Arson destroys your business. Lifelong friends and neighbors have suddenly turned against you, threatening your life and the lives of your wife and children. Destitute, you flee for shelter from the violence around you. Your only option is an IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) camp with many, many others with stories similar to yours. The IDP camp is full of suffering, hopelessness and fear. How will you ever put you life back together, find a home and a job that will provide for the needs of your family?
This was John's experience in the Kenyan tribal clashes of 2007, when thousands lost their lives. Thousands more lost their homes and livelihoods, as did John and his family. As a result of ministry by Bernie and Celia Mascher, friends of ours and fellow missionaries, John and his family received help and his wife, Evelyn, was able to find employment at Helping Hands, a school and training center run by Bernie and Celia.
John, however, did not have the benefit of education that allowed Evelyn to find a job, and until a few months ago, was still seeking employment, doing any odd jobs that came his way to provide for his wife and three children.
In July of this year, I was in Kenya looking for people in need to employ for the latest expansion of Back to Africa into the kiln fired ceramic pendants that we've added to our line. Through Helping Hands, we were able to offer John a job that gives him a steady wage that enables him to provide for the needs of his family. Evelyn said to me, "We have prayed and prayed for this, it is a miracle!"
When you support Back to Africa by your purchase, you are supporting John and others like him. These are real people with real needs, and through this project we are able to provide them a way to meet their basic needs. The best thing in life is to be used by God to be the answer to another's prayer. It doesn't get better than that!
Faith Gibson
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