Today is Saturday. Ellie and I went to the grocery store earlier to pick up few things. It’s always my goal to avoid the grocery store on the weekends because it is so crowded and crazy…but almost always we inevitably end up there at some point! Today as I pulled in I spotted Lindiwe, one of the women I work with in the rural area, and her daughter. Lindiwe walks with a limp, and even though there is a large scar on her upper lip, she has one of those smiles that just lights up her face. I wrote about Lindiwe in a blog post a few months ago. A couple of times in the last several months she has asked for prayer for her family situation: her husband was having an affair, and had decided to start studying to become a medicine man. He wasn’t taking care of the family, and her children were struggling in school. Lindiwe flagged me down and I pulled over and rolled down the window:
“Ninjani (how are you!)!”
Lindiwe flashed a big smile and replied, “Niyaphila Kakhulu Julie! (we are VERY well, Julie!)
Fortunately, Lindiwe speaks quite a bit of English, so I was able to ask a bit about why she was doing so well. She said they were in town doing some shopping. About two weeks ago at one of our meetings Lindiwe pulled me aside to tell me that things continued to improve with her family; that her children were doing so well in school and that she had seen miraculous changes in her husbands behavior. Her one prayer request was for money to buy school shoes for her daughter. I told Lindiwe that I was going to be paying them for some of their bags this week, and that hopefully it would be enough to pay for the shoes.
A lot of money has come in over the last month for bags that have been sold in the US, and on Thursday this week I was able to pay the ladies about double of what they’ve gotten the last few pay days. Of course there was singing and dancing as the women opened their envelopes and saw their pay. Lindiwe wasn’t there, but one of her co-workers took her envelope of money for her (the women trade off coming to the meetings, so there is always someone at the feeding center to cook for the children). I asked Lindiwe if she’d received her money, and she clapped and raised her hands in the air, “Oh yes, Julie, it was enough to buy the shoes for my daughter!”
It is so encouraging to see God answering prayers, and to see the women give thanks to God when he does. Praise Him for his provision!
The craft co-op is growing. Nearly everyday I’m receiving e-mails from people who want to order bags, or who just want to help out in some way. We’ve had several donations come in that are helping out our cash flow. This week I was able to hire a Swazi friend who will come in a few hours a week to help me with the money/business side of things which is a huge praise. In spite of my lack of business skills, God is making this work!
Well, I should probably wrap this up. Ellie is getting sick of office time!
Here’s some new pictures of the bags the ladies are making, just in case some of you have never seen them:
Good news is always good to hear Julie. Thanks for your hard work.
Julie,
I am Scott and Marcia’s sister-in-law. Everyone in my Beth Moore bible study is carrying a bag. I have a friend that is selling them in her boutique. I have many requests for more bags. Please tell the ladies that women in Lee’s Summit,MO love them and pray for them and we love their bags!
Thank you, Julie, for this wonderful report! I keep a record of every woman who buys a bag on an e-mail list and forward these stories to them. I pray the American women connect their hearts with these women as they continue to hear their stories.