids (and let’s be honest, at me too) insists: “You need more. You deserve more. You’re entitled to more.”

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By Alisa Hoober, HOPE Board Member

Earlier this year, I had the incredible opportunity to visit HOPE International’s work in Zambia.

I’ve traveled and seen poverty before, but being with my children changed how I related to those I met. It was a blessing to visit with our whole family, especially with my three young daughters.

At home, we pray for HOPE and support their work—but showing our children HOPE in action was something I won’t forget. Continue Reading…

Before joining her savings group in Peru, Rina Navarro de la Cruz had to borrow a large loan with a high-interest rate just to pay the bills. Now, week by week, she’s escaping that cycle—and teaching her daughters about God.  Continue Reading…

In the Dominican Republic, a batey (pronounced “bah-TAY”) is a community made up primarily of families who immigrated from Haiti to work in surrounding sugarcane fields. These underserved communities are often located hours away from the nearest city. As immigrants, many families living in bateyes lack the necessary legal status to receive financial services, education, or medical services.

When Esperanza, HOPE’s microfinance partner in the Dominican Republic, first arrived in Batey Margarita in 2006, Jacobo Benjamin was the first of his neighbors to take out a loan. Previously, Jacobo had worked in the nearby sugarcane fields, cutting and processing the crop. But when the processing company announced it was closing, Jacobo knew he’d need to find a new source of income.

With his loan from Esperanza, Jacobo opened a colmado, or corner store, allowing him to provide for his family and meet a key need for his neighbors.

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