Behind the Bag- Amanda

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Oh, hey there! Behind the Bag is returning with a bang! 

A firecracker, if you will. We are so excited to introduce you to Miss Amanda Herdina. Amanda was on the very first Visiting Orphans team we hosted at No.41. They were the first team to meet the girls and we could not asked for a more amazing group of people to pour into our little sweeties. And the best news is, Amanda is now living just up the road from us in Rwanda. 

Amanda, we just adore you and we are so thankful for the story you are living.

I was giving it time. I sat and waited until that ‘perfect moment’ to write about my Behind the Bag experience. A year came and went and here I am... just now writing my story.

It was May of 2012 when I had the privilege of traveling with the first ever Visiting Orphans Music Team to Rwanda. A team my partner in crime, Frank, and I helped orchestrate to a country I had never been. My blood was pumping, my pulse was racing... “I was going to make a difference.”

And then we walked into the No.41 house one afternoon. Guitar in hand, dance playlist on Bieber, and about 8 girls and a team of 12... the dance party started. It was like no other. Language barrier? What language barrier? These girls wanted to praise. They wanted to worship. They wanted more and more and they laughed and smiled, giggled, and sang some more.

As we sat down to listen to Tara’s testimony, I couldn’t believe it when I heard that these girls weren’t always this way. That they were shy, some raised as orphans in a world of hurt, anguish and despair.

And that was the beginning of when my world began to shake.

Tara moved to Rwanda--pretty much on a whim, if you ask me. She has, what I like to call, the Crazy Bone. She moved to Rwanda without an iota of what was next and was confident that when she said, “Yes” that her life, as she knew it, would change. What she didn’t realize at the time was how she was going to forever change these girls’ lives.

We sat and heard story after story of how each girl would spend hour after hour, day after day, working sun up until sun down on perfecting these bags of art. When we walked into the shop, it was nothing short of obvious the hours they spent making sure each shoulder strap was positioned, each print was screened, each stitch sewn with the utmost perfection. The bags were (are) beautiful.

But it was so much more to me than that. These bags were a symbol of something so much bigger, so much more. These bags were a gift that gave these girls a skill that then gave them hope and encouragement for a brighter future. The girls sit in community each day having people invest not only their money, but their time, into their lives, building such a confidence that it just radiates throughout the room.

So you can imagine my surprise when Tara said the girls weren’t always this way.

And you can imagine how it burdened my heart to want to be a part of something so beautiful.

I instantly bought a bag and when I brought it home, it was a constant reminder of the change Tara had started within these girls. I knew after that trip that I was going to be making a decision, inspired by No.41, in my very near future....

...Fast forward to today. June 2013. Exactly one year later, I sit in the girls’ living room at No.41, surrounded by hundreds and hundreds of not ONLY bags, but aprons, shoulder bags, handbags, backpacks, headbands, cuffs, oven mitts... I could keep going. And then it hit me.

What better ‘perfect moment’ than this?? There isn’t one! This business has skyrocketed and the supply is endless! It’s the perfect moment to share my Behind the Bag story. So here I am.

You see, as I sat there in the living room that day a year ago, every word Tara spoke penetrated deeper and deeper burning a hole in my heart telling me I was going to hear it (whatever ‘it’ was) and eventually say “Yes”, too. I just didn’t realize at the time what that was going to look like...

Today? I’ve packed not only my No.41 bags, but all my bags and belongings, and have made the commitment to live here, in Rwanda, for the next year. Much to my surprise, I wasn’t on that trip last year to make a difference. No.41 was--in these girls‘ lives and in my own. I sit here in this living room again seeing these girls a year later and they’re still changing. They are continuing to grow into stronger, more confident, and (as if it were possible) more beautiful women. The change these bags have made on their lives is so evident as I listen to them share their hopes and dreams of the future...

These bags. These bags are forever making a difference every time someone purchases one. And the effect has rippled into more than giving the girls a salary, a home, and a sales commission... it has also provided lunch for 870 children at school each day!!

These bags. There is so much more Behind the Bag than what the eye can see. These bags that surround me are a constant reminder of the effect they have had on these girls, the difference they have made in the world.

And the difference they have made in me.

To get your very own No.41 bag, click here.

