Don Rogers, founder of Empowering Lives
Don and friends in Kenya
The Whole Story as told by Don Rogers, Empowering Lives, INTEmpowering Women of Kenya, Africa GODS PROVIDENCE: While living in the village here in Kenya my wife Amy and I were buying some supplies at a store in the closest major town called Eldoret. While walking towards the entrance I was walking by two wazungu (white) women when I heard one of them say " Midwife training..." We were just arranging for such a training ourselves in the village so I stopped and asked them about the training they referred to. They told me that the "teacher was inside" so I waited there for her to come. her name is Mary and she is the wife of a village chief in Plateau, Kenya. After talking about the midwife training she told me that she and her husband have been praying for some way to combat the terrible alcoholism that has a chokehold on the men and women of their village. We (ELI-Kenya) had established such a program the year before so after sharing with her we agreed that as soon as possible our national leader (Pastor Philip Rono) would visit their village and share the program with the chief. FIRST MEETING IN PLATEAU:
Within a few weeks pastor Rono arrived in Plateau. He thought he was going to talk with the Chief (which he did) but the chief had also invited most of the people from the village - including many of the women who were brewing alcohol and selling it for a source of income. The brew is called Changaa which translated means "Kill Me Quick!" It is actually a powerful and dangerous brew that the women make using their fermented corn. Many of the women hate the alcohol and the effects of it but they have so few sources of income that they feel they have no options in order to be able to buy food and pay school fees for their children.
Pastor Rono shared from his heart and shared his faith in Christ as well. Jesus is the higher power he shared and "There are steps that you can take to change your life and come out from the disease of alcohol". There was an immediate response and within four months there were over a hundred people meeting regularly in small accountability groups - all becoming sober - taking it one day at a time - and learning about the love of Christ through the program. Within a year over three hundred people were in the program and we were seeing regular conversions take place as we use the scriptures along with the 12 steps and we recognize Jesus is the higher power. BAHASHA (ENVELOPE) WOMEN'S GROUP - 37 DETERMINED LADIES:
Among the women who were brewing were many who desired to leave alcohol and to stop brewing and selling. They needed an alternative source of income. This is where ELI came in again - offering them a short term opportunity to work making and packaging hand made paper which ELI would export to the USA and make available for a donation. 37 of the women organized themselves and made paper for about a year and a half. This income was helpful but they (along with ELI ) desired that they have their own independent business. ELI had during the project encouraged the women to establish their own savings program which many of them did. After much discussion and planning the 37 women of the BAHASHA WOMEN'S GROUP each received a grant to help them establish their own business. These women decided that they could do far more together than they could individually. They pooled ALL of their savings as well as the grant money from ELI and purchased property close to the city but not far from Plateau where they set off to build their own rental units (three rooms) on 1/4 acre. Fencing and construction began immediately and enthusiasm was high. Soon the cost of construction and living caught up with their savings and their financial resources were depleted. For a year and a half the women have continued to struggle but they have not been able to get ahead due to the high level of poverty and high costs of food and school fees. Though the construction had stopped they have never given up hope.
Recently ELI Director Don Rogers was in the USA and made a visit to friends Paul and Stormie. Among the many reports of ministry progress Don shared about the needs and hopes of this women's group. Stormie and Paul contacted Don within a day and encouraged him to find others who would match a $1,000 gift that they would be willing to invest towards helping the women's group continue their dream of having the rental units completed. God is good! After several months of sharing, Don was encouraged by several individuals who contributed and Stormie and Paul immediately kept their commitment as well. CONSTRUCTION IS UNDERWAY:
The construction is now continuing and the women of Plateau could not be more thrilled. During the week of March 20-25 there is a women's church team from upstate NY that is coming to work side by side with these women - painting, landscaping, sewing curtains and more. By the end of March one or more of these rental rooms will be completely finished and the ladies will then become landlords and income earners.
THANK YOU!
This is what empowering lives is all about. Sharing Gods love in Word and in action! As this project continues there is no question in the minds of this dynamic women's group in Kenya - it is God who supplies according to His great power and blessing. A special thank you goes to those of you who have participated in supporting this effort and other ministries of Empowering Lives International. If you would like to be a part of helping the women add to their rental structure or another similar project of ELI please contact Stormie Sheldon or Empowering Lives.
Together we can make a world of difference - one life at a time! |
