Bibles

  There is an awesome excitement in our workshop these days. Our Bible studies have taken on a new feeling as our Muslim students and those who have never had faith request Bibles and ask many questions. They have begun morning Bible studies together and have even been leading their own studies at home with their families.

Little Esther

Do you remember little Esther? Last year we had surgery on her legs after they were broke by an abusive step father. Then we had her fitted for a brace that she wore for a year to heal one of her legs properly but today we removed the brace and now she is jumping, dancing and twirling like any other 6 year old little girl.

Baby's Birthday

The work that Shining a Light does is empowering women. We work to train women in areas that will allow them to provide for themselves and their children. Along with this awesome work of transformation that God has allowed me to share in, I get to love on and minister to the children in my village here in Tanzania.

 

The other day we found out that it was Baby's, our little neighbor girl, 6th birthday. Knowing that birthdays are not special around here and that most kids living in extreme poverty as Baby is, rarely know their age let alone their birthday, we decided to go all out and throw her a party.

I dug out any and every toy, craft, balloon etc that I had remaining from friends visits, baked a cake and ordered sodas from the local shop and opened the gates to as many kids as I had sodas.

Donned in her homemade princess crown and handmade dress that came from one of our Shining a Light ladies, Baby, jumped, laughed, played and ate junk food until her hearts content.

My life is full of challenges living and working in a country where

 justice and equality is nonexistent but last Tuesday 

I had a day that makes it all worth it.

Sharing the Gospel

This past week we had a break down of the Gospel. I have been teaching on Business as a Mission for the past month and was getting a lot of questions that made me think that maybe their idea of the Gospel isn't quite clear and that maybe even some of them didn't know it at all. So, Screech!!!! I put on the breaks and took a few steps back. I began to think about how to share it without making it long complicated and more confusing. It's not that i think the Gospel is confusing but translating it into a different language in a different culture isn't always easy. I have had many, MANY misunderstandings the past 4 years i have been here.

First of all we bought Bibles. My friend Kendall and I ( we went through Teen Challenge together) got all excited about sharing this important story with our women. We bought Bibles, found a new believers Bible Study and Prayed for about a week that God would open their hearts.

We met last week and just shared our heart. I told them what Jesus did for me and what he is still doing everyday. I gave Bibles to Muslims who were excited to hear more and we had ladies sharing what God means to them. Afterwards we prayed. I asked if any had prayer requests and they laughed as they all put their hands up as if saying "who doesn't?"

This is what it's all about. I work so hard to make a quality sandal, manage our employees, work on contracts and job descriptions but this is the real work, the work that will really transform these women and their families.

Dog Goes to Church!

Last Sunday I woke up with an overwhelming feeling that I just wanted to stay home, skip church and relax. I have a friend visiting from the US and we had been running around all week. I had my personal devotions which talked about how important fellowship with the saints is and that going to church puts us in community with other believers and it's important for our "walk" with Him. Ok! So I started feeling a bit convicted. I said my apologies and prayed for forgiveness and asked if He could help me to become more disciplined. Then Kendall, my friend from home and I took my new puppy on a walk. As we were walking through the village a woman flagged us down and in her best English invited us to come into her church. We tried to argue that we had our dog and we were on our way for a walk but her smile was so sweet and the invitation was so heart warming that we couldn't say no. We walked in to find this broken down one room shack made into a tiny church full of children. Now, children in Tanzania are terrified of dogs so the fact that we walked in with one was more then some of them could take. We sat down in the back and expected to hear complete Swahili coming from everyone and not  understand most of what was going on but to my surprise the pastor spoke wonderful English. He explained to us that this was the children's service and that we were most welcome, so we stayed. There we sat, two church skippers, with a dog, in a service we should not have been able to understand hearing and receiving the Word of God. I walked out of there feeling so loved by my Savior. He heard my cry earlier about missing church, He excepted by apology and then found a way to show me He was thinking of me and was providing me with all I need. Thank you Jesus for making me feel so very special.

David James

I've been reflecting on the life of David James this past week. For those of you who didn't know David he was a little HIV orphan that Shining a Light sponsored. We lost him to meningitis last week and I have been struggling as to what could have prevented such a senseless death and what I could do to change this common event in Tanzania. Although I know that God is the ultimate ruler of life and death I still have this sense that He is speaking to me, to us, about the fact that we get so caught up in the things of this world, things that are not important. So what is important? My heart tells me that people are but what does my head tell me? When projects need to be organized and job descriptions need to be written, donors need to be informed and updated and boards are pressing in to see results and progress. It's so easy to get caught up in the project instead of focusing on the people. Jesus always had time for people. He was never worried or stressed by deadlines and quotas. Aren't we suppose to be reflecting him?
I've lost David but God has placed so many more lives in my care. I have a new resolve to see these people come to know Jesus, to make their lives healthier and their futures brighter. We will take more time to see the faces and hear the voices instead of the bottom-line and learn from David James that even though God took his precious life he will live on in the work we do through Shining a Light.