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The Yes, You Directive

Hey there!

Today we interrupt your regularly scheduled Behind the Bag to bring you The Yes, You Directive. What's that, you say? The Yes, You Directive is the brainchild of our friend Sarah and here's a bit of what she has to say about it:

"The goal is to highlight a different non-profit offering volunteer opportunities that I believe are making an impact in people’s lives. Ideally, there will be 3 posts per ministry or organization. The first will introduce the ministry/organization and give you the basics. This will usually include how it began, what needs they have, who can volunteer and what volunteer needs they have as well as the contact info, hours, etc. The second post of the week will be an interview of someone who is already involved in volunteering and a little of their story. And the third post is an interview with someone who has been served by the non-profit and what changes have taken place for them because of the involvement in their lives.

My prayer is that reading the stories of people who are impacted by serving or being served will spark something inside of you that challenges you to get plugged in if you’re not already pouring yourself into our community or into broader areas of the world. And if you are someone who has a heart for serving, maybe you’ll come across some information at some time that will just click with the way you’re wired.

Last week we were flattered to be the selected organization and we thought y'all might be interested in some of the No.41 backstory that you may or may not know. For instance:

1. How did No.41 start?

After a 2-week mission trip in December 2010, I (Tara) followed my little broken heart back to Rwanda, begging God to use me in any way He saw fit. I didn’t have a plan, but I trusted that He did.

In June 2011, I moved into the Noel Orphanage, home to 500+ children ranging in age from a few weeks to their late 20’s. So many things I saw going on around me bothered me, but I decided to zero in on two, the oldest girls and the local school lunch program.

No.41 started on a whim and a prayer in March 2012, with the intent of teaching these young women from the Noel Orphanage in Gisenyi, Rwanda (ages 18-25) not only to sew, a culturally relevant trade that would always sustain them, but to give back to their community through a feeding program supporting local schools.

To read the rest of the interview, click here.

** And, just so you know, I did the first interview a few months ago, just before the launch of the feeding program, so a few things have changed since then. Now that the feed program is up and running, we are currently feeding 870 students and 36 teachers everyday. We employ 4 cooks, a night guard, and a general manager. As with any new business, we are making it work, but the need is still great. If you would like to partner with us, you can make a donation here or email tara@no.41.org for more information.

Happy Wednesday!!

PS We are running a Mother's Day special and offering FREE SHIPPING on ALL orders over $50 now through Sunday using the code 'mamalove'. Go get your mama something nice!

Behind the Bag- Sarah

 I love these Behind the Bag posts so much. And I particularly love these girls here. Today's post is beautifully written by Sarah, one of our recent interns at No.41. For the month of March, (from left to right) Winona, Tee, Brittany, and Sarah came out to stay with us. Brittany and Tee interned at Noel and Winona and Sarah worked with Alison and I at No.41, and with Elise at His Imbaraga. These girls did some work and we are so thankful! One day maybe we can get up a post about that. :) For now, enjoy Sarah's experience...

Hello from Gisenyi, Rwanda! We have all been placed in our practicum sites scattered across the country, working with 5 different organizations and institutions. This is a time we have all anxiously anticipated; it’s a transformational part of the GoED program— an amazing opportunity to develop relationships, experience home stays, and be involved with the efforts of the locals. Any time spent in Gisenyi guarantees a refreshing break from the busyness and chaotic way of life— surrounded by beautiful hills, mountains, schools, small businesses, and people who are in no hurry to get anywhere.

The night we returned to Kigali from Kampala was spent unpacking and repacking to ready for our journeys to our practicum sites the next morning. After a short night’s sleep, Brittany, Tee, Winona, and I crowded in a matatu with our bags and Kat and Mitch and took a three hour drive through stunning scenery on roads which twisted us around and in and out of the thousand hills of Rwanda; after passing through several small, rural towns we arrived in Gisenyi in front of a cute brick house painted pink, purple, gold, and all the colors in between; this was the home for several women, the workplace for many, and the foundations of hope for even more.

Tara, Alison, and Elise warmly greeted us as we made our way inside. These three American women are the founders and visionaries for two organizations —No.41 and His Imbaraga. Our time would be spent with these young Americans who dared to dream BIG, leaving the comfort of everything familiar, to pursue the purposes God had set out for them in Rwanda.

