Tomatoes, Gardens, and Questions

Young Woman starts Cybercafe with Micro Loan

Sarita Mendez at a computer in her newly opened Cybercafe.

All of us at Rainbow Network have stories that are special to us; individual examples of the type of ministry Rainbow provides that have connected with us. Last April, while in Nicaragua celebrating 25,000,000 meals served to there, I got to meet Sarita. Her story is one of those special stories for me. And I was thrilled when Nicaraguan staff members chose Sarita to share with you.

Sarita lives in Las Percelitas, a small village in the La Paz Centro Network. Sarita has a degree in Hotel and Business Administration which she earned after completing her high school diploma as a Rainbow Network Scholarship Student.

Education is a key component of the ministry we provide, but, Sarita’s connection to Rainbow Network goes even deeper than that. During her senior year of high school she became very ill and was hospitalized for 35 days as doctors diagnosed and treated her rheumatic fever. Rainbow Network provided the support her family needed to pay for this medical care, which truly saved Sarita’s life.

When Sarita told me that story last April, she began to cry. I don’t share that fact with you to embarrass anyone, least of all Sarita; but, I cannot forget the joy in her eyes and how thankful I was that there was a vibrant life saved to light those eyes.

On May 19, 2009, a little over a month after our meeting, Sarita was granted a micro-loan as part of our Young Entrepreneurs program to start a cyber-café. Rainbow’s Nicaraguan staff are very proud to announce that to date Sarita’s business is solvent, she has made all loan payments, met all of her new company’s financial obligations, and has begun supporting her mother and 8 siblings.

Sarita is convinced that her good fortune is all thanks to the ministry of The Rainbow Network. We know, that while the medicines, books, and dollars that made this story possible did indeed come from Rainbow Network partners like you, Sarita’s dedication and hard work instrumental and that she deserves everything she is sure to accomplish.

Thank you all for the support you provide to Rainbow Network’s ministry among some of the poorest people on Earth.