HOPE Leadership Summit May 2013...

HOPE International is one of Christian organizations that focus on helping develop micro enterprises by providing Christ-focused micro finance. HOPE has HOPE-led MFIs and partner MFIs in 16 countries. UOB is one of HOPE's partner MFIs.

HOPE has been holding the leadership summit by inviting the MDs or CEOs of all MFIs that are part of HOPE network and I have been attending this summit for the past four years, including this year. The summit takes place at the Welcoming Center of Mennonite Central Committee in Lancaster PA. Mennonites are exemplary people of God who exhibit their incarnational principles in their ministries and walks of faith. One aspect that I admire a lot is the way they share the gospel. They prefer to focusing on building relationship first than sharing the gospel in words. Their logo portrays it well.

Peter Greer, CEO

One of the most beneficial sessions to me is the sessions about spiritual integration that is coming from strong commitment to achieving holistic transformation among MFIs and their clients in the name of spiritual integration. This year, HOPE has introduced HOPE Quotient that is the first endeavor to measuring the impact of Christ-centered micro finance on clients. Once it is measured regularly over a few years, this could provide some indications of changes that take place in the lives of clients. It was appealing to me because it does not suggest to be one for all solution. Rather it admits the limitations and attempts to supplement it with focus groups, tangible metrics and MPI (multiple poverty index). This would in effect triangulate to a conclusion about an impact assessment which will likely lower the probability of mistakes on the impact assessment. UOB volunteered to be on the pilot program.

One of Panel Sessions

HOPE also held a fund-raising gala dinner, namely Celebrating HOPE, with current and prospective supporters of HOPE. This year's event drew approximately 500 people, the largest ever in HOPE's history. In this event, Thurman Award is given to a client that has exhibited the most inspirational transformation story. This year, the award went to a Philippino client through a partner MFI, CCT. HOPE also gives out a Honorable Mention award to one client for each continent where HOPE network MFIs are operating. This year, UOB's client, Antoinette received this Honorable Mention award. On her behalf, I had the privilege of receiving the award.

Celebrating HOPE

One of group sessions

Antoinette borrowed $50 in 2002. Now she is able to manage a $15,000 loan from UOB. Over the past one decade, Antoinette developed her tomato re-sale business to three different businesses, including wedding rental, grocery and wholesale business, and now hires eight employees. Also, she has adopted one child in addition to her own three children. In addition, she is taking care of her widowed sister and her own two children. She actively supports her community's public work such as road, bridge construction projects. Over the past decade, she bought her own home and a car as well. But this would represent only an economic improvement without spiritual transformation. She has met Jesus in person  through UOB's service for her and she has actively helped out other entrepreneurs with business management as well as sharing the gospel to them. Winning souls to Jesus is priceless and this would represent an infinite return on investments.
In the past, two UOB clients received this honorable Thurman Award back to back for two years.

Throughout the Leadership Summit, all people from all over the world gathered together to worship together,  witness how God is working in their individual, family and ministry lives, and learn the best practices from each other. It was a great encouragement to see people of God working tirelessly all over the world with strong commitment to serving the Lord.

Mennonites Logo

Noah the Musical

One of the highlights of HOPE's leadership summit is watching a musical at the Millennium Theater. It is a Christian theater where only bible characters are portrayed through a full-scale musical, which is even bigger than the Broadway shows in New York. This year, the musical was about Noah. At one point, the entire theater including the hall turns into the inside of the ark. It was a fascinating and panoramic scene. Wow... The past musicals that I have watched were "Psalms of David" "Joseph" and "Jonah" all of which were wonderful. The last scenes of each musical portrays Jesus who died on the cross to save whosoever believes in Him.and rose to be the first fruit of all resurrections to come. What a wonderful message it is! I was blessed and inspired. - Jeffrey

Jubilee Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia...

Pastor Steve Park

Jubilee Presbyterian Church was founded by the Lord some 15 years ago through Pastor Steve Park and many believers in Philadelphia, the city of brotherly love.

Pastor Steve Park is a close friend of mine and a fellow worker for His Kingdom. I know him from the Oriental Mission Church in Los Angeles. I was serving the Senior High School Department as a teacher and he was a student. He went to college in Canada and studied at Westminster Theological Seminary for his M. Div. as well as Ph. D. in Systematic Theology.

Pastor Steve has English congregation as well as Korean congregation at Jubilee. Unlike many other Korean American churches, Jubilee has two congregations worship and fellowship in harmony. They meet and decide together on important church matters. From Korean congregation's standpoint, it is an investment in the next generation and they yield the prime time of 10:00AM to the English congregation. It is a healthy and community church that is not church-centered but Christ-centered, serving the people in the community under His Kingdom.

