In a strictly technical view, microcredit functions as a tool to alleviate economic poverty. Yet when combined with various complimentary services, microfinance also has the power to transform numerous areas of an individual´s life. For Esperanza Associate Margarita Rodriguez, the most significant change that occured since she joined was her spiritual life.

Margarita was not a Christian before joining Esperanza, and joined primarily for the financial services that Esperanza offers to Associates.  However since joining Esperanza, Margarita started to attending her local church, studying the Word, and even leading the devotionals at her bank´s biweekly repayment meetings. As a result, Margarita became a Christian, and it changed her life immensely. Margarita mentions that she finds her banks meetings to be very beneficial not only because of their necessary financial function, but also because of the short business lessons taught by loan officers, called “Doing Business God´s Way.”  These lessons, which concentrate on planning, marketing, and completing basic business tasks with integrity, provide a way for Margarita and other Associates to integrate their faith into their businesses.

Beyond the many changes seen in her spiritual life, Margarita has also made changes in her economic position through the opportunity to participate in microfinance.  She regularly receives loans of $8,000 Dominican pesos, or $186 USD, every six months. She repays these loans from the profits made by her small fruit business that is located in her home in Licey, outside the city of Santiago. Margarita manages her business by making daily trips to the market in the main part of town to purchase fruit in bulk.  She then sells this fruit to her neighbors, who value the convenience offered by her location. Margarita mentions that her home is also a convenient place for her to work because she also cares for her adult son with disabilities and two young grandsons throughout the day.

While looking forward to watching her grandsons grow and hoping to buy a home in town in the future, Margarita says that she is aware of our tendency as humans to always want something more than what we have. Therefore, in terms of the future, Margarita’s main goal is to follow the will of God and His timing for her life.