成人快手

Good morning.听 Today I'm thinking about Thilaka.听 I've never seen anyone handle a power-drill with her speed and precision.听 Mind you, there was a moment when she pulled it on me with the speed of a gunslinger.听听

Thilaka and I had no language in common so the drill was helping her make a point. She wanted me to know how a development loan, tiny by our standards, had changed her life.

Thilaka had not been married long when a natural disaster killed her husband leaving her with a young son.听 She was reduced to becoming a subsistence farmer, making enough to eat but little else - certainly there was no possibility of her son remaining at school.听 Thilaka also lives in a culture where it's almost impossible for a woman to start a business of her own.听

A charity, committed to liberating people imprisoned by poverty , offered her a micro-finance loan; she jumped at the chance.听 She knew that rich people liked to decorate their homes with arrangements of imitation flowers.听 She also had an idea.听 She thought of a way of making much larger displays than were currently available if only she could buy some power tools.

The loan helped her to do just that.听 To avoid sexual harassment from men in the market, she made herself look as unattractive as possible.听 Then she set to work under the guidance of a mentor provided by the charity.听

Now Thilaka has repaid the loan, secured her future and her son is going to university.

So, heavenly Father, defend us today from the cynicism that makes us think we can never make a difference.听 We pray for people we know who set their will to overcome tragedy and prejudice.听 Make us faithful in supporting them and generous in encouragement.听 Amen.

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