Small steps forward, one giant step back

I have to admit, I'm discouraged, bummed and any other adjective that may come to mind when it comes to being discouraged and bummed. Ha! OH (Open Hand) has been approached by a very well known, established non profit that wants us to head up their micro loan system in a different country. The fact that they would consider us is ridiculous enough b.c honestly, we haven't proven ourselves yet and there are many other organizations they can turn to, but they want us. I feel like David amongst Goliath but the good thing is, we all know how that story turned out!

Our awesome board met on Sunday night and voted as to whether or not we should take a fact finding trip to this unnamed country and see if we felt we'd be a benefit to them and vice versa - it was unanimous - our board said go for it! Alisha has been in contact with key players, phone conferences etc... and has said that OH would like to provide 300 loans. The cool thing about this country is that it is much more manageable in regards to the loan amount. I know, I'm talking in code but it kinda needs to be that way until we really work all the logistics out.  A normal person would read what I've written so far and think, "OK.... so why are you discouraged, bummed, etc.." and the answer would be because I called the IRS on Monday, figured I would use my ability to be an annoying squeaky wheel and see what I could find out about the status of our 501 (c)(3). Poor Darryl from the IRS (no, that wasn't really his name but I can't remember it so we'll go with Darryl). He had the unfortunate job of telling me the IRS is backlogged into March 2012. 2012. At which point I say, "I was under the impression we'd be hearing something back within 90 days from our application being accepted" and poor Darryl says, "we've been asking them to take that off the form letter. We are so understaffed we are processing claims from March 2012." And myself, in my utter disbelief spouts, "but those are the applications that have problems right? " I bet Darryl was cringing as he answered, "No. That is all claims." to which I start crying. Yep, crying to the IRS man, but I bet that isn't the first time he's heard the sobs coming from the other end of the phone line.

So now you know why I'm discouraged, bummed and any other word you can think of. Because we need a miracle. We have opportunities that have been thrown at us but we need the resources to make it happen, and the resources will come when we have the status from the government. See the vicious cycle? So I promised you a behind the scene look at starting a non profit and this is it. Discouragement. So many things are within reach and yet they aren't.