by Lauren Payne, Associate Director of Ministry Teams @ MBC Loudoun

Last weekend I got to witness a true spirit of generosity among our campus. We advertised the need for bikes and boy did we get bikes! Thirty-nine bikes were brought to the campus with a handful more that were picked up by Cal and his truck. It was awesome to see the truck packed full of bikes knowing that these bikes would make a valuable impact in the lives of Nicaraguan orphans.

The bikes aren’t donated for the orphans to ride, but to fix and sell. It’s all part of a microenterprise project developed by ORPHANetwork and partner churches. The orphans take the bikes, make any needed repairs and then sell the bikes. All the profit goes back to the orphanage. The kids learn trade skills, teamwork plus how to run a successful business –all things they might not get a chance to learn if there were still on the streets amidst Nicaragua’s staggering 80% unemployment rate.

The program has been so successful that ORPHANetwork and the partner churches are looking to expand the program into other locations in Nicaragua. In 2011, the goal is to launch the same program in Bluefields, Nicaragua –where our Loudoun campus has been serving since joining with ORPHANetwork in 2009.

Let’s continue to pray for God’s provision for these precious orphans!