Women In Discipleship Of the Word and Service

Carol

Carol Ngala is a wonderful Christian lady who worked for several years with an NGO in Kimilili helping extremely poor children and AIDS patients. When we talked, she shared her heart regarding wanting to help reach others in need, and as we prayed, we felt the Lord was calling her into a different area of ministry. When the group of widows started attending the church regularly, Carol began visiting them in their homes to learn more about their many needs. She started a weekly bible study especially for them in the church, and as they began to grow in their knowledge of the Word, she saw more ways to help them apply the Word to change their daily life, and improve their situation. In recent months Carol has drawn up well-organized plans to further develop this ministry to the desperately needy. She has titled her ministry HOPE MINISTRIES - TUMAINI, and you can contact her at: carolynngala@yahoo.com

Plight of widows

By tradition in Kenya, when a man dies, his family (brothers and parents) come and take everything of value from his house. They then destroy and burn the house, and take over his land! In the past, one of the brothers would often “inherit” the widow and take care of her and her children, but since it is no longer acceptable in modern society to have more than one wife, now the widow and her children are run off the property!! She either has to return to her own parents/family or become destitute!! It is only if others take up her cause and go speak to the chief of the clan and persuade him to help her in some way that her situation is eased! Mike told us that the bowl of rice with a little meat that was given to each person at the children's rally was probably the best meal that many of the widows had eaten in several years!!

Bead and seed necklaces

As Carol began to visit them and learn more about the different needs and situations of the widows, she realized many were isolated and without hope - not knowing how to provide for themselves and their children. As they learned that God had a plan for their lives, they quickly gained hope as Carol suggested them meeting to work together on joint projects. They soon started meeting weekly to make simple bead necklaces from seeds and inexpensive beads.

Baskets

They also began to weave the large baskets that are so necessary for carrying loads while walking. With just a very small investment to buy local resources, they began to produce saleable items and also grow in hope and self-esteem. In addition, the time they spent working together and praying for one another helped them grow stronger spiritually.

Crochet and gardening

Carol discovered that some of the women have certain skills such as crochet and growing vegetables, and so they were able to share these with the other widows. When they meet together they are taught the basic skills and discuss how to do the projects at home in their own time.

Sewing and quilting

Also two seamstresses agreed to help by coming and teaching the widows how to use sewing machines and even do embroidery. Some of our partners have sent lengths of fabric and other sewing notions to the group, and as a result, these ladies now fill their days with working on projects at home or meeting together to share in joint projects and also pray and encourage one another as they continue to study the Word.

Growth

These widows now attend the church every Sunday, as well as meet regularly on Wednesdays at the church for joint projects. They also believe in the importance of prayer and so meet on Saturdays to pray together. In less than six months this group has grown amazingly spiritually - and they have also grown in number as other widows want to become a part of the group, which is now double the original size! They have chosen to name their group "WIDOWS" - but as an acronym for WOMEN IN DISCIPLESHIP OF THE WORD AND SERVICE

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