Brooks
Exciting things are happening at the Women’s Vocational Training Center. Since Steven and Angel Alembe, Appleseed’s Community Development Directors, have taken on overseeing the project, there are many new logistical steps being put into place. The biggest being that he brought with him an incredibly wonderful tailor/trainer from his homeland, DR Congo. Here in Kenya and throughout Africa, Congo is known for it’s beautiful fabrics and talented tailors. We are so fortunate to have this very gifted gal, Rachel Aina Kitulo, with us for the next six months.
First of all, if you can imagine, this young mom of four, traveled all the way from Tubumbashi-Katauga in the eastern part of Congo to the western city of Uvira…only then to continue her long, arduous journey from Congo to Kitale, Kenya with four men, Steven and the three church planters from Burundi!! Being willing to do that in my book already makes her quite a woman! I asked her why she would leave her home and children for so long. Sadly, the sacrifice for this young widow with four children (16, 12, 10, and 8) is huge as she admits how badly she misses them already. But, leaving them with her younger sister for the next six months, she tells me will enable her to have enough money to buy food, housing and school fees without stress for some time. Shyly she announced, “When at last December comes, I will go and stay two weeks with my family. Then I will come back to the girls at the school.”
Rachel’s husband died some years ago, leaving her sole supporter for her family in the war-ravaged nation of DR Congo. Thankfully, she had already been through three years of school to learn sewing and the theory and practical aspects of tailoring. She has since supported herself as a seamstress. When Steven contacted her to see if she would be willing to go to Kenya and take on the responsibilities of running a project there for desperate women, she jumped at the chance. At the school, she will receive a guaranteed good salary, plus housing and transport for six months. To her, it’s worth the sacrifice.
For us, she is just what we need to take the school to the next level of where we’d like to see it go. Rachel will not only be teaching the girls theory, cutting and sewing, but will be managing the business side of the whole project, quite an undertaking! For her, with her credentials, this is not a problem. She is educated, confident and skilled. PLUS, she is absolutely precious! Always smiling, she has already endeared the girls to her heart. She is a strong, strong woman, exuding deep faith and certainty that it was God’s intention for her to come to Kitale. One of the students, Elizabeth, whispered to me that she wants so much to learn everything she can from Rachel and be just like her.
In gratitude, she made Roger and me some beautiful Congolese clothes. Can you even imagine? (….and, aiyaiyai, what to do after all my hard work to be SURE to have my one little suitcase under the 43 pound weight limit!) But, no need to tell you, most of the American clothes have been given away to make room for the GORGEOUS Congo blouses, skirts and shirts…three of each. Walking through the streets of Kitale back to our home, carrying these beautiful, folded clothes, people were actually stopping me to ask where they could buy such a thing. This is how coveted the fabrics and designs of Congo are! Of course, I sent them immediately to our school, hoping that they will have an immediate increase of cash flow, increasing the chances of the project being self-sustaining as soon as possible.
So, today not only are the girls being emotionally influenced by Rachel but certainly they are learning the very profitable skills of sewing and running a business that will change their lives forever. Elizabeth Mudenyo continues to provide direction and leadership for the school. She and Dawson are excited to carry on the mentoring and spiritual aspects of discipling these young women. Also, in addition to the current four students, Rachel will be adding six more in the next few days. One by one by one, women are being lifted up and given an opportunity. It doesn’t get any better than this! So many, many of you have responded to the cries heard all the way from the slums and poverty where these women live. You are making a difference, a huge one!! One life changed touches another, touches another, touches another. All because of you! Asante sana (thank you so very much)!
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