In my research for our Xmas series, I came across an organization called Kiva that makes microloans to the poor around the world.  The way it works is that private citizens who want to be lenders, like us, can simply make a $50 or $200 or $500 loan to a small business person in the developing world.  These entreprenuers have been pre-screened and approved for the loans based on their current work ethic and business model.  Amazingly enough, there is currently a 98% payback rate for Kiva loans, and most are repaid within 12 months.  This is pretty fantastic considering that Kiva has facilitated over $100 million in loans over the last 4 years!

So what if the 'Smith' family got together this year and instead of everyone exchanging names and buying about $500 worth of 'stuff', they put all of their money together and used this $500 in capital to provide a loan to a young mother in Cambodia who is selling pigs and doing well, but needs $500 in capital to expand her business.  This $500 loan would be paid back into their Kiva account over the next 12 months, at which time they could make another loan, perhaps to a young weaver in Guatemala who needs to update his manual loom in order to work more efficiently.  It could become an annual tradition for the family to use this $500 in capital to help a hard working person from another country provide for their family by expanding their small business.

Here is a sample profile of a lady in Cambodia needing a loan.  So if you are looking for something a little different this year, check out Kiva and bless the poor in celebration of Jesus, who though he was rich, became poor for our sakes.

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. (2 Corinthians 8:9)