Kiva

I love the concept of micro loans. Small loans given directly to poverty stricken individuals or families in 3rd world countries who cannot get loans elsewhere. As a rule, these people could lift themselves out of poverty if just given the chance. While there are many groups that will take your money and put it to good use in a micro loan capacity, usually you do not know who you are loaning to. A while ago I stumbled upon an on-line organization which matches donations with those needing them in a wonderful way. At Kiva, you pick the specific person or group you want to help. Each has a profile so you know who they are, where they live, what their life is like, how much they need and what they need the money for. You can donate in increments of $25 and even see how much they have raised so far. And here's the best part. The loans are due within one year, you can watch as they repay, and you get your money back! While you always have the option to take that money out, I believe the exciting part is that you can use those same funds to simply re-loan to another person.

This year our family voted on what to do with a small jar of charity money we had accumulated throughout the year. We chose to give it to Kiva. Together we read through many deserving candidates and voted to sponsor an industrious single mom in Tanzania. 26 different lenders helped raise the $825 she needed to buy a second sewing machine and supplies for her small tailoring business. It will be exciting for us to watch as she succeeds in moving forward and repaying her loan. We look forward to using that same money to sponsor another next year. I love how this is connecting my children to someone across the world in such dramatically different circumstances than ours. For us, this is win/win!

For more information about Kiva, go to http://www.kiva.org/.

It's a good day.org - a G or PG You Tube

I was driving home from Southern Utah and noticed a billboard that said Its a good day.org a G or PG You tube. So, I came home and checked it out. It's a great sight for the family and has the following subjects:

• 13 Virtues., by Benjamin Franklin
• Just for fun, online games and painting for kids
  
• Printables, right now there are scavenger hunts
• Motivational, includes quotes and book reviews
  
• Kids Korner, includes crafts and games
• Board game and DVD reviews
• Family Corner: Family vacation, family time and family reunion Tees
• Story Time: This is great, you can click on a book and listen to it online
• Recipes: Has a featured recipe, and also weekly meals already planned
• Our Life: Begin your own family web-site..powered by itsagoodday.org
• Videos/Pics: place to upload videos and pictures to share

Family Home Evening's on the WEB

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints website has made it very easy to watch a talk or song from conference or a church video. And if you have a laptop..you can do Family Home Evening anywhere. Most talks average 8-18 minutes. What a great way to emphasize what our Prophet and leaders have shared over these next 6 months. The media player also has the following videos:

• The Life of President Monson
• Finding Faith in Christ
• The Mediator
• The Great Apostasty
• The Restoration
• Come unto Me
• Firm in the Faith
• The Good Samaritan
• World Reports April 2008 & October 2008
• Worldwide Leadership Training
• General Meetings for Relief Society & Young Women
• April 2008 General Conference Highlights (one of my favorites)

The new media player is wonderful, so easy to install and watch. It makes it very convenient to find a specific talk or song. What a wonderful resource the church has put at our fingertips. Enjoy!!