Prayer Requested for Embassy Interviews

***UPDATE***

Yoni was granted a visa to travel to the United States this morning. Thanks to everyone who has been in prayer for the interview today. Please continue to pray for Dilia's interview next week.

***PREVIOUSLY REPORTED***

As mentioned in a previous post, Yoni Arias and Dilia Sanchez have upcoming interviews with the U.S. Embassy. Yoni's interview is tomorrow, July 25, at 9:30am (EST) and Dilia's is next week Wednesday, July 30, at 10:30am (EST). If awarded visas, Yoni and Dilia will attend the International Business Conference, "Business as Ministry 2008: Partnering to End Poverty." Please pray for all the friends of Partners Worldwide who have upcoming visa interviews.

A Tranformational Factory

In his own words:

Hello, I am Alfonso David González and I am 30 years old. I was born in the Municipal of Cantarranas in the Department of Francisco Morazán, Honduras, Central America, on June 7, 1978. I am an Industrial Technician. My wife’s name is Lilian Yadira Funez and we have two daughters, Estefahie and Gabriela.

About two and a half years ago I began a small garment factory. I began with two simple machines, one employee and the help of my wife who had worked a couple years in a clothing factory. At that time, I worked as a technician in a factory of cubayeras [a Cuban-style shirt used for school uniforms].

I wished to expand my business, but needed to purchase a couple industrial machines. It was then that I learned of Diaconía Nacional [in-country partner organization of Partners Worldwide] and applied for a loan. They decided to support my project by purchasing the first industrial machines and financing the purchase of some raw material. By means of this investment it was possible to hire three people and with faith that the Lord would provide, I signed my first contract for men’s shirts. Little by little I began gaining ground in the market.

I was still working my job as a technician at the factory but the production in my business was increasing. I had to quit my job and dedicate myself full time to my small business. The contracts and demand for new lines of clothing increased along with the need for more machines with varying functions. I purchased these machines with the profit from the business and hired more personal.

To date, I have eight full time employees and five on a temporary basis according to production. In all there are fourteen employees [with my wife Lilian], twenty machines and offer many different services in the fabrication of clothing including: t-shirts, security guard uniforms, P.E. uniforms for schools, cubayeras, pants, shirts, aprons and work overcoats.

I am in charge of finding clients and signing contracts and my wife focuses on the administration of personal.

I give thanks to the Lord for lifting me up because I had been falling into the trap of vices, wasting my money. Even though I had a dream, my bad habits kept me from achieving them until finally I met God. With gratitude to the Lord my life has changed and I have achieved my dream of having my own small business. I have been a member of a local church for three years and my marriage is strong. I also am grateful to Diaconía Nacional for the great support that they have provided me. I can count of this Christian Institution not only for loans but also for spiritual support and advice that has greatly served me.

Thank you.

Business Profile: Amparo Turcios

The entrepreneur being profiled today is Amparo Turcios, owner of a beauty salon. Ms. Tucions worked for more than seventeen years in a famous Honduran hair salon but always dreamt of owning her own business. With her savings, she purchased a chair, mirrors and some other equipment needed to begin her own beauty salon in her neighborhood. She also took out a loan from Partners Worldwide's affiliate organization Ministerios Cristianos de Mayordomia.

In referring to the loan Ms. Turcios said, "The loan was a great support because it helped me finish equipping my beauty salon. I now have the goal of starting another business that might be a clothing or cosmetics store. These are the plans that I have in my mind to try to reach."

Like many established businesses in poor communities, Ms. Turcios faces the challenge of selling services that are not of primary necessity to consumers who face historic food and energy prices. To increase sales, Ms. Turcios has been looking to move her businiess to a middle class neighborhood where there will be clients with more disposable income and a taste for fashion.

U.S. Embassy Interview

Partners Worldwide (PW) will hold their International Business Conference on October 2-4, 2008. The conference will focus on business as ministry and explore the options of how partnerships can end poverty.

It is anticipated that the work of Partners Worldwide in Honduras will be represented by members of the North American Affiliate of Pella, Iowa, the Honduras Partnership Manager, and three representatives of the In-Country Affiliates. For this to occur, it is necessary for Yony Arias of Ministerios Cristianos de Mayordomía (MCM) and Dilia Sanchez of Diaconía Nacional to receive Visas from the United States Embassy in Honduras.

