A while ago, I learned about a lending organization called Kiva which is a 501 non-profit that allows people to lend money via the Internet to low-income entrepreneurs and students in 77 countries. A 501 organization is exempt from federal income tax under section 501 of Title26 of the US Code. Kiva’s mission is “to expand financial access to help underserved communities thrive”. Loans are in $25 US increments so I lent money to five different groups. Today I received my ‘financial’ statement with the good news that some of the money has been repaid. What I find very interesting, exciting and sad all at the same time is the fact that these groups are only able to repay a few dollars every so often - a few dollars that we spend so flippantly on something we could do without. We think nothing of it, yet for these people, that little bit can make such a difference because for them everything, absolutely everything is hard. Thinking of this helps me keep things in perspective as I travel the world and enjoy myself. How lucky I am!
I spent the day on my bed reading, playing Scrabble, surfing the Internet - doing basically nothing. I did go upstairs onto the patio to enjoy the sun for awhile. I have had a very lazy day.
Tomorrow I hope the tourists are gone and the Aurora Market, where artists work on their crafts is not crowded. I’m also planning on going to Atotonilco, a small village a few kilometres away to see their sanctuary, a World Heritage Site. Feliz Año Nuevo!
Tomorrow I hope the tourists are gone and the Aurora Market, where artists work on their crafts is not crowded. I’m also planning on going to Atotonilco, a small village a few kilometres away to see their sanctuary, a World Heritage Site. Feliz Año Nuevo!
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