Inspiration in One Woman’s Hard Work and Faith

All it takes to start a business is a dream and some elbow grease. But to be successful, business owners may need something else. If that business is located in a poverty-stricken country, the chance of getting a loan or finding a foothold to grow a business becomes slim.

Homes for Hope and Hope International believe the way to fight poverty is to secure small loans for individuals in struggling countries. The loans are used to help people grow their businesses to be economically viable. The loans are repaid and given to other business owners in need.

The loans do not need to be substantial to be significant. Just $50 was enough to change the life of Ramona Ciprian, a colmado owner in San Pedro, Dominican Republic. About 18 years ago, she received her first loan.

Ramona worked hard to build her business. Her colmado, a one-stop shop catering to an entire community, now makes more in a day than her entire first loan. She stocks clothes, food, school supplies and anything else residents might need. Customers always leave satisfied because she has it all.

That feeling of having it all extends to Ramona too. Ramona feels the loan was a blessing, and she uses her store as a way to let others know the power of her faith. Psalms 113:5, “Who is like the LORD our God, the One who sits enthroned on high” is written along the front of Ramona’s colmado. She talks about Jesus to customers as they pay, and she can often be found ministering throughout the area.

For Ramona, the store is not just a place of business. It’s a way for her to preach the Gospel to those around her. She is a true example of how faith and hard work can accomplish almost anything.

Visit www.homes4hope.org and www.hopinternational.org to learn how you can help make a difference and break the cycle of poverty in other countries.

Until next time,

Jeff Rutt

Find Out More About Hope International at These Events

Hope International isn’t wasting time in 2014. While last year was a great one for the organization and the thousands of people it helped, that doesn’t mean there is time to waste in the new year.

Several events are planned in February, and they are perfect for anyone looking to make a difference this year without having to travel across the globe.

What’s coming in February:

·         Peter Greer, President and CEO of Hope International, will be speaking at the Fort Worth Club’s Speaker Series. Greer will discuss how the organization’s new approach to poverty is changing lives. Learn how loans to hard-working entrepreneurs instead of handouts can help them break free and start making a living that can support their families. Tuesday, February 4. The Forth Worth Club. 306 West 7th Street, Fort Worth, TX 76102

·         The Believers in Business Conference, a conference for MBA students welcomes Peter Greer to discuss how faith and business intersect. Check out the full agenda for other great speakers. More than 275 attendees are expected for the conference, which is now in its ninth year. Friday, February 14. Redeemer Presbyterian Church. 150 West 83rd Street, New York, NY 10024

·         Learn how Christianity and social justice merge in a unique conversation between two important figures in global change. Peter Greer will be joined by Shane Claiborne, an author and prominent advocate who works with the poor. Admission is free, but a ticket is required. Call (717) 691-6036 for more information and for tickets. Messiah College, 1 College Avenue, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 

Keep an eye out for more events in the future. Remember, it’s easy to make a change. Find out more about joining Hope International, and discover how your time can change the world.

Until next time,

Jeff Rutt

From Hopelessness to Business Owner in India

If you’re reading this, then you are better off than more than half the women in India who have no ability to read or write. Access to a computer is not even a possibility. Life for them is “hopeless.” That’s their word.

The country does have a very successful technology sector. However, for the other half of India, the future is bleak. One in three people live in extreme poverty. Thanks to the caste system, they are taught to believe that their status in life was decided when they were born.

There is no way out and, in an emergency, the only option is local money lenders who charge 120 to 240 percent interest. For the women of India, there is no way to move up. Often, staying afloat is enough of a challenge.

With the help of Hope International, women in India are leaving poverty and becoming empowered. They are learning about the Gospel, the love of Jesus Christ and that He has a plan for them. It starts with a simple idea: 10 to 15 women get together and create a savings group. A dollar or two a month is saved. Soon, an internal pool of money is available for the women to use to pay off money lenders, in case of emergency or to start a business.

Suddenly, these women who saw the future as just more of the same struggle are experiencing Jesus’ love for them and seeing that the road ahead is bright. For instance, Shanty used the money from the group to start a small grocery shop. Women like Andandi can sign their names, an important skill now that she and the rest of the women in her group are dealing with banks on a regular basis.

Where they were alone and scared, they are now united and strong. “One woman alone can’t do much, but when there’s 10 of us together can accomplish anything.”

It’s a message we should all remember. With Jesus Christ, we can change the world for the better. Hope International has served 35,000 people in India. As you look forward in 2014, know that anything is possible with Jesus Christ.

Until next time,

Jeff Rutt

A Look Back at a Great Year for Homes For Hope

The start of a new year is a good time to look back and see the good from the past year. Homes for Hope broke ground on a number of homes throughout the United States, helping not only local families but thousands of underserved and underprivileged families all over the world.

We often think of the time around the holidays when we want to give back, but the needs of the impoverished are year-round.

In 2013, Homes for Hope was busy all year and built homes in Colorado, North Dakota, Southern California and more. These houses were more than just homes. The money raised reached families overseas who used it to build their own businesses and break the cycle of poverty.

Let’s take a look at some of the homes and their impact:

·         Wathen Castanos Hybrid Homes built the first Homes For Hope home in California. The goal of the home was to raise $100,000 to fund entrepreneurs in 17 countries like Haiti, Afghanistan, Romania and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

·         In North Dakota, Red Door Homes broke ground on the state’s first Homes For Hope home in September. Red Door Homes owner Art Goldhammer said, “It is hard to put your finger on just the sense of joy that you can help out that many people and that, things you can’t even relate to, but you can make that big a difference in the world from Bismarck, North Dakota.”

