Big Timers

It's Friday!

And for the little No. 41 lovebugs, it's their first PAY DAY, ever!

It was a big day!

And we were opening bank accounts to celebrate.

Annnnd it only took 6 hours.

Here's how we roll:

a taxi into town

passport photos for the account

gotta make sure they look good

and we wait

and at the bank, we wait

lots of paperwork

some more waiting

and it's final!!

 I hate that I didn't get a picture with all of the girls and there new account books.

It was dark:30 and I was sleeping.

...not really sleeping, but we were ready. to. go.

So, there you have it.

Happy girls.

Proud "mama".

BAHHH!

Whoa, ok, I feel like it's been a while. And more than that, I have some pretty monumental news to share. I don't generally make it a habit to speak in all caps BUT...

 No.41 IS IN FULL SWING!

Am I excited?

Yeah...kinda. (!!!!)

So, it all started happening really quickly about 2 weeks ago. I (finally!) got all moved into the new digs last Tuesday. The house is pretty sweet even if home building in Rwanda is hard on this little designer's heart. And that was really all we were waiting on. (I'll have to get you some pictures soon of this technicolor dream house.)

Thanks a bazillion, Presence Ministries, for our fancy furniture.

Y'all, these girls are amazing! And so excited to be here. They even show up on time...sometimes. :) They are picking up this sewing business so quickly. Me? Not so much. However, I am reaping the benefits. We have 20 girls!! A major upgrade from the original number of six. (I already knew we would be taking more, I felt like God kept saying, twelve. And that made me nervous, but when He speaks I try to listen. So, now with the 20, I feel like He is just showing off. This is so, SO beyond me.) Anyway, two of the girls actually know how to sew, so while the other girls are learning the basics, Theresse and Ange made me a skirt, a bag and new curtains! Holla! (Again, more pictures coming soon.)

We work Monday-Friday, 8-4, with a one hour lunch break. It is seriously the time of my life and a dream come true. This is such great opportunity for the girls, not only to learn a trade that will always generate an income, but they are being paid to do it. And they, indefinitely, have jobs. Twenty young women have jobs, thanks to you.

Thank you so much to every single one of you who made this possible. With all of your generous donations, we were able to pay a full year of rent at the house! And even though I won't be here the full year, the girls will continue to work out of the house; it's so nice for them to be out of the orphanage and in their own space. We bought 6 sewing machines and several yards of beautiful African fabric, and you all donated yards and yards of burlap. We have received scissors and seam rippers, tape measures, thread, needles...the works. We also had a logo designed and are having screens made so that we can print the logo onto our bags. I say this often, because I mean it, thank you does not cover it. But, well, thank you!!

So, my goodness, meet the girls!

Huddled around "Medi" (our teacher...and cook)

Beatrice and Vestine checking things out.

practicing on paper

Muhoza

Diane

Medi and Ange

Chantel, Passy, and Beatrice

Josephine, Sandrine, Franny, and Amiele

Chantel2, and Passy

I mean, when you can't sew and you spend 7 hours a day with the paparazzi....

Patrice

Vestine

Diane and Chantel modeling our inspiration bag.

Beatrice and Passy

Sylvie

Sweet, sweet Louisa

Clemetine

So, that's not everybody, but that's a really good start and, you know, there is way more to come. Thank you for coming along on this crazy ride. If you would like to help out, here are just a few ways: Our wish list includes 3 more sewing machines ($120, each) 11 chairs ($10, each), a cutting/ironing table ($50), 2 irons ($20, each), a bookshelf to keep all of our materials ($100) and we'll always need more fabric. :) Thank you so much! God has so faithfully provided for this project, over and over, and I know that He will continue to do so.

It's happening.

Could You Spare a Penny?

"God, how long is a million years to you?" God said, "A million years is like a second." Then the man said, "How much is a million dollars to you?" God said, "A million dollars is like a penny." The man smiled and said, "Could you spare a penny?" God smiled back and said, "Sure, just wait a second."

-The Circle Maker: Praying Circles Around Your Biggest Dreams and Greatest Fears by Mark Patterson

 

So, the answer is 'Sure', but the timing is His.

Night after night, day after day, I pray these huge, nasty prayers. Prayers that when I think on too much, or when I think of every little thing that would have to happen between now and done, I get stressed out. But then I remember, it's never depended on me, and on top of that, the answer is already 'yes'. The promise has already been made, the battle has already been won.

"Bold prayers honor God, and God honors bold prayers."

I know that He can and believe that He will. In just a second.

 

No.41

*inhale*

So, here it is.

I have a big dream. And I'm definitely scared.

I have been sitting on this dream for a while, only because I don't know where to start. But today, a very wise person told me, the best place to start is somewhere. So, I hope you don't mind but, I'm starting with you! I'm asking for your help: your prayers and your partnership.

*exhale*

As I have, somewhat cryptically, eluded to, there have been a lot of rumors flying around about the future of the orphanage and mostly the older children here. One of the many challenges is preparing the kids for adult life outside the orphanage. Ideally, going to university (if the grades and school fees are there) but also, learning trade skills and just life skills....We have nearly 100 'children' over the age of 18, in limbo, unsure of what the next step is for them and in need of someone to help them get there.

I want to help.

Another issue, not just for the children of the orphanage, but for the entire village, is the issue of school lunches. The children, in our equivalent of junior high and high school, go to school all day, from 7am-4pm, with no lunch. No lunch. I have a friend who teaches high school biology at one of the schools nearby, and she said, we might as well send them home at 11. They're hungry and tired and done.

I want to help.

Soooo, with the help of a few of others visitors, we have come up with 

No.41.

For one child. For one meal. For one year.

Basically, we will choose a few of the older girls who are in limbo and desiring to learn a trade, we will teach them to sew bags (and hopefully few other surprise goodies), and we will sell the items to earn money, not only for them, but for the children in local schools to get a warm, healthy lunch.

So, here is where you come in. Let me just pause and say, you know, these bags are going to be legit.

We have 2 bag designs and we have access to yards and yards of beautiful African fabric, but we also need burlap, which we can't get here, but we have some friends we think could bring it soon. We will need 2 sewing machines ($120 each) to get started and we are working with a group of women we think we can hire to come out for a month, or so, and teach the girls how to sew. We also have a logo design. If you have some screen printing knowledge, please feel free to share.

I think that's it for now.

There will be more updates coming very soon.

I have prayed about this for so long, before I was even came to Rwanda, actually, but I thought that somehow God would make me smarter before we got to this point. He didn't. I talk a lot about Him using dodos, and I'm thankful He does. Today this dodo is stepping out in faith and into action.

If you feel led to give or if you have questions, you can shoot me an email at tarajill5@yahoo.com 

and if you would pass this along to your pals that would be wonderful.

Thank you!!