The vision for No.41: an opportunity for young women to break from the all-too-familiar confines of the orphanage and integrate into society with a chance to provide for themselves. In March 2012, No.41 was launched. Alison soon joined Tara in Rwanda and together they have been faithfully running this program for a little over a year. Today, 32 women are employed at No.41 sewing burlap handbags and other products, including a new line of aprons and oven mitts. While No.41 has provided work for these amazing young women, and an opportunity to attend the University, the benefits have rippled outside the No.41 house. There is so much more to it. When one bag is purchased, one child at Kanama Catholic School is fed for an entire year! Talk about changing the world for a lot more than one!

Before the feeding program, the children did not eat lunch during their school day. Now, 870 children eat for 140 RWF (Rwandan francs) every day; that’s 25 cents in American money. That means an average $10 meal in the States would feed 40 children for ONE day! Crazy to think what a small sacrifice, the cost of one meal, could do to change the world for one, or rather hundreds of children! It blew my mind to see how just a little goes such a long way. At first these were simply numbers which pleaded to be enough for advocacy; it wasn’t until Winona and I visited Kanama Catholic School that these figures became faces of individual school children who were thankful for something as simple as a hot lunch.

We were able to spend the day with John d’Amour, the manager of the feeding program, at Kanama. John’s dedication and belief in this program overshadows his inexperience in management. During our visit, we discussed possible solutions for budgeting and different management techniques to ensure a successful future for the program. At one point in our conversation he leaned back in his chair and plainly asked, “What are some important things that someone needs to know to be a manager?” Winona and I exchanged a look of surprise. His humility to ask for different ideas from us, a Journalism and Math major, revealed his desire and willingness to learn from anyone, regardless of experience or expertise. It was so neat to talk through simple methods and tactics of management that John could implement into the feeding program, despite our lack of textbook knowledge on the matter.

The feeding program has only been running for a little over a month, and although the needs for materials were voiced, John did not complain once about what he did not have; he is choosing to run this program with the resources he has been given, ensuring that ultimately 870 children, 36 teachers, 3 cooks, and 1 guard are able to eat every day. We were able to see the laborious task and process the cooks undergo to feed 910 each day. Kaunga, (maize meal), beans, and vegetables are commonly cooked in HUGE metal pots over the coals in a small kitchen right behind the classrooms. Shovels are used to serve the food into smaller dishes. When lunchtime rolled around, three representatives from each classroom file into the kitchen and grab a basin of food to share with their class. Our time at the school was one of my favorite days here in Gisenyi. Visiting the school and seeing all the work that is put into this feeding program made the efforts of No.41 so tangible and real. Once you’ve been given eyes to see a specific need, and meet those who are involved and affected, statistics and figures turn into faces— faces of school children who greet you with handshakes and high fives; the reality of the need quickly becomes apparent in the eyes of individuals rather than statistics jotted down on paper. To see how the same vision which began with the intention of changing the world for ONE has now multiplied to benefit 900 school children is truly a testament of God’s ability to do far more than we ask or imagine!

Over the course of the last 3 weeks I’ve had the opportunity to spread the word about No.41 and His Imbaraga through various social media outlets, help develop a campus rep program, edit content for websites and social media sites, and create flyers and brochures to spread awareness about these two organizations. More than gaining experience for my Journalism degree, joining Tara, Alison, and Elise’s efforts has encouraged me to be a part of something greater than myself and “do for one what you wish you could do for everyone.” (Andy Stanley)

Upon arriving in Gisenyi and meeting these girls I immediately saw their passion and enthusiasm for what they do in Rwanda. Hung amidst the array of burlap bags in the living room hangs a small canvas with the dreamer’s mantra painted in the silhouette of Africa, “If your dreams don’t scare you, they aren’t big enough.” Age, doubts, and fears are not limitations to accomplishing dreams- they are agents to drive you ahead and remind you that realistic expectations are to be traversed through acknowledging your weaknesses and trusting in God’s power. Faith is a lifestyle allowing His power to shine through our inability. I can’t tell you how encouraging it has been to be able to spend this last month with Tara, Alison, and Elise, who just like me, dream to make a difference; they have challenged me not let to let my dreams die in the making; to live by faith so you’re able to fully experience and clearly see God at work in the midst of your own fear, weakness, and inexperience. They recognize that what they’re doing here has nothing to do with them, but everything to do with being willing to say “Yes” to what God has called them to be a part of. Throughout my time in Rwanda thus far I have been reminded time and time again, that my inexperience and inability are insignificant when I’m willing to say “Yes” to the plans God has set out before me.

