Lillian surveys her shop with a look of satisfaction. It’s a modest place: white-washed walls
enclose the small 5' by 12' area, no windows, but there is electricity and a
strong green metal door to secure her new livelihood. Lillian has opened a hair salon in the
Kondele slum, a dream she’s hidden in her heart since childhood.
Life has not been
kind to Lillian. She grew up in extreme
poverty and was married at the young age of 15. She bore three daughters. Shortly
after, her husband ran off with a witchcraft woman and no one has seen or heard
from him. That was 5 years ago; 5 years
of desperately struggling to survive and put food into the mouths of her hungry
little girls. The option of placing her
children into an orphanage loomed over her head like a threatening cloud, ready
to consume her last joy of life – being a mother. But God had other plans for Lillian, plans of
good and not evil, to give her a future with hope.
After participating in the Discipleship Income-Generating
(DIG) training, Lillian learned who Christ is in her and who she is in
Christ. She’s chosen to live in
forgiveness and generosity. Lillian is
now managing an emerging ministry enterprise in an oppressed area that longs
for redemption. She creates beauty with her hands. Her customers are women like herself, who
have very little but will spare a few shillings to sit in her quiet shop and
have their hair braided. It’s a place of
escape from the ever-demanding days in the slums. Soft voices share stories,
testimonies and prayers for a new tomorrow. For Lillian, her new tomorrow has come.
As a young mom leaves
the salon, her hair twisted into fine rows down her slender neck, Lillian
whispers encouragement and hugs her. Lillian returns to her next customer and looks at me, saying words she
never thought possible...
“I am happy.
My girls are eating and going to school. God has given me a testimony to speak.
I have beauty from ashes.”
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The DIG project meets widowed moms at their place of
despair, teaches them about the transforming power of Jesus Christ, walks with
them through healing, trains them to live sustainably, and helps them procure
capital to invest in a ministry/business.
As a result of this, children who would otherwise be given to orphanages
can now grow up with moms who love them. The women meet weekly to discuss
issues and pray for one another. Together, this group is saving money from their businesses to host another
DIG training. Their desire is to bless
other abandoned moms as God has blessed them.
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Would you please pray for Lillian, Mildred Anne, Benta, Beatrice as they begin their ministry businesses to support their children and share their experiences of God's great grace?
Mildred needs prayer for her son who is very sick with a
kidney disease.
Please also pray as we’re training 4 Kenyan women to
facilitate the DIG project in other impoverished areas of Kenya.
DIG - a project of CARE4Nations/CARE defends the cause of
widows and orphans in Kenya by providing Christ-centered assistance through
relationship-based service. Our vision
is for the Gospel message to minster to widows and orphans in their time of
need, freeing them from victimization to live the destiny God intended.
Asante sana for your prayers and support.
hugs from the haugers oooo
