YFC Nakuru

From Tuesday until Saturday of last week Lucy and I were in Nakuru, north of Nairobi, with Irene and her team.

 We spent one of those days seeing a little of what YFC does in that area.

We joined the team for Bible study, looking at the last chapter in 1 Peter, discussing Christian leadership.

We also visited the centre where young mothers are taught skills in tailoring and fabric crafts, paper bead-making and soap-making. YFC partners with  Mission in Action . This organisation was set up by an Aussie/Kenyan couple to  work within the community to strengthen vulnerable families so they can raise their children, rather than relinquish them to orphanages.

Several of the young mums there had abandoned their babies (check out the website above if you want to know some of the reasons why mums might do that here), but with the help of the organsation, are now caring for their little ones and being empowered and encouraged to make a good life for themselves and their children.

This is their tailoring teacher

and these are some of the bags, table runners and aprons they are making to be taken to Australia to be sold to fund the ministry.

Another tailoring graduation day in Uganda

Last year when I was in Uganda I really enjoyed my two visits to the YFC ministry at Idudi in the east of Uganda and asked Miriam if I would be able to visit them again while I was in Uganda last week. 

  

It just so happened that there was another group of four young mums graduating from the YFC tailoring course and I was asked to be the guest speaker again. Such a privilege to share life with these girls as they launch out into life with new possibilities. 

Thanks to the generosity of two more Aussies there were new sewing machines for these girls and Luke, the handyman, was the one to put them together after the trip from Kampala.

The girls were so thankful to God for the opportunity to do this training and to YFC for their love, nurture and provision over the months they were together,

  

and they knelt as they gave thanks.

The parents were very obviously thrilled and thankful for their girls - here proudly showing off their  graduation certificates.

Once again the girls were very generous with gifts showing their appreciation with a chicken,

peanuts and oranges. Yum!

That same day we were able to gift pregnant teenagers with 'hospital kits', donated by a team from the US, in preparation for when their babies arrive.

 And I spoke with the new group of young mums who have just started their tailoring course.

Once again, it was a great day sharing in the wonderful work that YFC in Uganda is doing to bring the love of God to needy young people in very practical ways.

Whilst the girls are doing their course, breakfast and lunch is provided each day of the week and they learn many other skills, e.g. financial management and business studies and three times each week they study the Bible with the staff.

As I presented each girl with a new sewing machine, and spoke to them about life choices, particularly from Psalm 119, I thought about how good it would be if they could each receive their own Bible in their own language when they received a sewing machine. Over the months of the course they have been taught from God's word alongside their vocational training. Surely they need their own Bible to take out into life with them. Each Luganda Bible will cost about $12 Australian.

If you would like to contribute to the purchase of Bibles for tailoring students at YFC Uganda both at Idudi and Kampala I would love to hear from you via my personal email justjanie2010@gmail.com

Shopping with the Suubi girls

We had SUCH a fun time shopping with the Suubi girls for all the things they will need to start their new tailoring businesses. This too was made possible by the generosity of Australians who have given these girls the opportunity to improve their lives and the lives of their children though sewing.

They bought foam for padding to make more bags 

 

They had fun buying 

some gorgeous fabrics,

zips, elastic, stiffening, needles, pins, threads and lots more.

They had SUCH a wonderful time.

When we got back to Suubi they spent time

displaying everything,

talking about the things they planned to make 

 and how hard they were going to work to build successful businesses.

 It was so good to share in their excitement.

 This was another unexpected gift from God who provides, so we spent time thanking Him together. Then I said Goodbye for the last time and headed home, very weary after a fabulous shopping trip with the beautiful Suubi girls.

The tailoring girls graduated on Friday

Friday was a wonderful celebration day for the young mums from YFC's Suubi home who have completed their 5 month live-in tailoring course.

 YFC Uganda sure knows how to put on a party.

They know how to make an ordinary back courtyard look extraordinary.

I was guest speaker. What a privilege it was to speak into the lives of these gorgeous young women as they step into the next stage of their lives. Over the last couple of months we have all become very fond of each other as we have spent a day, and sometimes more, together each week.

During the afternoon each girl spoke

 about her time at Suubi 

and what she had learned. 

