This summer will be a summer full of HOPE. I
mean this in more ways than one, but that will come in a later post. The Lord has been doing so much in
my life lately that I couldn’t help but share.
For those of you that don’t know I have the
amazing opportunity this summer to serve at HOPE International as the Executive
Public Relations Intern in Pennsylvania.
WHAT
IS HOPE?
I began my internship about two weeks ago,
starting off with HOPE’s annual Leadership Summit (where all international and
U.S. leaders come together for a week of encouragement and training). During
this time I learned so much about HOPE.
I am completely astounded by the work that
they do. In short, HOPE uses microfinance, small loans, and savings credit
associations to help people lift themselves out of poverty. Now, if you’re
anything like me, you might be asking the following: English please? Here’s one
of my favorite examples that helped me understand what they do.
There’s a man named Javier in South America
(hypothetically speaking) and he paints cars for a living. He only has the
ability to paint one car a day, which is obviously not enough for him to
sustain his family. HOPE gives Javier a small business loan for about $50,
which enables him to buy a paint sprayer. Javier can now paint up to 8 cars a day!
He is part of a group people that also received loans (like a loan support
group) and through weekly meetings they receive Christ-centered business
training.
Okay, let’s recap. Javier has been enabled
to use his own God-given abilities (instead of receiving hand-outs) to provide
for his family. But wait, that’s not all. More money means that he is able to
send his children to school, educating them so that they can grow up and have
jobs to provide for their families. So not only is the work HOPE does lifting
families out of poverty, but it is also preventing future poverty. But wait,
there’s more. Are you ready for this?
The spiritual impact. Through relationships
with loan officers and the Biblically based training, people are coming to know
the Lord! Then they are sharing the Gospel with their families, who are also coming
to know the Lord. Praise the Father for His mighty work through this
organization.
HOPE
CULTURE
Not only does HOPE do great work, but they
are an amazing place to work for. I almost can’t explain the culture within the
office, but maybe this will give you a glimpse.
At the end of the Leadership Summit, the
President and CEO, Peter Greer, asked all the interns to come up to the front,
grab a chair, and close their eyes. Now I don’t know about you, but I was
wondering what in the world was going on. When jokes about welcoming the interns
and initiation began, I became extremely nervous. But what happened next blew
my mind and just about brought me to tears. The HOPE staff got down on their
hands and knees and washed the interns feet, just as Christ did for His
disciples in John 13. Besides this act of service, I have observed a humble and
sweet attitude of love from everyone that works at HOPE. We also have staff
prayer three days a week, and devotions once a week. The room includes a board,
filled to the brim with prayers and answers from the Lord. But what I love the
most is that here at HOPE, everyone ardently and passionately loves their
Savior. He is what ultimately pushes them to serve with all that they have in His
Name.
I am blown away by the opportunity to serve
the Lord here at HOPE this summer, an organization that does everything for His
glory and His glory alone!
Now that’s a beautiful life.