For many complicated reasons, it is difficult for Hondurans to visit the United States. They must plan a trip well in advance to have time to apply for a visa and pay $144 for the interview. While it is relatively inexpensive and timeless for a U.S. Citizen to obtain a Honduran visa (it is given at any port of entry to Honduras), the steps required of Hondurans to obtain a visa of the United States greatly limits the possibilities for Hondurans to visit the United States and attend events such as the Partners Worldwide International Business Conference.

On Friday July 25, 2008, at 7:30am, Yony Arias will have an interview at the U.S. Embassy in Honduras. Yony (Johnny) is the Director of the Income Generation Program at MCM, a partner organization of PW. Please keep this event in your prayers as Yony's presence at the conference would be extremely valuable for him and the entire Honduras Pella Affiliate. (At right Yony with his daugher)

Waiting to Rebuild

On the night of May 21, 2008, a fire destroyed the Municipal Market of Catacamas. A short circuit that occurred around 9:45pm is believed to have produced sparks, starting a small fire near propane gas tanks. Once the fire reached the tanks used by restaurants in the market cafeteria, it was no long possible to controlled. The fire was finally put out at 5am the following morning with the help of firefighters from neighboring cities. One fire truck traveled four hours from the capital, Tegucigalpa, to help fight the blaze. Nobody died in the fire and the only reported injury was that of a night watchman hit by flying debris from the explosion of a propane tank.

The venders in the market that had stands where they sold meat, basic grains, vegetables and fruits have been forced to look for a way to financially survive this disaster. Many have set up temporary structures along the outer walls of the market. The national gove responded to the disaster with a pledge of 30,000 Lempiras ($1,500) to the owrnment hasners who lost everything and 13,000 ($650) to those who lost only part of their merchandise. Approximately ten loan recipients of Diaconia Nacional (DN), the In-Country Affiliate of Partners Worldwide, had businesses in the market. Serveral other loan recipients of DN were affected by the fire.

For Miriam Izabel Martinez Moradel, the fire left her without a business and thousands of dollars in losses. She was forced to build a wooden structure on the street. The aluminum roof keeps her dry from the daily rain, but she has been told that the city government is going to force the venders to move off the street. It would be another change with several negative consequences. The constant changes of location that Miriam has been forced to make has confused her regular customers. She is unable to offer the customers that do manage to find her the same selection of products as before the fire for lack of a freezer. Miriam stores meat in a freezer at her home and carries a small quanitiy to her temporary shop everyday. She cannot invest in an electric connection while she listens daily to rumors that the venders will be moved to another street or the county fairgrounds.

For now, all that remains of Miriam's business is the outer wall with the list of meats available for purchase. Miriam hopes to rebuild her business soon and move into a permanent location.

New Blog for a New Year

Purpose of the Blog
The purpose of this blog is to inform and connect participants and interested friends of the Honduras Pella Affiliate of Partners Worldwide through the sharing of stories and pictures. Some stories that appear here are also posted on a blog of other Latin American Partnerships of Partners Worldwide

History of Partners Worldwide
Formally established in 1997, Partners Worldwide was originally called Partners of Christian Development. In January 2005, the name was changed to Partners Worldwide to better identify the organization to the business world and identify its work as a global ministry. Partners Worldwide continues to increase its mentoring relationships and helps businesses grow and transform lives.

History of Hondurs Pella Affiliate
Partners Worldwide was connected with two Honduran non-profit organizations that would eventually become its In-Country Affiliates. Diaconía Nacional (DN) and Ministerios Cristianos de Mayordomía (MCM), with more than twenty years of combined experience in micro finance lending, have the shared goal of Partners Worldwide to increase access to capital for small business owners. Both organizations extend loans with the purpose of generating household income, encouraging the habit of savings, and sharing the good news of salvation.

Shortly after the In-Country Affiliates were established, four businessmen from Pella, Iowa, made a trip to learn more about the business development needs in Honduras. These four business men formed the North American Affiliate and have now made eight trips to Honduras. They provide business mentoring and have participated in institutional evaluations with In-Country Affiliates.

Plans for 2008/09
In this new year, the Honduras Pella Affiliate hopes to witness the transformational power of God. They seek His blessing in plans to create more formal business training classes.

The Honduras Pella Affiliate asks for your prayers for the loan recipients who lost their businesses in a fire that destroyed a city market. Also, please pray for two loan officers, Yony Arias of MCM and Dilia Sanchez of DN, requesting a visa from the United States Embassy so that they can attend the Partners Worldwide International Business Conference in Muskegon, Michigan, scheduled for October 2-4.