Global Missions Prayer Partners

On the First Sunday of each month six (6) folks from one of our Global Mission Partners are selected for us to join in a month of prayer support.

 It is through the web of prayer we develop a personal connection with our sisters and brother as they work to improve lives in their community in areas of health, nutrition, education, housing or social justice.

In August we will join women enrolled with the joint Presbyterian Women's Microloan Project in Guatemala in prayer support. It is a joint project with women from the Presbytery of Western North Carolina and Suchitepequez and Sur Occidente in Guatemala.

The women in the microloan groups invest in a variety of business opportunities such as raising animals to sell, preparing and selling food, selling new and used clothing or firewood, bicycle and tire repair, growing corn, and sewing.

Currently 70 women are participating in the loan project. 68 of 70 women repaid their loans on time, one arranged a late repayment schedule, and one defaulted.  The default was difficult since all women in the affected group helped to cover the cost.  However, there were positive aspects in that the group experienced learning, solidarity and growth.

The women try to save one quetzal (about 15 cents) a day because developing the habit of saving is another part of the project.  Each month the women bring their 30 Quetzales, or more, and they are added to their account in the bank.  Women who never saved before are learning that they can do this! Research studies are showing surprisingly positive effects from projects that help the poor save even small amounts of money. Follow their work here.