I ask that you reflect on who or what is taking precedence in your life and if it's what, change it to who!

A Story of Reunion

Most of the time we hear the stories of children being abandoned over here in Tanzania but this is a story of reunion. I met Baby almost two years ago. She was a four year old little girl living with her Grandmother because her mother had to flee the area to escape an abusive husband. Her mother went to work as a house girl in another region of Tanzania because she feared for her life. After several abusive confrontations and a stabbing that left her scared for her and her child's life, Fatuma left her child in the care of her mother and ran as fast and as far as she could.
Now almost two years later she as returned. I have been helping Baby's grandmother care for her, taking her to the doctor when needed, paying school fees and buying food and clothing for her. But now that her mother has finally returned my hope and prayer is that she will be able to be the mother Baby so desperately needs. Our training center/workshop is a great place for Fatuma to get those skills that she needs to provide for Baby. We are hopefully going to welcome Fatuma into our program and save this family from every having to be separated again. Not only will she be able to provide for her and her child but she will be able to give her a life she never had herself. Our goal at Shining a Light is to create an environment of Empowerment so that mother and child may stay together and learn the skills necessary to sustain a brighter future for themselves and their family.

Balloon Love!

The kids in my village are nuts about balloons. I mean what kid isn't? Any party I've ever been to instantly kicks up a notch when balloons are brought into the mix. Well kids in Africa are no different, except for the fact that most of them have never even seen one. Any visitors that come and ask what to bring I automatically say balloons. They are cheap, easy to carry and always ALWAYS are a hit. Last weekend I had a crew of kids at my gate, actually, every day I have them at my gate. They are relentless. They knock and knock and know until I finally can't take it anymore and must go see what is so urgent. Nothing ever really is, they are just bored and want some "Jen Fun". So I came to the gate prepared, a bag of balloons!!!What followed was a frenzy of jumps, air punches, high kicks and over excited shouts. They came from all sides, kids I have never seen before, to get their own balloon. The fun lasted hours and the shouts didn't die down until late into the afternoon. They stopped knocking and I was able to get back to whatever it was I was doing. But the joy and excitement that they experienced over one tiny balloon made me envious of simple pleasures and made me want to answer those knocks  at my gate.

Jennifer
www.shiningalight.org

AFRICAN SANDALS

These sandals are gorgeous, right! But what you don't know is that they are empowering women in Tanzania. Women in Tanzania struggle from the very beginning of their lives. They don't get any choice in how their life will go and which path they will take. Money for education is scarce and usually goes to educate the males in their family. They hardly ever get to choose their husband or even how many kids they will have. On top of all of this their husbands do not respect them, they often abandon them and if they do stick around demand that the woman, with no education, training or resources provide for the home and the children. Shining a Light is rescuing these women through these beautiful African Sandals. We are teaching them the skill of beading, providing business training and money management and teaching them in the area of literacy. We then help them enter the market place so that they may earn a living and provide for their children. Through the purchase of these African Sandals at www.shiningalight.org you can participate in helping us transform the lives of women in Tanzania.



 Go to www.shiningalight.org to purchase a pair of these gorgeous African Sandals Empowering women TODAY!

Monika's Story of Hope

Monika is sweet and quiet. She comes to work every day with her head down and ready to give it her all. She's not the fastest beader and her quality is not the best, she might not even like to bead. But she does it! Every day! She knows that this is her opportunity to provide for her children. She is 30 years old and has two children. She has been married for seven years but hasn't seen her husband in two. this is her life. No one cares about her, know one has invested in her, protects her or listens to her. This is a common story here in Tanzania. She has no self confidence and thinks very low of herself. Her only goal in life is to send her children to school and make sure their stomaches are full. This WAS her story.

Thanks to Shining a Light Monika is making a new story for herself. She is working hard to learn a skill, save some money and learn about business. She is trying to imagine herself running a business some day even though it's beyond her imagination. Building her confidence through her work and knowing she has money in the bank will help her focus on a dream she has never dared to dream, independence, security and safety. her children will see her new found confidence and become more confident themselves. Her children will also know there is money for education and work hard to reach the next level. All of this will come from her training at Shining a Light. A life of struggle for a life of hope. 

We are changing lives and you are helping! By sharing this blog, spreading the word and buying our sandals at www.shiningalight.org women like Monika are being empowered and changing their future.

Sandals with a Soul!

