The happy ladies

What do the women do with spare time? If you asked them, they might ask you in return, “What is spare time?” Mrs. Schwartz asked the same question a number of months ago. She came up with an answer. She decided to start a women’s club. They meet twice a week to study the word of God, listen to a “Medical Minute”, discuss business, learn skills, and sing.

(singing)

There are about thirty who attend. Everyone has to walk from nearby villages, and most have at least two miles one way to traverse. This club helps women like Alice (mentioned in an earlier post) to support their families. Their business is producing merchandise consisting of small, medium, and large bags crocheted out of recycled plastic grocery bags, beautiful baby accessories, rag mats, and shitangas. All of these are quality products that look like professionals could have made them. A few ladies went over to another group like theirs and learned the craft of knitting and crocheting. They then came back and taught it to others. The Lord is showing these ladies the skills that they can offer and the gifts that they have.
Chimwemwe, translated into English, means “happiness.” These ladies are truly happy. Although many of them have difficult lives, their joy comes from the Lord.