I woke up with one thing on my mind: fireless cooking baskets. The practicality of these baskets and the relative ease with which a "mama" from Kibera could be trained in how to make such a basket amazed me. These baskets decreased cooking time (a crockpot of sorts) and saved significant amounts of fuel used for cooking each month. What was even better is that there is a growing market for these baskets! Tyler had mentioned a prospective trainer who could come, with supplies and teach the women in the Bible Study how to make them. There was only a minor problem, this trainer lived 2 hours away. I felt such an urgency to schedule the training that day, so I resolved to discuss it with fellow First Love staff first and then make the call as quickly as possible. Upon arriving at the office, I learned that just before I arrived that morning one of the women from our Bible Study had come through the door with such a basket - she was trying to sell it after a potential customer backed out of a sale. I had no idea she had such a skill. She had been trained in making the baskets and could only afford to make one at a time praying that God would allow her to sell just one. We called her and asked her to come back with her precious basket. I told her that day, that we would buy not only that one basket, but that we would buy 40 baskets, and pay her to train the women from the bible study. Tears filled her eyes, beautiful tears of joy because the Lord had provided for her such a HUGE way!
Miriam stands outside her daycare in the slum. She is the woman who graciously trained our Bible Study women in how to make the baskets. Her heart for the Lord and people is so beautiful!
Tyler conducting a training for the women as they learned to make their baskets. He used a story/skit which explained how keeping personal and business finances separate would help grow a potential fire-less cooker business.
The women going home with their baskets after their final day of training! Lydia's mom, Suzanne worked with the women here as well as the women's refugee group Lydia worked with this year.
Tyler's colleague Martin speaking at a Regional Business Conference in Kampala, Uganda. Tyler spent two days in Uganda helping the leaders of Kenya's business groups connect with leaders from surrounding countries.
Lydia's youngest sister Anna (12 years old) teaching a dance to the girl's in the orphanage. She also taught this dance to a group of high school girl's at the school in Kibera. It was a lot of fun!!
Baking cookies with the girl's at the orphanage. Molly, Stephen, Suzanne and Anna used their baking skills!
A day filled with laughter and fun as the women learned about physical and spiritual fitness, then participated in Lydia's aerobics class!
Our going away party....
The high school girls performing the dance Anna taught them at the going away party in our dining room.
Through donations from our church in Washington D.C. (National Community Church, NCC) we were able to bless this daycare (run by Miriam pictured above) with childcare supplies, food, and rent for several months.
Also through dear friends at NCC who sponsored a book drive we were able to add many books to our little library at First Love.
Trygve, Bethany, and Lydia giving a personality test and conducting a career assessment for the form 4's or seniors who are graduating in December.
We were privileged enough to sneak off to India for a week with Trygve and Bethany. Lydia's parents were missionaries there during much of our childhood, it was such a blessing to be able to show Tyler and Trygve this country which means so much to each of us.
Lydia conducting an "ask anything" girl talk with the high school girls. Such an amazing time to discuss relationships, love, sex, health, and God.
Visiting a school in the Kawangware slum which is run by the church Tyler worked with. During our last week we were able to bring food & financial love gifts for the teachers of this small, but lively school. Lydia is teaching them a song with actions.