These are our gorgeous hand beaded sandals made in Arusha, Tanzania. They are made by women who are struggling to survive in a male dominated culture that treats them worse then the family's livestock. They never have a chance at a proper education, there's no money. They never get to choose whom they will marry, that's prearranged. They never decide how many children they will have, they must “be” with their husbands whenever demanded. And they have no choice but to work like a dog without making any money.  Shining a Light has decided to Empower these amazing women who work from dawn until dark without complaints. We have decided to teach them a profitable skill and then allow them to capitalize on it by training them in business. We also teach them in areas of literacy, health care, and how to manage their finances. These sandals provide the opportunity of transformation by financing our project. You can support these women and us by purchasing a pair of sandals at www.shiningalight.org and help us change the future of women in Tanzania and the future of their children.                                                                  

Transformation!

These Little guys now have a chance at a proper education and to a life filled with options and opportunities. Thanks to the "Women to Work" project that Shining a Light started in Arusha, Tanzania. Their mother, Anna, is being trained in the skill of beading. She is helping us to make our beautiful hand beaded sandals that we sell at www.shiningalight.org. We are also teaching her to read and write in English, Health Care, Basic Business Skills and Money Management. Anna has struggled most of her life. From an early age when she had to go to work because her father couldn't afford to educate her, to loosing her first husband in a car accident and struggling on her own to provide for her and her son and then to excepting another man into her life just because she thought he would provide for her and give her security. She now has 3 little boys and can provide for her family of four all by herself without suffering at the hand of an abusive husband or begging from family members. She says this is the first time in her life where she doesn't have to worry about where the rent will come from, how to pay school fees or what she will have to put herself through to get either one. She is living in safety and security now and finally feels Hope.

HONGERA!!!!

The word "pole" is heard often over here in Tanzania. If you live here you will hear it several times a day. It means sorry, not "excuse me, I'm sorry I did that" but "I'm sorry for you". I sorry for your loss, I'm sorry that you are sick, I'm sorry that you're late, tired, or upset and most importantly, I'm sorry that you have to work. As I walk up the hill towards our workshop I will hear it several times. They are sorry for me because I am walking, yep, just walking! If you are moving in this country, if you are not sitting idle relaxing with friends and family then you will receive a "Pole" for your troubles. Pole is often affiliated with work so our women expect to hear it from me when I greet them in the morning. I am expected to say "Pole" upon entering each morning. This is telling them that I am sorry they must work, that I am sorry they have a job. This seemed quite ridiculous to me since I have been working so hard to create jobs for them. Since I wake up each morning and go to bed each night thinking of ways to sell our sandals and keep them employed. Since I plan day after day the best way to empower them and transform their lives into responsible business women and to help them change their future and the future of their children. No! Pole will just not do. So instead I greet them each morning with Hongera!!! Hongera is Congratulations!!!! Congratulations that you are working, that you have a job and that you are receiving a steady income. It makes them laugh since it goes against their traditions. They understand what I am trying to say but to them I should still feel very sorry for them. I just can't bring myself to very bad for a person who is finally pulling themselves out of poverty. In a country where most people live off of less then $2 a day shouldn't we be congratulating them more for their efforts rather then feeling sorry for them?

LOVE

My new desire is Love. All over the Bible it talks about love. Love for God, Love for His Son and Love for others. So many days I am bogged down with too many things to do. Busyness can get us confused about what our work as Christians really is. We struggle to be good, do what's right and accomplish the work that has been laid on our heart and all of this is just too much if we don't have Love! My goal over the next few months is to express love to others. This will take a lot of work as I am always moving in high gear to get things done. Our accomplishments mean nothing without love. As a missionary living in Tanzania I find it hard to love, I find that I don't have time for it with all the things that are required of me. But who do I work for? Shining a Light? No, I work for God and His requirement is that I love Him and others. Showing love to another person is often too much for us to get involved in but I challenge you to attempt the unconditional love that our Lord has for us. Not just the people we find easy to love but those who test us, hurt us and deceive us. Those that are hard to love! While you work at this difficult task know that I am doing the same. The women I work with are not always easy to love. They test my patience and don't always appreciate my views BUT it's the real work that has been given to me and I will do my best to make my Father proud. And just look at these faces, what's not to LOVE!

