April Newsletter 2026
One of our new loan recipients has proved herself to be a good example of all that we hope to support and encourage in our microloan ministry at the Society of the Good Shepherd. Her name is Doally [pronounced Dwally] Melgar. She is a young, single Christian sister who has demonstrated how to start and grow a small business—and how to be faithful in paying back her loan from the Society.
It all began during the Covid pandemic in 2020. Most of Honduras was shut down—businesses, schools, and general transportation. Doally had previously been working at a Christian school as a teacher’s aide. But she now found herself locked down at home, along with her siblings, parents, and grandmother.
Rather than giving up on trying to earn some income, she started making small, personalized gift items like greeting cards and key chains. She studied what other people marketed, and she taught herself calligraphy. She was a fast learner, and she added special details that set her products apart. Since she had the time to do so, she invested her time in every piece she sold. She knew that at some point, the country would open up again, and she would have the beginnings of a small business.
As Honduras was opening up at the beginning of 2021, Doally saw that there was a demand for personal planners (called “agendas” in Honduras). So she began selling both brand name pre-decorated planners and her own planners that were personalized for individuals (see the photo). Doally is very talented, and she began to build a clientele base for her personalized gifts.
After her success with planners and key chains, she learned how to make decorated picture frames and personalized mugs, drinking glasses, thermos bottles, and other personalized items. Her customers buy these for everyday gifts and for special events like Mother’s Day, anniversaries, and birthdays. She advertises online under the business name of Doa Letters. With patience and dedication to detail, her business has grown.
In 2022, Doally started taking online college classes on marketing so that she could learn more about selling and advertising her products. In December of this year, she will graduate with a degree in marketing. Since her class work went hand-in-hand with her small business, she was able to put into practice the marketing techniques and budgeting tools she was learning.
Although the past four years of study have slowed down the amount of time she was able to put into her business, she has focused on the areas where she sees the most growth potential. She has plenty of ideas for how she can continue to grow her business after she graduates in December.
As the end of each year nears, Doally knows that she will have clients waiting for her planners. Last fall, she saw the need to build up her inventory considerably for December sales. However, she did not have the capital to do so.
Her mother knew about the Society of the Good Shepherd and told her daughter about it. So Doally applied for a loan to build up her inventory. The loan was for a little over four hundred dollars. With these funds, she was able to beef up her inventory. As a result, she had good end-of-the-year sales of her personal planners.
Being a faithful Christian who is active in her church, Doally is paying back her loan ahead of schedule. In fact, right after her December sales, she paid off a quarter of her loan.
As she nears graduation, she plans on giving courses and workshops to help small business owners sharpen the techniques that will enable them to sustain a small business in Honduras. She has also thought about offering other courses on printing and calligraphy.
She asks for prayer to have wisdom from the Lord as she sets out on new ventures for her business. She thanks the Good Shepherd Society for supporting and believing in small business owners like herself.
Julie Nyhoff de Valladares
The Society of the Good Shepherd, P. O. Box 122, Amberson, PA 17210 • (717) 349-7033
Click on the following link if you would care to make a donation to the work in Honduras: Honduras Donations