Wednesday, June 29, 2011


This blog entry is to honer a very dear a special man. Dr. Linus was a friend and mentor to all of us at Shining a Light. He passed way last Friday due to heart problems and he will be deeply missed. What was remarkable about him was the impact he had on all of us at Shining a Light here is Tanzania. Although I only worked with him for a year he had a way of making you feel like part of his family and that you have always been apart of his life. He was so kind and gentle while working with our women. As the head of our empowerment program he counseled, guided and fathered all of the women each in a special and unique way. The women only new him for about 3 months but their loss is deep and their relationship with him was strong. This man truly was a Shining Light to this village and this project. He will be greatly missed. This picture was taken a few months ago at his baptizing. I believe he had faith in God for most of his life but made the commitment to follow Jesus recently and wanted to share that commitment with the world by being baptized. I am so very grateful to have been there has a wittiness and to have known such a lovely man.

Friday, June 17, 2011


I would like you to meet Digna. She is 28 years old and her story will break your heart. Digna was an orphan by 6 years of age when she went to live with her grandmother. Her grandmother was contantly fighting with her other relatives over the care of Digna so much so that the relatives ended up setting the grandmother's house on fire with her in it. Once she lost her grandmother Digna had to go work as a house girl at the age of 11. This brought on a whole new set of problems since Digna was abused, starved and basically worked as a slave for her employer. As Digna was often beaten daily she decided to run away from her job as a house girl. With no where to go she ran into an older man who kidnapped her and forced himself on her and to live and work for him. Over the next 6 years Digna had 3 children by this man, was abused daily and humiliated (he would beat her and pour urine on her) in front of her friends and family. But God had different plans for Digna. The man she lived with was arrested for beating her after that she never saw him again. She moved into our village where she heard about our project and was hired after hearing her story and seeing her dedication. Digna received Jesus at one of our first Bible Studies. She believes God has saved her for a purpose and she knows that her future is secure in Him. She loves the work and the friends she has made working with the Shining a Light "Women to Work" project. She has her own room where her and her children live and all 3 are attending school. Digna can continue to work with us and providing for her children as long as we sell our sandals. Please order a pair of sandals today at www.shiningalight.org to ensure Digna has a safe and secure future.

Monday, June 13, 2011


This is Tumaini. She is 24 years old and a single mother struggling to provide for her 4 year old daughter who goes to our preschool. Her daughter's name is Sharon. When Tumaini met Sharon's father he made many promises to her. She was 19 at the time and could not afford to go to school. He promised her he would pay for her education and take care of her. As soon as he found out she was pregnant he disappeared leaving Tumaini to explain her situation to her parents alone. They rejected her instantly and disowned her as their daughter. Ever since Tumaini has been battling her severe conditions to provide for herself and her daughter. But now Tumaini has hope! That is what Tumaini means in Swahili (Hope). She works with Shining a Light to make our handmade beaded sandals that we sell through our website at www.shiningalight.org. She love the work, the environmemt, and has been enjoying our empowerment classes knowing that she is improving her life and her daughter's life. Through the sale of our beautiful sandals you can help Tumaini and many other women just like her.

Jennifer VanderGalien
jennifer@shiningalight.org
www.shiningalight.org

Wednesday, June 8, 2011



Well it's summer and time to buy some sandals. Shining a Light has some amazing, beautiful, handmade sandals for sale at www.shiningalight.org. The best thing about these sandals???? Is that they help empower women and their children right here in Arusha, Tanzania. Shining a Light has employed 15 women who have been struggling all their lives to make these sandals and sell them to all of you. So not only do you get a pair of fabulous sandals but you are also helping to keep these women employed. At our workshop we not only make these sandals but we provide empowerment classes on how to budget their money and save so they can create a better future for their children. We teach health care (living with HIV), do Bible Studies (we already have had one women give her life to Christ) and other classes that will benefit them along with a fair salary. The purchase of a pair of sandals also goes to support our local preschool where many of their children go. Employment & Education is our focus and we believe that through these two projects we can make a difference in the entire community. So PLEASE got to www.shiningalight.org and help support us! We cannot do this without you!

God Bless,
Jennifer