To buy a bag, click here.
To check out His Imbaraga, click here.

“I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do.” -Edward Everett Hale

Behind the Bag- Amelia

Hey there! Sorry, we missed last week. I'm going to go ahead and assume that no one lost any sleep over it, but we are happy to be back! :) This week you get to meet Amelia. Amelia is self-described as 'sometimes stubborn, but mostly silly'. We can appreciate that. We had the pleasure of meeting Amelia when she visited No.41 last summer and now we have the honor of partnering with her as one of our Campus Reps. We are so thankful for Amelia and her precious heart. We can't wait for you to read her story....

On August 22, 2012 I sat in a World Literature class at the University of Southern Mississippi and thought to myself, “Why am I here?” I had been home from Africa for nearly a month and still suffered from a severe case of “reverse culture shock.” I did not want to be back in a silly college classroom listening to the “insignificant” problems of my peers. I missed Rwanda. I missed a place that I thought I was called to be. I was ready to drop out of school, sell all of my belongings, and move for good.

But He always has a different plan...

God quietly whispered that I was not meant to physically be in Rwanda, but rather to bring Rwanda to Mississippi. To my family, my friends, and even my peers in that World Literature class, and oh what joy it has brought me!

When I first met Tara and the girls at No.41 it felt like a family. They were a family that I knew I wanted to be a part of. So since I can’t be there, I make sure they are with me everywhere I go- and they can most certainly be with you too.

It’s simple. Almost too simple. By simply carrying my No.41 bag everyday, it opens the door to so many conversations. “Oh my goodness, how cute! Where did you get that?” leads into “Wow. I had no idea. Can I buy one?”

On Sundays I lead a bible study for my sorority and this semester we have added the No.41 girls to our family. We pray over the girls by name, thanking the Lord for them, Tara, and the lives that are being changed by No.41- the lives in Rwanda and the lives in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. You see, through learning the stories of our friends in Rwanda, hearts are being softened. Eyes are being opened. Hearts are becoming on fire for the Lord and missions. Can I get an amen?! In fact, on 4-1 feed day, I had girls who were so eager to give. They were literally dumping their purses out on the floor trying to find more quarters. The sight made me cry tears of joy. The heart of Tara is changing lives of girls in Rwanda and the girls in Rwanda are changing the lives of girls here in small town Mississippi.

If you are like me, you want to be in Rwanda. At the same time, if you are like me, you are in a season where God has called you to stay. He has a reason for that! Talk the heads off people about No.41. You will be surprised by the conversations that will result. Whether we are at the grocery store, sitting in a classroom, or living in Rwanda- we are all called to go be love. So go out with your No.41 bag and change the life for one.

If you would like to purchase your very own No.41 bag, click here.

And the Winner Is....

Congratulations, Megan from Jeans & Bare Feet!! We know you're going to love it!! Shoot us your address to tara@no41.org and your prize pack will be headed back to the States at the end of this month.

Thanks to all who entered. Your support means more than you'll ever know.

Updates on 4-1 Day coming very soon. Let's just say, y'all rocked it!! Thank you!

Behind the Bag- Amy

We are so excited to introduce y'all to today's Behind the Bag poster, Amy Willis. Amy is the newest team member at No.41! The whole story is a big mess of prayers wrapped up in God goodness.  The short version is, we had been praying hard for God's direction for No.41 in the coming year, when we got an email from Amy, out of the blue, asking to come and visit. Not really us, but the orphanage. We loved her immediately and did our best to reel her in. It worked. Amy visited us over Christmas day and she will be moving back here for a year, starting at the end of June. You will be hearing so much more from/about Amy in the coming months, but for now, her Behind the Bag:

Small.

That’s how I feel when I see God moving and working.

