Weekend Village Trip

Under a thatched roof in a mud brick house with flashlights and a kerosene candle sat a handful of members of the community --- Muslims and Christians who live in a small village a few hours southeast of the capital city. When I asked them what they liked about their community they said relationships and the unity. Is that the first thing people in the States would say?

Many different organizations have worked in this area and come to them asking them if they would like funding for projects and they said they are not interested in forming a savings group or receiving credit. When they have received loans in the past they said that is hard to pay them back in the time allowed and end up losing out in the long run because they end up having to sell an asset to pay back the loan. However, they are interested in training --- learning how to manage their finances and understanding what to do with their money. They said they have never received training, only finances.

I spent the weekend in a neighboring, larger village with a presbyterian pastor and his family. They started a church last April and have a consistent attendance of fifty people each Sunday who meet under a white tent in front of his house. The stories of God's work in the lives of members of his church are amazing testimonies of God's grace--- I met the mother of a member who had tried to have her daughter killed for becoming a Christian and now herself has come to faith in Jesus.

I had other meetings over the weekend to discuss how I could serve the ladies in the church and encourage them through economic development training. We discussed different options of starting a group to save money, studying basic financial principals and looking into livelihood training such as dying fabric or sewing classes. Some of the ladies have never received formal education and are eager to learn how to better use their resources.

Pray for these ladies that they may be encouraged in their faith and through learning what it means to be stewards of God's creation. Please ask God to give me wisdom and direction as I plan and serve this church and community. It means I will be traveling more and need discernment in knowing how to be a good resource of my time and energy. May God be glorified through this project.

Thanks for all of your faithful support!