Pastor Steve also teaches at Westminster and in country C in Asia. He is a gifted teacher and preacher.

I was asked to preach to the English congregation and also teach a session on the ministries that take place in Rwanda. I shared the Word with a title "The Calling in Christ" based on Ephesians 4:1-7 and talked about Business as Mission (BAM) and UOB ministries/other ministries in Rwanda. Many told me that they were challenged. Praise the Lord.

We had dinner with the elders of the Korean congregation session. Their relationship seemed very cordial, exhibiting oneness that is also not so common among many churches. I was blessed and encouraged by them. After dinner, we also spent time with a young couple, Insoo Kang and his wife Sarah from the English congregation, over tea and dessert. It was very encouraging to hear their commitment to the Lord in their walk in faith.

I drove from Akron in Lancaster County to Norristown and drove back in the evening. Physically I was tired, but I rejoiced greatly the fellowship time with Pastor Steve and Mona Park, his wife, and his children. Pastor Steve and I participated in the Project BGAN ministry together and he also presided over the Passage of Life ceremony for Amanda when she turned sixteen.  I praise the Lord who kept us in wonderful friendship with Pastor Steve and Jubilee Church. - Jeffrey

Trip to New York (May 2013)

Empire State Building, NY's icon

New York City... is a city that is attracting many visitors for various reasons. The reasons for attracting visitors to New York City include the sky line of Manhattan, the Broadway shows, tens of museums, all kinds of foods from all over the world, the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, the Time Square, Harlem, United Nations, 9/11 site, Wall Street and many more.

New York City is a special place for me and Kristin. Kristin first came to the U.S. and settled in New York. She worked as a nurse in New York and lived in this city for eight years. She still has her mom and three brothers and their families living in New York or New Jersey.

I worked in Manhattan for four and a half years and lived in Queens Borough New York. Joyce, our younger daughter also worked and lived in New York for a few years.

We had a family reunion briefly with Joyce, who is now serving as Peace Corps volunteer in Senegal Africa. Amanda and her husband could not join us because Amanda is finishing up her service at US Air Force and is getting separated from the service on May 23rd as Captain. Her husband, James, is a pilot. He is now in training to switch his responsibility to fly Special Operations Aircraft. So they could not join us.

ESB in artistic form 

On Mother's Day, May 12th, we worshiped at Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, which Rev. Tim Keller is the senior pastor. He preached on Sunday, May 12th, about Idolatry. We celebrated the Mother's Day over lunch at a restaurant in Chelsea, called Pounds and Ounces, a trendy place popular for young people. Sujin, my niece and daughter of my younger sister, also joined us. She studied and now works in New York. The foods were great, particularly the desserts, but our fellowship was only greater. After the lunch, Kristin and I strolled in Manhattan for a couple of hours walking more than 20 blocks.

On Park Avenue

Our visit to New York includes an important task, the task of purchasing a variety of supplies that we will need for the next one year. Many of them are food supplies, but also include other supplies, such as medical and clothes. COSTCO is our favorite place. It has all kinds and you can buy many in bulk at affordable prices. Whenever I see the foods and goods stored at COSTCO, I am amazed at the overwhelming abundance. Abundance precludes scarcity and thus diminishes our appreciation of them.

Another important things to do in New York include seeing family and friends. Both of us have family and friends. They are precious and highly valuable. Due to our short stay, we could not see all friends, but we had great joy of seeing some. Among them were our two friends who climbed with me Mt. Kilimanjaro in September 2011 and their wives. They are Mr. Jay Yoon and Mr. Jaesup Choi. My friendship with them is solid because of the six day hiking on Mt. Kilimanjaro slopes.

Yoons and Chois

Mr. Yeunho Suk and his wife are another couple we saw. Mr. Suk is a Yonsei Alumnus and senior to both of us. He has responding to my e-mails from time to time and has always been welcoming us to New York.

Mr. and Mrs. Suk

Another group of young people I get to see whenever I come to New York is my former colleagues from Colorado who are now working in New York. We cherish the time of working together in Colorado as well as New York.

In New York, it is great fun to eat a variety of foods. All experiences will be one time, but they are good enough to restore to us our appreciation for delicious gourmet foods.

Young friends from Colorado

Sujin and Joyce, cousins

 Kristin and I enjoyed our visit to New York, short but sweet. We lived and worked in New York, but we never toured New York. So we agreed to tour New York next time we will visit the Big Apple again. We will.

