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.