·         Baessler Homes raised $123,777.97 after building and selling a home in Millikin, Colorado. The money will provide microloans to more than 5,000 people. “At Baessler Homes, we realized that Homes for Hope offered us the opportunity to meet the needs of many more people than we could serve alone,” said Jamie Baessler, vice president of the company.

All of these companies are local, yet their impact to end poverty is being felt on a global scale. With so much success in 2013, it’s exciting to think what the new year will bring for Homes for Hope and the thousands of people it will help.

For more information about Homes for Hope or to find out how you can help, visit www.Homes4Hope.org.

 Until next time,

Jeff Rutt

American Volunteering Efforts Continue to Increase

64.5 million; that is the total number of Americans who contributed almost 7.9 billion hours of their time to volunteering in the past year. These findings come from the latest annual "Volunteering and Civic Life in America" study conducted by The Corporation for National and Community Service and the National Conference on Citizenship.

This year's overall number of volunteers total exceeds last year's 64.3 million volunteers, and the study values this year's volunteer service at $175 billion ($22.14 an hour).

Here are other interesting findings from the study:

• More than 25 percent of adults volunteered through a nonprofit organization.
• Americans 65 and older donated almost twice as many hours per volunteer than the population as a whole with a median of 90 volunteer hours.
• The median number of volunteer hours for the general population was 50.
• Generation X (those born between 1965 and 1981) had the highest volunteer rate.
• Volunteering among teenagers has increased by 3 percent in the past five years.
• Volunteers are twice as likely to donate to charity with almost 80 percent doing so.
• More than half of all Americans donated at least $25 to charity in 2012.

These are encouraging numbers for someone who has founded two nonprofit organizations and relies on the work and donations of volunteers. I am always glad to see that more Americans are giving back in terms of their time and their financial resources. No matter how much time or how many resources you have, there is always a way you can contribute, and your contribution will make a huge impact in the lives of others.

If you volunteered somewhere in the past year, I'd love to hear about your experience in the comments below.

Blessings,

Jeff Rutt

New FHA Loan Changes Impact Buyers and Builders

The Departmentof Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently announced new FHA single-family loan limits that will go into effect on January 1, 2014. This announcement came just weeks after the department claimed that it would not lower home loan limits in 2014. The new loan limits will vary by county depending on the median cost of housing for that area. However, the new changes are mostly targeting high income earners  who looking to take advantage of favorable FHA loan financing options, and focusing instead on the lower income borrowers.

These changes will have a dramatic impact on both on buyers and builders. Buyers who were planning on purchasing a more expensive home using the favorable FHA loan terms may no longer be able to buy the home they were planning on. In turn, more builders may lose buyers who were planning on buying within the next few months.

If you are a buyer who wants to secure your FHA loan before these lower limits go into effect, you must have a case number on file with HUD before the end of the year to not be affected by these changes.

Here's a look at what the new FHA loan single-family home limits are for the counties Keystone Custom Homes builds in:

Pennsylvania

• Adams-Current: $271,050 vs. New: $271,050
• Berks-Current: $300,000 vs. New: $271,000
• Chester-Current: $420,000 vs. New: $379,500
• Cumberland-Current: $271,050 vs. New: $271,050
• Dauphin-Current: $271,050 vs. New: $271,050
• Lancaster-Current: $383,750 vs. New: $271,050
• Lebanon-Current: $271,050 vs. New: $271,050
• York-Current: $425,000 vs. New: $271,050

Maryland

• Cecil-Current: $420,000 vs. New: $379,500
• Harford-Current: $560,000 vs. New: $494,500

If you have questions about the new FHA loan limits, I would love to answer them. Feel free to leave a comment below.

Until next time,

Jeff Rutt

Americans Express Preference for Walkability in 2013 Community Preferences Survey

The results of the National Association of Realtors' 2013 Community Preference Survey are in, and the findings are definitely worth talking about.

Here are a few highlights:

• 60 percent of respondents prefer a neighborhood with a mix of houses, stores and other businesses that are easy to walk to
• 52 percent want a single-family home with a large yard
• 78 percent believe the neighborhood itself is more important than the house
• 57 percent would trade a larger yard for a shorter commute to work
• 55 percent for forego a large yard for walkability to schools, stores and restaurants

What are the takeaways from these numbers? The key factor to a successful community is walkability. Today's homeowners are putting a much greater emphasis on being able to walk from their new home to their favorite shops, restaurants, parks and schools. Americans are even willing to give up their treasured yard space to ensure they have an easier, faster commute to their workplace and local businesses. They don't want a community with just homes, they want a community that offers them a complete lifestyle; one that they very seldom have to leave, and when they do, they don't want to have to travel far.

While some homeowners will still fall in love with a single-family home in a community filled with just homes or homes and an amenities package, builders need to make sure that even these communities are readily accessible to shops, restaurants, entertainment, recreation and transportation. The other solution is to plan mixed use or traditional neighborhood developments, which incorporate a mix of homes, businesses and amenities all within one community.

What are your thoughts on the findings from this year's survey? I'd love to hear your opinion in the comments section below.

Until next time,

Jeff Rutt