With two days' notice I spoke from Psalm 119 about keeping God and His word at the centre of their lives. Miriam translated. The tailoring teacher and the house mother also spoke.

The young lady who gave the graduate speech did a fabulous job untutored.

After the speeches we all cut the cake together. Nice cake!

It was very special to share this occasion with the Suubi girls.

.

 They were justifiably proud

of themselves

and their achievements.

After the formalities were complete, we were all ushered to the front of the building where each graduate was given a sewing machine to begin her new business. These  gifts were made possible by the generosity of people in Australia who responded to one of my blog posts in June,

but that's a story for another day.

The girls had no idea this was going to happen and were absolutely delighted.

One young lady didn't graduate. She's not made to be a tailor. She has other good gifts, one of which was on display when she gave the graduation speech from the heart, without notes and did an exceptional job. At the ceremony she also sang a great song which she had made up on her own. She is not going out with a sewing machine to begin a new tailoring business and of course she is disappointed. She has a desire to become a nursery school teacher and she would be great at it. How wonderful it would be if we were able to find sponsorship for her to study to do that. If that is something you would like to do please send me a personal email at justjane2010@gmail.com and I can connect you with YFC Uganda.

Through YFC the girls have been given a wonderful gift and opportunity to begin a new life for themselves and for their children.

I really like the work YFC is doing with young people in Uganda 

Teaching young mums vocational skills. Can you help?

Included in the Youth for Christ ministry in Uganda is teaching vocational skills to young mums. At Idudi, and also in Kampala, this year they are learning tailoring.

Quite a few of these girls had to leave school to have their babies and haven't been able to go back for various reasons.

Rebecca is the gorgeous woman who teaches tailoring at Idudi. 

(She's the same generous woman from my previous post)

The girls are making some good garments

but they are hindered in their progress because of lack of good equipment. They are down to two very old machines for 8 girls. They are on their last legs and these two and a couple of others that are out of action will be costly to repair. It touched my heart, as so many things do in this country.

New machines cost 400,000 Ugandan shillings (around Australian $160). This is a basic one but stronger and more durable would be around 500,000 Ugs (just under $200)

I just wondered if there is anyone who would like to help these girls and Uganda YFC by buying some new sewing machines.

If this is something you would be interested in, please privately email me on justjanie2010@gmail.com

Visit to Idudi in Eastern Uganda

 YFC in Uganda has ministry centres in Kampala and also at Idudi in the east and Gulu in the north. Last week Mary, Luke and I travelled to Idudi for three days to visit the team there. Hoping to visit Gulu before I leave Uganda.

I had the BEST time.

.

 Idudi is just east of Jinja on this map.

 YFC Uganda has a van and a driver and so we headed off in the van with Luke. 

 

We passed sugar cane

and tea plantations

 and rice fields along the way.

It was about 5 hours drive with lots of photo opportunities along the way :)

At Idudi the ministry is headed by the very beautiful (inside and out) Annette. She is still on leave after giving birth to her third son, but we spent time together each day.

I was able to spend quality time with Annette talking about the ups and downs of leading the ministry at Idudi with all the challenges that come with it.

   

  I spent time with the young mums who are doing the tailoring course with Rebecca.

and had a good time also with the young YFC volunteers who visit schools in the area.

The nights were filled with wonderful dinners out with Annette’s and Rebecca’s families. Dinner was early because they have no power and we need to be done by just after 7pm when it gets dark. What beautiful and generous people these are. Each night I was sent home with bountiful gifts – humbling indeed. More details soon.

We planted trees for posterity and for adding to the food supply. Mine was an orange tree.

 

We picked mangoes which are in season right now and so very plentiful. Yum.

And we simply enjoyed being at that restful and peaceful place as the locals walked and cycled up and down the quiet road to the trading centre and back. And we enjoyed spending quality time together.

God blessed our time together so much and I am increasingly surprised at how He allows me to be a blessing in the lives of these committed and special people who are part of the wonderful worldwide family of Youth for Christ.

An sms from Annette after we left said: "Thank you, friend, for being there for us and having us at heart. Your coming has not left us the same.We feel you have accomomdated us in your hearts." It's true. I have found a place for them to live in there.