 Food... food... food...

We appreciated our visit to New York, but my mother-in-law did not recognize us, both my wife and me, when we visited her. A year ago, she welcomed me with a big and bright smile last year although she could not speak, but this time she gave us no facial expression. As before, I hugged her saying "I love you" she changed her facial expression a little bit but quickly returned to no expression. Nonetheless, we prayed for her that she may have peace and hope in her heart in the last days of her life on earth. Mercy upon her, oh Lord. - Jeffrey

Trip to Ecuador (April 28 - May 10)

As part of our 30th anniversary celebration, we toured Ecuador through a 10-day Ecuador Crash Course. Why Ecuador? Ecuador has been interesting to me for several reasons, one being that Ecuador is the country Jim Eliott, an American missionary, gave his life to win souls for Jesus.

A group of 23 people joined this tour organized by Sarah, an American nurse and former Peace Corps volunteer to Ecuador. She married to an Ecuadorian and has lived in Ecuador for the past 25 or so years. She works with Jonathan who was born in Ecuador to American parents. He has been running a travel agency for the past 15 years. They were assisted by Roger, another former Peace Corps volunteer, and Susanna, an Ecuadorian lady and yet another former Peace Corps member. Susanna was the Spanish instructor and Roger was a tour guide. Despite their different life backgrounds, they all have one thing in common. They all love Ecuador.

They organized the tour with all their hearts and energies poured into it. As the tour progressed, we could sense how much they love Ecuador and how they genuinely wanted to share the un-vanished version of what Ecuador offers. I am sure they have their own views on locations and lifestyles, but they worked hard to be as independent and objective as possible.

All participants had quite a variety of backgrounds also. Many have already retired or are quite close to their retirement. Their professional backgrounds were also quite diverse, from a retired pastor to a retired CPA. Ages varied from an 18 year old Canadian high school graduate to a 78 year old retiree who has great grand children. We were in the middle of the pack.

We traveled more than 1,500 km by a bus, starting from Quito and ending in Cuenca through traveling to the northern Ecuador close to the Colombian border and several beach towns on the coast. About half of the group continued for a two-day extended trip to further south close to the Peruvian border, after the 10-day crash course trip ended in Cuenca. The traveled routes are marked in the map included in this blog post.

The trip started from the capital city of Quito that is 9,350 feet high. Quito is a vibrant city with multiple ethnic peoples and cultures. We stayed at a small hotel in the Mariscal District where all commercial and entertainment activities take place. It was noisy until late night but we could feel the vibe of the emerging city. Note that Ecuador's average age is reported to be 21.5 years. Quite young.

We then traveled north to Otavalo, Ibarra and Cotacachi, northern cities of interest to many retirees. These cities are all located in the sierra between mountains. Otavalo has the largest handcraft market in Latin America. Ibarra is the provincial capital of Imbabura with approximately 200,000 inhabitants. Cotacachi is a small town with 10,000 of which 400 represent gringos or migrants from North America. It is also a capital for leather products. Great leather products at low prices. On the way, we crossed the equator line where southern and northern hemispheres meet.

Equator Line 0,0,0.

Our next leg of the trip was heading to the coastal areas, after one night in Quito. The stops included Canoa, Bahia, Manta, Puerto Lopez, Montanita and Salinas. We visited an American artist's house in Jama, namely Lisa. Her house was right by a lagoon and her entire house was an artwork. She was living without a refrigerator.

We stayed one night at Canoa Beach Hotel owned and run by an American architect, Greg, and it was a pleasant surprise with American quality rooms and services. Strolling on the sand beach in the morning the next day was refreshing despite the rain that soaked us up.

Panama Hats originally from Ecuador

The next day, we headed down south, passing through Manta, the largest port of Ecuador and the fourth largest city with 200,000 in population. We stopped over at Bahia for lunch. Bahia had both fresh water beach and salt water beach at the mouth of the Chone River. Most of us crossed the river by a small ferry boat. We ate at a restaurant by the water owned and run by an American entrepreneur, called Trip, who married to a Colombian woman.

We stayed another night at Puerto Lopez, a small fishing town, but the hotel we stayed, La Terraza owned and run by a German couple, had a panoramic view of the bay. It also had displayed a skeleton of a humpback whale, namely Fritz, that weighed 35-40 tons and was found dead around Puerto Lopez. On the way down south, we stopped over at Montanita Beach which is the surfing capital in Latin America. The beach town was bustling with young backpackers who came to try their surfing skills. It even holds international surfing competition.

