Why they do it

On Friday, after attending 3 loan group meetings and talking with two groups of women who are thinking about forming new loan groups, we headed out to do a business assessment. Most of the people live in the Mathare Valley, but the woman we were visiting today lived on the outskirts of town...and what felt like a two day matatu ride.
We arrived to our dusty destination; a very small town with cows roaming the street, and met up with Sarah. Sarah and her husband own and run a scrap metal business and from the looks of her home (which was quite humble but had more than one room) business is doing well. As we sat and chatted, eating the goat stew and rice she prepared for our visit, Sarah shared with us that her husband found out the day before that he has cancer.
The loan officer I'm teamed with, Virginiah, explained as Sarah left to get drinks, that being diagnosed with cancer here in Nairobi is a (quickly approaching) death sentence. People in their financial situation don't really have a chance to try to fight it.
I didn't know what to say...this woman had found out less than 24 hours prior to our visit that her loved one and provider has very little time left on this earth, and she will be left to pick up the pieces once that short time evaporates. I wished for the millionth time since arriving here that I could fix the problem this delicate woman was facing. However, the one way I know we can help her is the exact reason we stopped by, to assess the needs of her business and provide her a loan that will help it grow when she needs those resources and stability the most.
We stayed as long as we could and listened...even though I couldn't understand much...and I prayed for Sarah, her husband, and her family. She thanked us for coming and hugged us before we headed back.