Ah, I'm proud of all my girls. Rachel is knocking it out of the park with her music and school work. Bekkah is doing EXCELLENTLY at college, balancing academics, extra curricular and being accepted into the Sorority of her choice (Sigma Kappa). Liz is back in the Dominican Republic after a short 4 day stint in NH visiting Patrick. She just sent me their internal memo introducing her to the team, thought I would include that here:
Staff Profile
Liz Poulin
Liz Poulin As HOPE Trips Liaison in the Dominican Republic (D.R.), Liz Poulin has learned that even setbacks can become great learning opportunities. She tells the story of a recent HOPE Trip following a time of heavy rains in the D.R.: "Our guagua, the Dominican name given to a 32-passenger bus, got stuck in mud as we were driving into a community. Instead of despairing, the trippers saw this as the perfect opportunity to become more familiar with the realities of rural microfinance, announcing, 'Loan associates do not arrive to bank meetings in air-conditioned guaguas, so why should we?'"
Liz first heard about microfinance in an international politics class at Messiah College. Peter Greer, HOPE's president, had been invited to speak to the class, and Liz was immediately struck by the possibilities: "I remember sitting in the lecture and thinking, 'Wow, what if, instead of spending significant resources on short term mission trips and handouts, churches looked for sustainable solutions to poverty?' Needless to say, I was hooked."
Once hooked, Liz looked for further opportunities to learn more about microfinance. She became involved with the microeconomic development group at Messiah, eventually becoming a project leader and traveling to Zambia as part of a team that implemented Christ-centered savings and credit associations this past summer. Liz also spent last spring interning with the programs team at HOPE CSU. After graduating from Messiah in May with a degree in political science and a minor in Spanish, she accepted the position of HOPE Trips liaison and moved to the D.R. in July.
When not leading a HOPE Trip, Liz organizes logistics for future trips, follows up with past trips, and coordinates meetings with Esperanza staff members to better learn about Dominican microfinance and Esperanza's associates.
As a member of the HOPE team, Liz continues to appreciate the holistic approach of microfinance: "[It] changes the job entirely as clients are no longer seen as consumers, but as individuals with a face and a significant story. Equally rewarding is the ability to witness the pride that associates have for their businesses and for the services, such as health care and education, that, as a result of increased revenue from their business, they are now able to provide to their children and family members."
p.s. My girls also include my beloved Lucie, who besides working her new position with her trademark style and excellence is losing weight by counting points. Go Lucie.
