One Podcast Started It All For Me.

[Guest]

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[qwiksilver]

I am addicted to my morning podcast of the New York Times through Audible.com.  I listen to it every morning and freak out if I can't.  It is as important as that first cup of coffee.

About 2 months ago there was an editorial at the end of the podcast about microfinancing.  It was like someone just smacked me in the side of the head with a commonsense bat:  This is not a handout.  This is a loan.  This is dignity.  This may sound far fetched but...this may be the answer to a more peaceful world. 

Where do I sign up?

At the time I was struggling with my own unexpected expenses but as soon as I could I had my first $25 a man raising cattle caught my eye.  I know how hard it is to get livestock to pay.  I raised sheep and goats as when I was growing up in Central California.  Farming of any kind, anywhere, is difficult in good times.   

A few days later I decided to skip the movies and loan another $25 on impulse to a fellow weaver.  I weave small projects on a little loom at home.  Just a hobby. 

My plan is to add a person or more a month. 

And does anyone here get the happy, warm fuzzies when their person gets their loan funded and again when it gets disbursed?

[Spartan]

I love Audible as well. Been using it for years and years now. It would be nice to see it get involved with Kiva as it could offer some neat support services to be sure.

[chris]

And does anyone here get the happy, warm fuzzies when their person gets their loan funded and again when it gets disbursed?

That's why we're all here.

[Ruby63]

Hi Kwiksilver
You summed up why I loan very eloquently.  I'm hoping to loan once a month too (the Kiva rehabilitation programme) lol.
 
Ruby63

[qwiksilver]

I think why I get such a kick when the person gets their loan is what recently happened to me. 

I got myself into the usual American mess: credit cards.  No end in sight to the crushing debt.  So I restructured and cut up the cards.  When that loan came through to pay off the cards there was a light at the end of the tunnel (a seven year tunnel...but there's a light!) 

I wonder if our loan people feel the same way.  Relieved.  The future has arrived.  Life is going to move forward.  A handle on the problem.  Power to finally get something done.

The more I do this, the more I realize how much I have in common with the people we loan to.  (And not just the tiny one room living situation either.)

[jgbndaudio]

Hello,

One podcast is how I got my Kiva addiction started. I was driving home at the time and listening to someone being interviewed on Living on earth (www.loe.org). He mentioned it and maybe said ten words about what the idea was. As soon as I got home I went online and made my first donation. Since then, I've figured out that I can donate $25 about every other week. It's not a lot but it's what I can do. It definitely makes me happy to help other people. I also have gotten (luckily) past the typical american crushing credit card debit, and learned my lesson. Now I'm just happy to be able to give and help other people.

Everyone keep up the good work!!!

Scotty
http://www.kiva.org/lender/scottandpeg