The last few weeks have been very full. We have helped to launch the Maasai Women’s Beadwork group, and the Solar Light Project. These two projects seem to have a very small significance in the grand scheme of things, but they are two very important turning points for the village of Ukambini.
First the Solar Light Project. I talked a little bit about the project in my last blog entry, but even I have been amazed at the response we have gotten from the Maasai to register to receive these lights. For this to be such a success, you need to understand that the village leaders have been such a tremendous help to us. This help has come from a relationship that was built over the last year. I have also enlisted the help of two village leaders in registering the village. These two men, Israel and Luka, have collected the small registration fee and issued a receipt to almost every home in the village. They have also solicited for those who are able to help, to pay the fee for those who were not able. I commend them for their efforts. They even approached me and reminded me that I should also help. It was my great pleasure.
I am asking all of you who read this blog to consider donating enough money to pay for one light. It seems there has been a delay in the approval of our NGO. The price therefore for each light will remain at $50.00 each. These lights are high quality, with a 20-year guarantee. They are very much worth the price. Please help me complete this worthwhile project by bringing light to the Maasai.
Just send your donation of $50.00 to The River of God Ministries, 53438 Triangle Road, Milton-Freewater, OR 97862. Just note in the memo line “Solar Light Project”.
From Jannice’s desk,
We had our first ever woman’s beadwork meeting at Ukambani Village, with our friend Margaret from Arusha. She is an educated Maasai with a heart for Maasai women who have not had the advantages she has had. The ladies of Ukambani welcomed her, prayed with her, danced with her and allowed her to teach them. Eventually, some quality Maasai beadwork will be the result of Margaret’s teaching, and hopefully these women will be able to market their jewelry and begin to earn some badly needed income.
The beadwork is the vehicle that pulls these women together into a group that will grow. They all live together and probably know each other well, but the things they will learn as they come together to depend on each other as members of this group will be rewarding. Margaret got quite a discussion going with the ladies about their own poverty and what they thought would help. They were timid to speak out frankly at first, and with Margaret’s loving and kind coaxing, they began to speak their minds. We have made this a women’s only group. Men are superior here, and the women are made to respect them, but the women do all the work. They try to make an income to buy the food to feed and clothe their children. They even put the sticks together and add the mud to build their houses. It seems to us, as Americans that they have very little say I their own lives.
As I saw them come alive in their discussion, a new kind of energy was moving in the room. Knowing that no men were allowed in the meeting, they found a new kind of freedom to speak their minds. They might not be educated, but they have good ideas about what they need and what they want. I expect the beadwork they will produce will be of high quality just because they want this chance so badly to succeed for themselves. The meetings will continue, and we will be discussing difficult subjects that concern women in these meetings, and yes, we’ll do the beadwork too.
We are looking forward to the coming months. Both of these projects will flourish. I’m sure there might be some bumps in the road ahead. We ask that you would pray for these two projects. They both will help this village become united.
We are working on a new web page that should make its debut in November.
