June 17, 2013

It is Monday morning and I got up early to have coffee with Terzol before he left for school at 7:30am and to pray with him.  It is quiet here in the mornings.  Able made fresh coffee for us and now we are sitting here reading the paper and chatting.  Joseph came in early and we also had a chance to talk and pray.  I am also reflecting on the weekend.

Carmen and I had a chance to meet again on Saturday with the Women of Grace.  One idea that was shared last week was to think of ways to incorporate the handmade beads into other kinds of products, like purses.  Perusi, who is very creative, took the idea and gave it a try.  She made about four sample and showed them to a shop in town.  She immediately sold the first two that she had made. 

Beads added to purses.

We also discussed a list of ideas that the ladies had about how to meet the mission of Women of Grace, develop a source of income, and have an impact on the community.  Several ideas were brought forward, but the one they landed on was learning to sew.  They decided that if they had a sewing machine and a knitting machine, as a team, they could sew and make sweaters for the school children.  All schools wear uniforms, so making the uniforms and mending old ones could be a source of income.  Many men and women wear African outfits and are made locally…another way to market their services.  Many other marketing ideas were discussed and therefore convinced the ladies that this would be a good new opportunity.  Because, I had brought with me money that came from the recent sales of their beads, they decided to use it to buy new manual sewing machines that do not required electricity.  They are getting quotes and we hope to buy them shortly and put them in the container on the church property where they were making beads.  Our first project will be making tie/die and batik fabric and then sewing new curtains and seat cushions for thechurch to spruce it up.  Seth will teach them how to tie/die and batik the fabric.  Annette and Perusi will teach them to sew.  We are all very excited.

For the rest of our day today, we’ll be headed to Ganda where one of the church plants is.  We’ll also stop by some of the properties that were donated to the church to consider them for future school locations.  God is good and is helping us to discern His direction!

Blessings and Love, Nancy