So yesterday one of my Nicaraguan employees wrote me to say that her mother had severe diabetes, and she needed a loan of $500 to get her mother the treatement she needed. I asked everyone in my office up here in the U.S. if anyone wanted to contribute to prolonging the life of this woman - no takers.

I made the loan myself, of course. And sent it along with the following note:

Después de pensar mucho te voy a prestar el dinero; pero no puedo seguir prestándote dinero para el caso de tu mama en el futuro. La verdad es que, en mi opinión, tu madre tiene una enfermedad que no se cure. Ya sabes mis sentimientos sobre la filosofía de la vida. Nosotros tenemos un poco de tiempo para vivir en este mundo lindo; y cuando se termine ese tiempo, todos continúan viviendo en el cielo, pero también aquí en la tierra a través de los trabajos de nuestros hijos o de los trabajos de ellos que habíamos dado consejo en como seguir adelante, mejorando el mundo poco a poco.

Este es el único préstamo que te puedo dar para este propósito. La verdad es que no tengo programado ese gasto, y por eso al fin este va a eliminar una oportunidad para un niño desconocido. Pero así es la vida.

Siento mucho por ti y por tu mama.

Cariñosamente,
Tom

Mañana te enviare el dinero.

Update 1-13-07

Translation - Please keep in mind that it is a little hard to convey the actual feelings expressed in one language in another:

Dear______:

After much thought I have decided to lend you the money; but I cannot continue lending you money for the case of your mother in the future. The truth is that, in my opinion, you mother has a disease which cannot be cured. You already know my feelings about the philosophy of life. We all have a small amount of time to live here in this beautiful world, and when that time ends, we may continue living in heaven. But we also continue living here on earth through the works of our children, and through the works of those whom we have given counsel as to how to keep moving forward, making the world a better place little by little.

This is the only loan I am going to give you for this purpose. The truth is that I don't have this expense budgeted, and for that reason it is going to take away an opportunity from some unknown child. But that's life.

I feel very sorry for you and your mother [having to go through this].

Caringly,
Tom

Tomorrow I will send you the money.

--end translation--

Am I a sucker?

2007!!!

Well we had a great holiday season, and I hope all of you did too. Reality starts at midnight PST.

Our little foundation (I'm not going to disclose the name yet) apparently has gotten big enough to have to comply with all sorts of regulations I was completely unaware of - until yesterday when I received an urgent call from our accountant. I'm going to be spending all day tomorrow working on a "Business Plan" for describing our activities in Nicaragua, as well as job descriptions for the several Nicaraguans who assist us with them.

5 years ago, I never thought that my efforts to help one little illiterate, green eyed, eleven year old girl go to school; and to buy a few books for an elementary school I visited in the process, would lead to such a tangle. But it has.

My new years resolution is make no more mistakes and do everything perfectly from now on.