3 kiva transactions in 1 day

That had not been my plan, but Kiva made me a deal I could not refuse.

They said if I donated $25 to their foundation, they would give me $50 to make loans at my leisure over the next two weeks.

So, I went on the site to check to see what loans might be of interest.

After all, my stepmom's birthday was yesterday and I like to chose a loan in her honor every year.

Plus, I had an added impetus: thanks to repayments from others I'd loaned to, I had $24.36 in credit on Kiva.

Once on the site, I found not one loan, but two, that were of interest!

My mind was made up at that point.

I added sixty-four cents to bring the total gift to Kiva to $25 to assist in their philanthropic endeavors.

Almost immediately they put the $50 credit into my account!!!

Well, alrighty then!

On to the loan in honor of Bonnie's bday 78!

That $25 of credit went toward Claudette's loan for her water distribution company in Bujumbura, Burundi, a tiny landlocked country in Africa.

She had asked for $35,000 with which to set up franchises of Jibu Burundi, an organization that has been improving access to safe and affordable drinking water in Burundi since its launch in 2020.

She already had lenders who had donated more than $25,000 toward the loan, with several Nerdfighters, so I was glad to be part of that total.

(smile!)

The other $25 of credit was donated in honor of my youngest brother's upcoming birthday.

As I've done for his previous birthday, I found a loan that benefited a larger community with light in the darkness.

This time, the loan is to Izili Bénin and her husband in Cotonou, Benin, a long, thin country near a river in Africa.

Their ask is for a loan of $100,000 to provide clean, affordable solar energy to power 1,920 households in Benin.
They arrange for homeowners to make payments over time, with ownership transferring to the household after the payments are done.

That means that in a few years' time, the household will pay nothing for their electrical needs.

That's amazing!!!

Nerdfighters are backing their Kiva loan, too.

I'm so glad to be part of that group!

(smile!)

Ever since I joined them, I've made a difference in the lives of so many!

On paper, I've contributed to 73 loans, though some were to groups, making the total number of people directly helped a bit higher than 73.

This year, I have already made seven loans, which is a reflection of the steady flow of money being repaid to me from previous loans. 

What I find interesting, though, is that my money has now traveled to 63 different countries to make change in lives and communities.

Sixty-three countries.

I credit the internet with making that possible.

Good to know it does have benefits!

(smile!) 

helping right whales

One Hundred Miles asked that I remind my representatives, Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, that a horrendous bill is trying to get passed.

That would be HR 9436.

North Atlantic Right Whales use this area of the Atlantic Ocean as the nursery for bearing and raising their young.

However, this bill in the US House of Representatives threatens their future.

In 2022, a bill was passed to delay the  regulation of commercial fishing gear that causes entanglements with whales.

Now, HR 9436 threatens to delay that needed regulation until 2035.  

Seriously?

Why are they allowing the commercial fishing industry to threaten the lives of 380 right whales?

So, I have spoken up and spoken out to my congressmen to make a stand.

Please click the link and join me to save these creatures.

Thank you.

as the holidays near for the Alee Shriners...

The Shriners Children's Hospital have sent me yet another request for money, but I have limited funds for charities.

Remember, I've been retired for 8 years.

What else can I do to be of help?

Well, they provided an outlet.

They enclosed a holiday ornament for me to return for one of the children that will be spending their time away from home.

I carefully loosened the bright, cheery, shape from the backing.

Then, I inscribed a message on its reverse side for such a child.

 

"I hope your tree

sparkles and gleams!

I hope your tree has

a special gift beneath! 

Happy holidays, dear!

with love,

Aunt Faustina" 

 

I do hope it will bring some cheer,

regardless of which religion

the child happens to be.

(smile!)

calling all congresspeople to this caucus!

Just what caucus would this be?

The Congressional National Marine Sanctuary Caucus, that's what.

So, what exactly is a caucus?

That's a political interest group formed from members of a legislative body.

Hence, this particular one is formed from members of the US Congress for the purpose of protecting our  National Marine Sanctuaries, as well as all of the diverse forms of life that call those places, as well as other bodies of water on Earth, their home.

I've called upon my members of Congress - Jon Ossoff, Raphael Warnock, and Earl "Buddy" Carter - to become members.

At this date, only Representative Buddy Carter is a member.

Good for him.

Neither of the Senators are part of that Caucus. 

I'll remember that when elections come around... and they're coming.

I know.

I've been seeing the 'mercials.

in support of community theater

Just to set the record straight: I don't usually buy raffle tickets.

Part of the reason is that I don't have that kind of luck.

Better that someone else should try for, and win, whatever the prize.

However, during intermission at the show tonight, something clicked.

I didn't need to win the prize for me, but for my brother, Smitty.

And just what was the prize?

Well, there were three possibilities.

Each was an artwork crafted from a book, and there would be three drawings for these donated items.

My photos don't really show them well, but the first was of several candles, the second was a reindeer, and the third is a mysterious woman in a hat.

My thought was this: if I won, my brother would be able to figure out how to craft these for his grandkids for Christmas.

He's retired now and needs something as a creative outlet.

So, I bought five raffle tickets, spending $20 in the process.

Even if I didn't win, I knew the money would benefit the troupe... but I did win, not once, but twice!!!

I chose the "reindeer" art-book, then had them draw again so someone else could receive a prize that night.

One was all I needed. 

(smile!) 

in support of music education

One of the surprise benefits of the "Broadway To Bourbon Street" concert?

It was a benefit for the Equinox Global Missions.

What is the purpose of this group?

"[It] is passionate about using world-class music to restore good wherever it's lost and to revive joy wherever it's fading."

That sure sounds a lot like the credo for the Nerdfighters.

That's why I ponied up the $35 for the ticket and the $5.25 for fees.

If that's all it cost to help "revive joy wherever it's fading", that's a deal.

I'm so glad I had the opportunity to help others on this 25th anniversary of a very dark time in US history.

i thank You, God.

love in the mail from Scotland!

"Oh, my! JinHi did get to go to the Festival Fringe after all??"

Yes, she did! Indomitable as ever, not even a recent round of chemo treatments could stop her! She is a force of nature, she is! This is her, on the stage for her last performance of her one-woman show. I'm so glad she has had a great run there, and I am so proud to have been a kickstarter supporter for that travel.

"Oh, my! Is that the postcard from the Fringe???"

Yes, yes it is! Some of those sites have been posted on fb by her and her entourage, but others have not. What a perfect choice to share a bit of the trip with me! I've already sent her a message to let her know it's arrived, but I have a big hug waiting for the next time I see her!!!

"Oh, my! And she even wrote you a personal message???"

Yes, yes, she did! "We couldn't be here without you!" Isn't that marvelous? All I can say is: Thank you, JinHi!  (smile!)