Overwhelmed. When you know you are seeing something bigger and better than you had imagined in your head.

That’s how I felt when I came to visit Rwanda and No.41 this past December.

Yes, I had asked to come and check out No. 41 and see if God any plans for me here. Yes, I had read every blog post Tara had ever written so I thought I knew what was going on. I knew the purpose and mission of No.41 and I could even give a couple of facts about it but I didn’t truly know what it would be like to know faces of the girls behind the bags. To see the dedication to skill and joy found in knowing you are doing something well. To know that you are part of a family and you are needed. To giggle about goose bumps and share sweet smiles because that’s how you share who you are. To see pride in knowing you are doing something important. To know that you have value and are loved and that you can pass that love and value on to others. This is the part of No.41 I saw this past December. Seeing God put all this together and put every part right where it needed to be is when I’m reminded of my smallness and His infinite size, power, and love.

God is doing BIG things through Tara, Alison, and these beautiful women at No.41 and I’m excited to be one small person in this wonderful family!

To check out the bags, click here.
If you have a story that you would like to tell, please email tara@no41.org.

Behind the Bag- Billy

Billy Pope: AKA Beelee or BPope: Winker. Foot Model. World-traveling photographer extraordinaire. He goes fishin' evrrrday. 

I met Billy on my first trip to Rwanda. In fact, he and Frank were the first people I met on that trip. We flew in the night before everyone else and got the chance to go to dinner, chat, and get to know each other. Billy and I also had seats next to each other on the very long flight over. (Ahem, Frank was seated elsewhere.) Anyway, for me, it was instant friendship. I admired Billy. (He is going to tell you that I am nuts, but I really just tried to say whatever I could to get him to laugh. He made it so easy.) That admiration has only grown as I have gotten to know Billy and his 3 sweet girls. I am honored to have him telling his Behind the Bag story today.....

Nuts and Fruit

I never dreamed a photo like this would sum up what I consider to be an act of faith only a few have ever had the privilege to witness. Many of you will see this and say “Oh My! They’re nuts!” I see it and say, “Praise the Lord! NOW THAT’S SOME FRUIT!”

On my first trip to Africa, I had the pleasure of meeting and traveling with this redheaded chick that had a great laugh, the biggest bag of trail mix and the oldest iPod ever. Tara Clapper was the first team member I met and from the start I thought she was a nut… in that not so crazy kind of way. I’ve been on mission trips before and met many people from many different walks of life and journeys in their faith. I wasn’t sure how this trip was going to impact me or much less the other nuts I was traveling with. I did know that God had BIG plans. Little did I know that those plans involved Tara Clapper.

While our team traveled from orphanage to orphanage in both Ethiopia and Rwanda, we would come along sights, sounds and smells that would put anyone out of their comfort zone. Then, there was Noel. It was overwhelming to say the least. But in overwhelming moments like these is when God shows up and allows you to see what really breaks His heart. All of us could see clearly what James 1:27 really meant and what it felt like. For Tara, it meant even more and it was obvious by her absence at dinner every evening. The birth of something big was happening right in front of us and it was heart wrenching to watch. We witnessed a transformation that not only impacted one girl from Oklahoma, but also now has impacted us all in some way.

This past November I was able to return to Rwanda with Visiting Orphans and witness the fruit. The fruit of hope, love and impact. After my first trip, Tara and I kept in touch and we talked a couple of times about her plans to return to Rwanda and live at Noel. All I could think was… to do what? How will this make a difference? Does she know what she is doing? Almost two years after my first visit I was able to witness the difference. I found hope in the eyes of the girls from Noel. Hope that only comes from knowing that someone loves them and that they are worth something. I can only imagine what the girls of No.41 felt when they realized the impact the feeding program had on their community this past February. Knowing that all the work they had done was now providing hope and worth to someone else. Isn’t that why we go? Is this why Tara and Alison went? Don’t we want to make an impact on those we go to visit or better yet, go to live with them when we are called? I can answer all of the questions above… YES!

To Tara and Alison:  Thank you for stepping out in faith because it speaks to me personally. Your story is one of courage and willingness to GO in the most uncertain circumstances–one that I am proud to share with my daughters and others. You’ve allowed God to multiply through you.