International Aid Services America, microfinance, community development
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Helping the world's poor help themselves thru micro-finance, business training,

 

 
When as little 
 as $150 can 
 change a life 
 forever, it 
 pays to invest 
 your donated 
 dollars and 
 cents into 
 the lives of 
 developing 
 world 
 entrepreneurs.
 

 
 
 

 

 

A Character of Compassion

 
From my perspective, it remains evident that we live in a troubled world.  While we are told that the U.S. economy is on the verge of recovery, many of us have yet to experience any benefits from these positive economic indicators. Uncertainties abound.  Unemployment and the instability of our own job security remain issues for many us, our family, or friends.  And let us not forget to add to this equation America’s expanding military conflicts abroad.
 

Help us provide hope in areas where even the concept is hard to imagine

                       .
 
All of this, along with other grim world issues, makes us want to shrink back into a protective posture.  As gas prices rise, we want to regroup, protect our families and ourselves and ride it out — hopefully to emerge on top once things settle down. 
 
But what if things never settle down?  Please do not misunderstand. I am not predicting prolonged economic hard times for our nation — but the Bible does tell us that the day will come when life is not lived as easily as we currently experience it.
 
While pride in our nation is disparaged in some circles these days, one of the things I have always treasured about America is our country’s indefatigable spirit.  Through it all, despite what gets thrown our way, we never quit — we never give up.  But most impressive, we never stop leading the world in regard to our compassion.  In spite of the most difficult of circumstances, Americans always stand ready to give even from their lack to help those less fortunate than themselves.
 
In a nutshell, we do not let our personal state of affairs stop us from helping the world.  That is what I like about Americans and the American spirit — the nation I call home.
 
As summer is full upon IAS, the financial burden of continuing operations through what are often leaner months for giving is hitting hard.
 
 

Circumstances Will Never Defeat
OUR PASSION FOR HELPING
The World’s Poor Help Themselves
 

 
 
But just like many of you and our nation as a whole, we refuse to allow our immediate circumstances to defeat our passion for helping those in even worse condition than ourselves. That is why, despite our financial limitations, we remain resolved to advance the mandate of helping the world’s poor help themselves.


This month hundreds across Africa are benefitting from micro-finance loans which you helped to provide. Charity and her medical team in Nyinbuli, Sudan, are also hard at work saving lives. And, Nehemia University in Albania is training young Albanians in that country’s first Christian university. Others, like the IAS country program in Ethiopia, wait for us to be able to assist them as well in providing empowerment opportunities for their nation’s citizens.

It is obvious that we cannot do this work without your help. I also recognize that your hard earned income is stretched in all directions, with many needs vying for their place among your priorities.

May I challenge you to support the efforts of IAS this month? Even if you have never given to our organization, now is the perfect time to show your solidarity with our values.

I understand the economic situation of the days in which we are living. That is why I want to sincerely thank you for your continued faithfulness to this organization as well as your selfless giving.

You are truly a blessing, not only to IAS, but also to the world’s poor.

Sincerely, 

Douglas Mann

President
International Aid Services — America