We stayed the third night at a hotel by the Salinas Malecon. Salinas is nicknamed Miami of Ecuador. It is one and a half hour away from Guayaquil, the largest city of Ecuador with more than 2.3 million people in population. People of Guayaquil, or Guayaquilenos as they are called, travel to Salinas for their weekends or for their vacation. It was a crowded beach but well maintained. Along the malecon, dozens of condominiums rise to 10-15 stories high.

Ecuadorian Fabric

Ecuadorian Ponchos

One thing to note is that all these beaches maintain mild temperatures although they are located close to the equator. The secret was the Humboldt Current that originates from Antarctica, moves along the shorelines of S. American countries, Chile, Peru and Ecuador, and turns to the Galapagos Islands and returns to Antarctica. This Humboldt Current is upwelling from the bottom of the ocean to the surface, thus providing many nutritional elements. This upwelling thus attracts many kinds of fish, supplying 18-20% of fish demanded by the world. This Humboldt Current cools off the water and maintains the temperatures of beach towns around 65-80 degrees F year around. Every 5-8 years, these beaches suffer from the warm current from the South Pacific which results in heavy and destructive rain, called "El Nino." It is named as such because this El Nino occurs usually in December.

Salinas

Ecuador is the rose capital

From Salinas, we traveled back to the highlands. The first stop was Guayaquil, the largest city of Capital. It is by the water where rivers and the Pacific Ocean meet. Also, the mouth of the river where the city is located is blocked by a large island. So it was hot and humid, with little benefit from the Humboldt Current. The city was vibrant with a lot of metropolitan flavor particularly around Malecon 2000 which is the board walk along the river. It includes gardens, IMAX theater, museums and many other amenities and facilities. At the city center, one small park, called Parque Semitario, has 70 large iguanas that are fed by the government.

Tricycles at Puerto Lopez

Cotacachi

From Guayaquil, we traveled a scenic route to the top of the mountain, as high as 14,000 feet, over three hours. It was a rapid ascension but the view was panoramic and breath-taking. Then, we descended for 25 minutes to arrive at Cuenca at approximately 2,500 meter or 7,500 or 8,300 feet high.

Cuenca is the third largest city in Ecuador after Guayaquil and Quito, with the population of approximately 500,000. Cuenca was a lovely city. Many gringos from the U.S. and Canada have moved to live in this beautiful city, calling it their home, which offers low cost of living, wonderful climate, rich cultural flavor and many colors of Ecuador. It was estimated that the city has 3,000 gringos.

Andean Musicians

Woman wearing Panama Hat

Eduardo Vega's Work

Ecuador is a beautiful country. It offers many attractions including cultural and geographical diversity.

Lisa's Magic Carpet

Canoa Beach Hotel

It has the famous Galapagos Islands, many coastal beaches, cool highlands and Amazon jungles. Also, Ecuador offers Incan and Spanish heritages as well as indigenous cultures. The country is very fertile due mainly to the volcanic activities and anything that grows elsewhere grows in Ecuador. It produces crude oil and natural gas, so the energy cost is very inexpensive. Ecuador is the largest rose exporting country. Ecuador first produced toquilla straw hats in Montecristi, but they have been named Panama hats because US President Roosevelt wore the hat after his visit to Panama Canal construction site where most of construction workers wore them. It has the equator crossing the country. Ecuador means the equator in Spanish and it was adopted when the old Grand Colombia was broken into three countries: Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela. Because of this equator line crossing Ecuador, it claims to be the middle of the world. Ecuadorians are proud of their countries. They have high level of dignity and strong principles. Ecuador is colorful. And there are much more Ecuador can offer than what I can describe.

Simon Bolivar and Jose Martin

That is why people fall in love with Ecuador when they visit the country. We were not an exception. We have come to love Ecuador.

Additional photos of Ecuador are below. Enjoy them. Better yet, you should visit Ecuador yourself for the first hand experience. Chao~ - Jeffrey

Ecuador Crash Course Route

Chola Cuencana

E. Vega's Work

With Sarah who organized this wonderful trip

With Panama hats put on

Iguana at Parque Semitario

Sunset at Canoa Beach

Ministry Updates - April 2013

April did not gain much improvement in Rwanda's macroeconomic situation. Nonetheless, a few signs if improvements have been noticed. We keep praying that our almighty God will intervene and show us a breakthrough. April was also the month of commemorating the breakout of the Genocide against Tutsi in 1994. The entire country went into a solemn mourning period, repeating the slogan of "Never Again." This year the slogan has changed to "Striving for Self-reliance."

