Courageous

What is courage? A quick Google search indicates courage is “The ability to do something that frightens one”, and “Strength in the face of pain or grief."
 

While these are perfectly acceptable definitions, I suppose, it seems to me the many women that we work with, those that have taken the enormous leap of faith to start a microfinance business, possess a level of courage that is something exceptional. It is supernatural. It is faith-based.
 

Did you know that Honduras is one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a woman? In the recent past, Honduras led the world in “Femicide”, the crime of murder against a female, just because she is female. Recent statistics indicate a woman dies from Femicide every 16 hours in Honduras, and 95% of these crimes are not even investigated. Gender-based violence, domestic abuse from alcoholic husbands, and a culture that marginalizes women in an extreme and unjust manner, are just a few of the head-winds that Honduran women face.  

Given these grim realities, many women are too afraid to accept a loan from CareLink. They fear failure, the result of a shattered self-esteem. They fear their husband will steal the money to buy drugs. They fear the humiliation of not being able to pay back our small, no-interest loan. So the inspiring women who do choose to start their little microfinance businesses have found within themselves a supernatural faith. A group of courageous women that we funded a few years ago to start a brick-oven bakery business adopted the following Bible verse as their marching orders…

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid, do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9

It is a humbling and awesome privilege to work alongside such brave people.