Bandaged Zebra Prints and more ...

So there is lots to write about! Next up on the blog will be our new Push-Pull Technology in the Agricultural Project. And an update on the Kome Island health project. And then the results of the Great Mwanza Bake-Off with the girls at the Shelter ... But now I will start with the mamas! Upendo wa Mama has been a hive of industrious activity. This is a good thing. But also slightly daunting! Here is a bit of an update on what's been cookin' ...

Our latest new project!

A few weeks ago, staff from UTSS in Canada and Dar es Salaam arrived in Mwanza. They were joined by Dr Rhodes who taught a week seminar on counselling for over 100 participants working with people with albinism. This was followed by a great service with Peter Ash and the team at BMCC church (with Pastor Mbuke). It was lovely to see so many of the kids with albinism from Lakeview school there! And for the Upendo wa Mama group, it was especially wonderful for them to see their own children!

Prayer at BMCC

We enjoyed some time with friends, Brad and Meg Sumner, who were able to stay on a bit afterwards. They joined the Mamas group one morning, bringing some much appreciated gifts from Langley! They, along with two visiting pastors, witnessed the Magical Rice Cooking in a Basket Demonstration ... always fun!

With our gifts from Langley

The women in both the Mwanza and Dar es Salaam groups have been working hard! They were thrilled to sell over $1000 worth of products to UTSS for their upcoming Gala! It is fantastic to see the products improving and also new things starting! As well as the jewellery, cards, lip balms and soaps, we are loving the new Mamas BeesWraps! A natural and antibacterial alternative to plastic wrap ... and also brilliant for travelling with bananas ... or your toothbrush! They are great!

Mamas BeesWraps

Our new Coconut Shell Soap Dish with handmade soap

Lip Balms and Neem Creams

Gift Bags

We are having some fun with fabrics! We have been improving our African tie-dye techniques and have recently been learning how to do screen printing! We started with some great giraffes. Then one mama bought a new screen with a large zebra on. She took it home and unfortunately that night, a rat found it and ate a hole in the zebra's leg. It has added a little character to the printing as every zebra now looks like he has a bandaged leg! Oh dear.

Screen printing zebras

...with banadaged legs

So with all our fun fabrics we are looking forward to improving our sewing skills as we make cushion, aprons, bags, scarves ... if I have a seamstress friend reading this who would like something new to do .... do please come and help!

Loving the colours

The baking lessons are also going well! We are hoping to soon start selling our selection of breads, breadsticks, cinnamon buns, rolls and biscuits! Yes, rather nerve-wracking.

Making cinnamon buns (and filming the process on their phones!)

The group in Dar is also doing well with leadership from Shoma, Rahab and Hadijah! They were thrilled to receive the income from the sales of more products. I was with them a few weeks ago and we had our first attempts at soap-making and oven-less bread making. They have also started making nutritious flour to sell for porridge and are enjoying their ROSCA loans scheme.

With the group in Dar es Salaam

Soap-making

Bread-making

Card-making

It is exciting to see the progress being made! But a little daunting to know how best to proceed! While I do hope that we can successfully grow in business, the best thing for me is seeing these women grow in enthusiasm and hope! We are learning new things all the time (practically and spiritually) and as we learn, we grow in skills and knowledge and also in confidence. And God is working in each of our lives. My prayer is that as He works in us, we would carry that blessing to many more people.

Bible Reading