Another Blessed Year!

(TANZANIA) The Wende Women’s Group is a registered organization made up of about thirty women, one-third of them being widows who are raising their own children as well.

The Wende Women’s Group is a registered organization made up of about thirty women, one-third of them being widows who are raising their own children as well.

The group has several projects that help both the women and about 200 orphaned and abandoned children. The women have a savings and loan project where they get small loans to improve their various small businesses and improve their homes. The loans they give to each other earn an interest rate of ten percent, half of which they set aside for the orphans’ needs. Their other project that consistently supports the orphans is a small animals (pigs, goats & chicken) project in which each Wende member gives an equivalent of two piglets, two goat kids, or four chickens each year that are then sold and the proceeds are used to buy school supplies for the orphans. The women take good care of the animals so that they also benefit from their sale.

Since the orphan support project started in 2006, nineteen of the orphans have been able to get jobs ranging from maid to gardener, auto mechanic, janitor, nursing assistant, tailor, and more.

So many orphaned children are unable to perform well at school because most of them live in extreme poverty. All of the children attend public schools, which are much cheaper and more affordable, but also have very poor academic standards due to a shortage of teachers, poor teaching facilities, and lack of materials. Many children, when they get to grade seven, fail the national exam and opt for vocational training available by way of sponsorship through Wende. This training teaches them basic skills in carpentry, mechanics, or tailoring. With the skills they learn through this training, they can seek employment or start their own small businesses.

In fact, two of the girls who learned how to sew after completing a six month tailoring course have been loaned a sewing machine each by Wende and they are repaying well. With the exception of a few who are in high school a little away, all the children meet twice a month and are taught the word of God, life skills especially for teenagers. Of course they also play together and share a meal. Sometimes Wende brings in outside speakers on different topics related to children and teens. The other help that the children get is with school fees and uniforms, and also books, bathing soap, etc.

A few weeks ago, the children participated in an early Christmas party funded by an American Wende member, Donna Myers, who also happened to be present. The children sang songs about how God gave them Wende and Wende’s friends and supporters as their parents so that they are no longer orphaned. They sang that they have learned to know the Lord and have seen God’s hand in their lives. We heard them sing that they want to live for the God who had given them not just parents, but also an opportunity to be educated and to have joy like other children. My prayer and I am sure yours too, is that these children grow up knowing the Lord Jesus who is able to protect them and to provide for their needs. I pray that the Wende women will continue to reach out with love to many more orphans.

Thank you so much for your support for the ministries of World Renew.
God’s blessings to you all who are with us in this ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Prayers:

For the many orphaned and vulnerable children in our programs who need friends to walk with them through the early years of their lives; that God will provide guardians like Wende to help children realize their dreams.
That as we celebrate Christmas, God will reveal Himself in a special way to all of us so that we celebrate our Lord’s birth in our lives by rededicating ourselves to his service.
That with all the season’s travels and events, we all remain safe in the Lord’s care.

Merry Christmas and a very blessed New Year!