A few weeks ago, I went to the field to interview and photograph clients, and I forgot my camera chip. Actually it was in my purse all along, but I didn’t realize until too late. So I arranged to go the next meeting, two weeks later, to follow up with the photos. Fast forward two weeks: I show up early on Thursday… only to find out the meeting was actually on Tuesday.

Great mistake, right? So I’m sitting in the wrong meeting, entirely frustrated with myself for wasting my time yet again. But as soon as I meet Maria, I’m so thankful to be there, and I remember that God redeems even my foolishness.

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Maria Ramirez has a business making and selling bedspreads and curtains to major clients. She has received 10 loans, growing her loan size impressively from 8,000 pesos ($178 US) to 35,000 ($782 US).  But here’s where Maria’s success story diverges from others. Years before joining Esperanza, Maria had 40 employees; now, she has a total of two part-time helpers.

Wait a second. That’s not how this is supposed to go, is it?

In Maria’s case, definitely. Eight years ago, the Lord called Maria to start a church in her community, which changed the course of her business and her life. Despite feeling ill-equipped and having no idea how she could rent space for a church, she responded in trust, “Here am I.”

Thankfully, we serve a faithful God. Soon after, Maria unexpectedly received a last-minute order to design 2,000 school uniforms. The income from this job allowed Maria to pay rent on a building. Today, she pastors a church on the building’s second floor and runs an education center for over 60 kids on the first floor. The center offers preschool every morning, as well as tutoring, art classes and Bible lessons for youth in the afternoons. Maria also provides clothing and food for the children.

Clearly, Maria has a huge heart for her community, a section of the city she describes as bound by sin, poverty, and an absence of education. She shared, “There’s serious poverty here, and people don’t have much hope.” Many children, she said, drop out of school at a young age, and are consequently often kicked out of their homes. Some turn to prostitution or delinquency; it broke my heart to hear about 12-year-old girls in the community who were pregnant. But Maria has a vision to transform the area through and for Christ, inspired by her church’s guiding verse, John 8:32: “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
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Maria uses the income from her sewing business as a means to support her ministries. Her business has decreased in size and scope as she’s invested most of what she had in serving her neighbors. Five years ago, when she was struggling to pay for fabric, she heard about Esperanza and immediately joined. With the loans, Maria can now more easily buy fabric—in increasing quantities—and her business has advanced. But she’s not done yet.

With her next loan, Maria plans to buy a generator, as inconsistent electricity has kept her from taking full advantage of her eight sewing machines. With the machines operational, Maria will be able to teach sewing classes for local girls, sharing, “I want to teach young people to develop themselves.” Her goal is to empower them with a skill and the ability to ultimately pay for their education. As she employs these girls, she said, her business will also be able to produce at full capacity.

There is powerful potential here. With additional help at her business, Maria’s profits will grow, and she can in turn grow her ministries. As girls are trained and educated, they will be able to impact and invest in their community, as well. Through God’s provision and the help of Esperanza, Maria has started a cycle of hope.