-
More about working in Ukraine
May 17, 2000
For more than a year LifeNets has been funding a micro-loan bank in western Ukraine to encourage entrepreneurial activity in economically disastrous area. We have found this to be one of the best and most efficient ways to help an area where there are willing people to improve their lot and find dignity in taking care of themselves and their families.
|
|
The impetus of the bank came from a discussion involving Ukrainian business man and church leader Ivan Yurishko, Guy Swenson, President of Management and Technology Consultants and myself in September 1998 when Ivan Yurishko visited the United States. We discussed various ways we could help and this one seemed to be a good idea.
In February 1999 when we undertook a medical mission to western Ukraine, we seeded the fund with $3700. The rules were simple. One could borrow no more than $500 and had to repay the amount with the year in U.S. dollars. No interest is charged. One requesting a loan had to present a plan of what he was going to do with the money and show that it was necessary to use it to purchase an item that would further him economically. So far we have had people borrow money for a pasta dryer, a cow, automotive parts, carpenter equipment and the like. The repayment record has been excellent.
This plan has worked out extremely well and we have expanded the users of this fund to include the refugees who fled Tajikistan in 1997 from Islamic persecution. You may want to read some comments from those who have written us about their use of the fund:
March 2000
Greetings brother Victor and your helpers. Peace to your home! The family of Stepanovosk greets you. We want to thank you for using your bank and that we could return the money we borrowed. Let God bless you for all you do.
Franz Klassen of
Kameshani/Kherson,
UkraineMy husband Misha works with automobiles (paints, restores and repairs). We have a body shop and rebuild autos. We take old cars, fix them and then sell them. Three of us sold an auto: our son-in-law, brother Franz and our family who all worked on it.
We have six children, the oldest goes into the third grade. The youngest is eleven months old. Times are difficult, the cost of food has risen, but the Lord has not left us. We also have with us my husband's father who is 84 years old living along with my husband Misha's brother. We have not had work for three months, but we have been praying that the Lord will send work and not leave us. I'd like to thank you again for helping us and that we are in the Lord's hands.
Misha and Olga Stepanovsk
Village of Kameshani
March 14, 2000
Brother Victor,
Peace and grace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ and greetings from the Church in Kameshani and the city of Kherson and from me Arova Vladimirvna who is, the least of the brethren in Christ with love.
May God bless you a hundred times over for your good heart to financially help people like myself. We thank you that we could use your money for starting capital for my work. I am a carpenter. God gave me the skill and ability to work with wood. but at this time there are very bad conditions regarding work and money and to find other work. Plants are closing and people are without jobs.
It's because of the Lord and His Church that we are surviving here. There are many needs for the refugees who have come from Dushanbe and Rigara, Tajikistan and there are needs to put on doors, windows and provide basic furniture.
With the money that you lent me I was able to buy work stands so that I can do my work. May God bless you with His grace and love.
Volodya Arov
Kameshani/Kherson
March 2000
Peace and grace from our God the Father and from His Son Jesus Christ and glory we send greetings to our brother Victor from the entire Church at Kameshani.
Our family is Kolya, Svetlana and our three children. We are thankful to God for your charity and good hearts.
Because of the war in Tajikistan we were not able to sell our home and had only enough money for travel out of the country. But, thanks to God that he has multiplied your hearts and that you were able to help us and our needs have been met.
The Church has helped us buy a home and now we have a roof over our heads. Even though we are far apart, we are united by the blood of Jesus Christ and as David has said:
"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity!" Psalm 133:1
Kolya and Svetlana Mironenko