A Tanzanian Wedding

I had the pleasure of attending a wedding of one of our women from Shining a Light. Tumaini has been with us since the beginning. She has a five year old daughter from a previous man who ran out on her after he discovered she was pregnant. This is the story of many of our women so when I heard that she had this new chance at happiness I didn't want to miss the blessed event. We all met at our workshop, the other ladies and I, to go together. Being an American I was pressuring the other girls to hurry up as they changed their clothes, applied makeup and did each others hair. As the time got closer and closer I began to panic about being late and missing the whole thing all together. We arrived at the church late to find no one there. We were the first ones!! You see the others knew what I have not yet learned after being here for 4 years, NOTHING in Tanzania EVER starts on time. We settled in the pews and waited for the ceremony to begin having our choice at any seat since the church was empty. After about an hour the bride and groom arrived, met with the pastor and entered the church, then and only then did the church begin to fill up. How did they know? How did the guests know that the service would begin an hour late? I guess they are all on the same time table. The service was all in Swahili so I understood very few words. The pastor brought the couple to the front as they rededicated their lives to Christ, then gave a wonderful message that most found charming and funny because there were many laughs throughout. Then the wedding ceremony began, the exchanging of rings, the signing of a document and then the introduction of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Phillip (No Kiss!) Now this next event really took me off guard, a couple, not apart of the wedding stood up and had their baby baptized! I have no idea how that came about or who they were but I didn't question it and either did anyone else. Ahhhhhhhh Karibu Tanzania! After the service we congratulated the couple and rushed off to their house for food and festivities. As we approached the house there were decorations in the brides color of blue and white tablecloth covered tables that littered the yard. There were about 6 tables and a steady flow of people out numbering the amount of tables. I watched in amazement as the crowed kept growing and wondered how everyone would fit and have a seat. But as only Tanzanians can
do, they managed. I looked around 30 minutes later and to my great surprise everyone was seated and waiting for the happy couple to enter. We ate delicious Tanzania dishes, we watched as the families got up and danced around the couple as they offered gifts for their new lives and then we laughed and danced to the sounds of a local D.J. I missed a lot of what was said but the meaning was not lost. Tumaini and Robert shared a special moment in their lives with family and friends which translates into any language.

Mountain Gorillas

Wazungu in the Mist

Any one who knows me knows that I'm not up for big adventures when I travel. I like a safe beach with a nice hotel and maybe some room service if possible. Yes, I live in Tanzania but I don't live in the bush and most of the time I have electricity and running water, Oh, and a toilet that I can sit on. Roughing it for me is the fact that we don't have fast food, our plumbing is not the best and my internet is way too slow. That is why when I began to plan my trip to Rwanda to see the mountain Gorillas I was very nervous to say the least. Planning a trip here in Africa is not like America. There are no numbers to call for reservations, no travel agents booking your flights and getting visas and permits are quite a challenge. Our big trip was set for the end of April. We had to decide what day we would see the Gorillas. You only get one hour with them and must obtain a permit to do so. The day you pick has to stick since your permit must indicate that day so travel plans need to be set to make sure you arrive for that day. First problem, reliable transportation. See thats not so easy here in Africa. We had no flights to Rwanda so we were depending on buses. Now I have lived her long enough to know buses are not dependable. You just show up on the day you want to travel, hope there is a seat and hope the bus is going where you are headed. No phoning ahead and no reservations. Next problem, safe and secure accomodations. I tried to get reservations but no one answered the phone and no one replied to our emails. I had a good idea of where I wanted to stay but I had to once again depend on getting there and praying there was a room available. So once we left Tanzania and bused into Rwanda (well we actually walked across the boarder because buses do not cross), found another bus willing to take us to Kigali, we did find our Hotel and there was a room for us. I say Hotel but it was actually a youth hostel with a shared bathroom. Now I didn't stay in one of these even when i was a youth so when i tell you it was WAY out of my box i am not joking. I felt like Ann Frank up in this little room in the attic and forget about finding the bathroom if you have to go in the middle of the night. WE eventually made it to the mountain where we climbed for an hour up the steepest hill i have ever done (I now have confirmation that i do not need to climb Kilimanjaro). We approached the jungle where we could hear the snapping of twigs and knew we were close to them. I was out of breath, wet from the rain and slept poorly in another room that I would have rather not. As we climbed the rough terian of the mountain we came upon a clearing and there they were, 2 amazingly large silver backs lounging around. I just stood there with awe and wonder at what I was seeing. They looked at me as if they were board and knew we would be coming. As if to say "ok, get your hour over with so we can get back to our own lives". They were so huge and so scary and yet i wanted to reach out and touch them. I wanted to interact and play with these hairy, cuddly looking creatures. W

e moved along through the jungle and came upon many more of them. They never seemed bothered by our apperence, they just continued on with their daily routine of eating, sleeping and playing and allowed us for the briefest moment to share in their existence. I have never done anything so incredible in my life. I have never backed packed, traveled without plans or seen something that so many will never experience. Our trip went unbelevable well. We caught all our buses, saw historical memories of the rwanda genocide and had a chance to view these precious animals all in record time. We did two countires, 8 cities, 4 modes of transportation, the mountain gorillas, serengeti all within 6 days. My ideas of traveling have changed. Although i will always enjoy a sunny beach and 5 star accomidations I now know what my abilities are to see this beautiful continent and experience more of its history, sights and outstanding secenery.