Huye Branch Grand Opening

The following were the highlights.

1. In April, Jeffrey attended Opportunity International CEO Conference for Africa and Eastern Europe regions. At this conference, most of implementing members gave a 2-hour "deep dive" presentation and responded to questions coming from OI's global leadership. UOB received favorable remarks. Praise the Lord!

2. Jeffrey also made a day trip to Uganda to visit with OI Africa CEO and also with Opportunity Bank Uganda to learn about education and energy finance programs.

3. UOB held the grand opening ceremony for its Huye Branch. Like in the past, the grand opening ceremony drew much attention from the second largest city in Rwanda through ceremony itself and parades supported by a famous radio anchor Anita, motor taxi riders and roller blade riders.

A Painting that portrays UOB's service for people

4. Jeffrey had a follow up meeting with COOPAG leadership to explore more about its holistic community development project. COOPAG is a cooperative that has more than 1,000 members from 10 cells of a sector in Rwamagana District. We will focus on helping develop six aspects of non-financial services. These six aspects are called WAHEHE or water/sanitation/hygiene, agriculture, health, education, housing and energy. We hope to establish an exemplary case, when found successful, to be duplicated else where.

5. UOB has been distributing 500 Teacher's Bibles to local pastors in several Christian denominations. These Teacher's Bibles have been acquired through PEACE Plan of Saddleback Church of California. The response has been impressively positive and we may consider expanding the program.

Teacher's Bible Distributed to Pastors

6. UOB has begun to accelerate its implementation of Client Service Point (CSP) strategies. mHose roll-out is picking up the speed with more agents and clients are signing up. Our discussion with other banks for collaboration start getting traction. 

7. The Gicumbi Nursery project that Kristin has been handling was almost completed in April. All the flooring work was completed, the supporting wall between the church and the nursery was erected, desks and chairs have been delivered. What is remaining is the water tank and gutters to the roof. These have been delivered and will be installed in May. During the summer, we expect to hold a vacation bible school and start operating the nursery from the fall semester. We praise the Lord for His guidance in this project.

8. Jeffrey led a meeting session with Rz Manna project team members. Rz Manna project is being handled by S. Korea's Handong Global University students (graduated and current) to establish a social enterprise in Rwanda as sponsored by KOICA.

9. Jeffrey attended the meetings of BDF Board and RSwitch Board. BDF is Rwanda's largest credit guaranty agency and RSwitch is Rwanda's national payment switch. Jeffrey chairs the board of BDF and serves as Vice Chair of the RSwitch board.

10 We have started our annual leave from April 19th. We have traveled to Denver for medical and dental check-up. Gratefully, both of us received a clean bill of health. Jeffrey preached on Mission Sunday at Logos Central Chapel and also gave a lecture about Business As Mission or BAM to the congregation members who were interested. Kristin also gave a progress report on the Gicumbi Nursery project.

11. Despite our absence, Shalom Bible Study continues their meetings. It is great encouragement to see young people strive to meet for spiritual growth and fellowship. SBS finished its study on "Lead Like Jesus" and when we return we will begin the journey of studying the Book of Hebrews most likely for the rest of this year. 

Celebrating the 30th Anniversary in Panama

12. We celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary in April. For this celebration, we have traveled to Panama and are now traveling to Ecuador. We are grateful for the Lord's grace by being at the center of and the third string of our relationship. (Ecclesiastes 4:12)  

13. We would like to request that you remember to pray for the following subjects:

• Please keep praying for Rwanda for the sake of the underprivileged people. Rwanda needs God's help in elbowing through the situations and the underprivileged people suffer most.
• Please pray for UOB's projects: operational performance, HLI expansion and 5W implementation, implementation of Client Service Point (CSP), migration to T24 R10 model bank and implementation of holistic community development (HCD).
• Please pray for continued blessing of the Lord on our mHose roll-out process. It is now at an accelerated phase of roll-out and we are preparing for the commercial launch with the general public.
• Please pray for continued scaling up of HLI training for clients. For the first quarter, the scaling up process has been accelerating and we desire to see the trend continue.
• Please pray that the Teacher's Bibles that we have been distributing will bear many fruits among Rwandan souls.
• Praise the Lord for significant improvements in the hearlth of Jeffrey's father, but Kristin's mother remains pretty much unchanged. Please pray that they may finish their remaining lives on earth well.
• Please pray that all our ministries will produce significant and lasting impact on the lives of people we serve. 

Joyfully in His service,

Jeffrey and Kristin Lee, currently from Ecuador