Blog changes...

Sorry if you received an email asking you to sign in for this blog, especially if it made you excited and you thought, "Has stephen finally updated the blog?!!"

Then it would be a double disappointment to see that the blog hasn't been updated and that you received an email making you log in to view the blog.  

I've been needing to make some security changes to this blog in order to be able to update it more frequently and more freely, so I've been exploring various options.  I was thinking I would have to start over with a new website, but then I found out that you can make the blogs by invite only, so I thought that would be the perfect way to keep it secure so I started setting that up.  Unfortunately after I had added 1/5 of our email update list, I was informed that I can't add any more people...

So, I'll be exploring other options, which I know are out there.

So once again sincere apologies if you received an email requesting you to sign in, and another sorry in advance for having to switch sites...

I'll let you know when the new blog is up and running.

Blessings

Stephen

Micro-Loans

Riziki is illiterate, and was struggling to have enough money to care for her children.  She cannot even write her own name, but now she has a profitable business selling charcoal. 

Simai saw a need for quality education in his neighbourhood, so he took a loan to start a small daycare/school.  He is now giving the next generation the educational foundation needed to succeed and improve their quality of life.

Rajabu has a big farm, but he didn’t have money to fertilize his fields.  Now he is growing enough rice to feed his family for a year, and enough other crops to be able to sell them in the market as well.

Juma recently started following Jesus but didn't have work or family here to help him buy food.  One day when he was visiting us in our house I showed him some of Jubilee's puzzles and we started dreaming about how he could start a business making and selling puzzles...  6 months later look at what he is accomplishing!

These are a few results of the early stages of a micro-loan program that I have helped to start on the island.  So far the loans have been anywhere from $30 to $350.  Just as important as that little bit of capitol is the weekly training and help we have been able to offer.  Most of the recipients of the loans have needed help with basic bookkeeping and budgeting.  Things like keeping track of all your expenses to be able to see what your profit has been, and how to set aside money to put back into the business- these have been such a huge help for people who often ended up working long hours but losing money before. Through these weekly business meetings I’ve also started sowing seeds of Truth and trying to prepare the ground for the Good News.

What a huge blessing it has been to get a visa to do work that really helps the people on our island.  We look forward to the day when our language skills are good enough to help them with their spiritual needs as well.

So much to learn

The biggest part of our first year here has been learning the language and culture, so for today’s update I will share with you some of my biggest discoveries about the culture on our island. 

1. A culture of STRONG family ties- If any of a person’s relatives get married here, they drop everything and go to that wedding no matter where it is and when it takes place.  When a child grows up, he has an obligation to take care of elderly relatives financially, physically and emotionally.
2. A culture of respect- Locals honor older people with respectful greetings, never question someone in authority, and follow an authority’s wishes with loyalty and without considering anything else.
3. A steady culture- Most people here do not desire change, but rather sameness.  Changes are generally viewed as the source of trouble, not the solution to current trouble.  They love and value their own culture so much that they work hard to try to keep it from changing.
4. A culture of hospitality- The people here love to invite you into their homes, to share their meals, and to give you a gift when you leave.  From oranges to a cake specially made for a guest, their generosity and kindness to guests is a beautiful thing.

Those are just a few of the things we’ve been discovering, and we look forward to all the beautiful and challenging things we will find out in the next few years.  Thank you for all the prayers, support, and encouragement you’ve given us on the journey so far.  We feel blessed to have you as partners in this great work!!

Catching Up...

Well I've been a terrible blogger lately...  And while I will make no promises to always be better, I do hope to improve.  Let me start by posting a few things that we have written as bulletin updates over the last month:

It is always hot and humid around here [the island in East Africa that we live on], making it the perfect climate for pineapples, spices, and mangos.  The heaviness extends past the physical air into the spiritual atmosphere as well- fear and fatalism reign supreme.  This must be what it felt like before the reformation- the people cannot understand the language of their holy book, so the religious leaders hold tremendous power over them.  They have no peace and no real hope.  Pray for Father’s love to be made known!!

What a year we have had!  There have been quite a few things to get used to here on the island- from language to attire to learning how to pasteurize milk ourselves.  We are certainly not used to everything yet, but the journey is going well- We have a home and a car.  We are settling into a rhythm (I say rhythm because routine is far to structured to describe our lives in Africa- ha).  We’ve also found things we love to help us enjoy the task of living outside of our culture- the beautiful beach, a restaurant that serves gelato and pizza, and the beautiful African night sky (it is especially beautiful on nights when the power is out ;)

We look forward to filling you in on the details in the next few weeks, and we look forward to seeing you very soon!  We are flying back to Calgary on the 7^th and we’ll be around ‘til about the 1^st of Oct.  During our stay at home, we’ll go to Jordan and Sarah’s wedding, have our third little one (due Aug 14^th), and enjoy family, friends, and shopping malls! 

Love,

Tricia (for Stephen, Jubilee, and Hope too)