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HOPE Intl

Feb 9 2026

HOPE Intl

 Spiritual Integration Stories we love
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The courage to take a $73 loan—and find spiritual renewal

At first, Susan Cabanela didn’t want to join the Center for Community Transformation (CCT), HOPE International’s partner in the Philippines. In fact, when her best friend invited her in 2008, Susan refused.

She had been running a small sari-sari (“variety”) store out of her home since 2005—just two basins of goods that she brought out in the morning and carried back inside at night. With all three children in school and her husband’s taxi driving bringing unstable earnings, money was always tight.

Susan was afraid to take a loan. She wondered, what would happen if she couldn’t pay it back?

But her friend persisted in her encouragement, and Susan took the step of faith to take her first loan of $73. Continue Reading…

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HOPE Intl

Nov 12 2025

HOPE Intl

 Microfinance Stories we love
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Building a new future: Tess’s story

Tess

As a widow living just outside of Manila in the Philippines, Tess’s dream of one day seeing her two daughters graduate from college seemed just that–a dream. Her husband had died suddenly of a heart attack when she was only 32, leaving Tess the sole provider for their two young girls. 

Tess worked hard in her sari-sari (variety) store to provide for her family’s basic needs, but she knew it wasn’t enough to someday pay for university tuition.   Continue Reading…

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HOPE Intl

Sep 8 2025

HOPE Intl

 News
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Driving communities forward: investing in transportation entrepreneurs

In many countries where HOPE International works, entrepreneurs in the transportation sector are often overlooked by traditional financial institutions. For instance, a taxi driver who aspires to purchase his or her own vehicle might put in long hours to make ends meet, but without access to business loans, it can be a long or even impossible road to achieve that dream. 

That’s why HOPE is listening to the needs of those in this sector—and creating tailored services to help these entrepreneurs pursue their dreams.  Continue Reading…

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HOPE Intl

Aug 22 2025

HOPE Intl

 Stories we love
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“Nothing to fear”: Edgar’s story of enduring faith

Edgar Dela Cruz lived for many years in Manila, Philippines without a home, without work, and without a way to provide for himself. 

“When we were on the streets, life was really hard—if we had nothing to eat, I ended up stealing,” he says. Sometimes, he recalls, he and others living without a home were arrested, despite not breaking any laws. 

Through it all, he held on to an unwavering hope that God would lead him to a brighter tomorrow.  

“We had nothing to hold on to except the Word of God,” Edgar shares. “That is what we held on to, believing that our lives would get better and we had nothing to fear.”  

By the grace of God, his life was about to flourish beyond what he could have ever imagined.   Continue Reading…

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HOPE Intl

Aug 6 2024

HOPE Intl

 Spiritual Integration Stories we love
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Beyond herself: How Norlita escaped poverty to serve a remote tribe

Norlita escaping poverty in the Philippines and economic opportunity

In a remote province of the Philippines, Norlita Escarez and her husband, Philip, collected pebbles and sand for a living.  

Without access to better job opportunities, the couple found it difficult to save money and make ends meet for their family of five.

It’s far too common for Filipino families to struggle this way, with nearly 20 million people in the country living in poverty. The Mangyan tribe, who lives in the mountains near Norlita and Philip, is also struggling. Even amid Norlita’s longing for more financial stability, her heart yearned to minister to her neighbors who lacked access to medical care and nutritious food. 

Despite the reality of this material poverty, Norlita and her husband were joyful in Christ. But would their love for the Lord carry them through financial hardship? Would she ever have the means to minister to the Mangyan tribe? 

Continue Reading…

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HOPE Intl

Sep 19 2023

HOPE Intl

 Microfinance News
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Empowering her community with jobs, one thread at a time

Through CCT, HOPE International's microfinance partner in the Phillipines, Leonora empowers her community.

When Leonora Calipay’s children finished school and she came home to the Philippines, she knew there was something more to her life than retirement.

Leonora’s neighbor noticed her desire to do meaningful things in her free time, so she taught Leonora to sew rugs. With this new skill, Leonora started her own small rugmaking business. She hoped to empower her neighbors—especially the single mothers in her community—to make a living through the same craft.

Continue Reading…

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