Local News featuring my Projects!

As the Kenya projects continue to grow and flourish, local media is really starting to take notice!

Today I had the honor of being interviewed by Lakeland Public Television news about the 34sisters artist collaborative and the Do Something Project. I am feeling extremely blessed to have these projects featured.

In addition to the coverage, our products will soon be sold in at least one local boutique.

I continue to work daily on the projects, and I appreciate all of the support and prayers. This has proven to be a huge undertaking, but I never for a moment have any regrets. My life's mission is to see this through, and to take projects like these to other parts of our world. I thank God for choosing me to do this, and I know that no matter what he leads me to, he will lead me through it.

Jenn

I love you my sisters in Kenya!

It has been 6 months since I last set foot on the red dusty streets of Kenya. The fire inside me still burns to help my dear sweet sisters to make a life better than that which I saw when I was there.

Since my return the Art program has grown. I know that it has not always been a smooth ride for these ladies, but I know little of the details. Jane, my hands and feet in Kenya, has done a magnificent job managing the program and keeping it running. I can't wait to give her a hug when I return next year and thank her for all the work she continues to pour into these women and the program.

Last month, the women told me of their desire to rent a building to hold their program in. The vision was to have a space of their own. A place that noone could take from them. A haven. I felt this burning inside of me, the desire for the same for them. So, I am paying for their rent for the first 6 months for this building...their very own art and sewing center. I am so proud of their vision for their program and for the energy they are putting into it. They amaze me.

Imagine this, they meet between 1 to 5 days week (depending on the week), and work for hours. They cut paper, twist the paper around toothpicks, and glue them in place. They paint and create and work and work. At the end of the month, I have sold enough in the US for them each to receive 600 shillings. This might seem like a lot, but this actually means that they each made $7.50 for a month of labor. This is in many cases the only source of income these women have. It's not enough. I must work harder to sell their products here in the United States.

So today, as I write my blog I think about how I can increase the sales of these incredible products for my dear sisters in Kenya. My hope is to help them to make enough to support their families. I have a long way to go, but I know that with God all things are possible.

I am setting my sight on the goal, and I am moving forward, not allowing myself to be distracted or discouraged.

If you would like to help these women, please contact me or go to our etsy site www.icing.etsy.com to make a purchase. I will be working hard to increase sales and production of these products on my end. I can't do it alone, so please help me to spread the word.

Excitement in the Air!

I am anxiously and not quite patiently waiting for the March/April edition of Northwoods Woman Magazine to arrive in the magazine stands. Inside of this beautiful publication you will find an article about the 34sisters art collaborative and the Do Something Project. I can hardly believe that this is coming to be.

Every week something new happens that blows me away. God's hand is most definitely working for these projects and I am so grateful and humbled by His love for the people of Kenya.

So what's new this week?
-The 34sisters project made their first official sales! 3 Necklaces and one painting were sold this month. Next month I pray that the numbers will increase tremendously!
-I was able to send almost $500 to Kenya to support orphans, the women's art program and the ministry there. Donations came in from several monthly sponsors of the orphans and from sales made from the art and jewelry made by the women and myself.
-The women in the 34sisters project approached me with the idea of renting a space for their meetings so that they could have a place to call their own. They researched and found a space for $26 a month. I sent the first two months rent for the space, and offered to pay the first 6 months rent until they start receiving a more sustainable income so that they can take over the rent for themselves. A community art center is a unique concept in Kenya, and one owned and run by women is even more of a novelty. I am so proud of these women for being bold enough to step into this brand new endeavor!
-Future donations are expected to be tax deductible through the Global Outreach Foundation within a month! So for those donors who would like a deduction, it will be an option!

I am so excited about the changes and growth that is occurring. I am so grateful for the support I have from those who are joining me in this fight against poverty.

What's next?
March 19th I am holding "A HEART FOR AFRICA" which is a fundraiser and outreach event to help raise awareness and funding for the 34sisters and Do Something Projects. This event will be free and open to the public. I am serving an authentic Kenyan Meal (free will donation), showing slides of my trip to Kenya, and holding the first 34sisters Art Boutique. This event will be held in Bemidji, MN from 11 to 1 on Sat. March 19th. I am reserving tickets (simply to plan ahead for food and seating), so if you would like to attend just send me an email.

Watch for the March/April Northwoods Woman Magazine!

Have an awesome week!
Jenn

The art has arrived! My sisters in Kenya have bees so incredibly busy. They have been painting and making paper beads like crazy, and this past week I received the first shipment of their work. For women who have never had the opportunity to paint before, they sure "wowed" me!

So what next? I will be putting the art on ETSY to sell to raise money for the women. In addition, I will be framing some of the originals and some prints of the originals to sell at the March 19th Kenya Event at the Evangelical Covenant Church in Bemidji.

What event? Well....
The public is invited to:
Evangelical Covenant Church, HWY 2 West Bemidji
Saturday March 19, 2011
11 to 1 pm

For a photo and story presentation on my trip to Kenya, the 34sisters project, and Do Something for Orphans, Widows, and Teachers. Many of the photos that I will be showing are from the incredible Trish Barthorpe, of Photography by Trish www.photobytrish.com

A traditional Kenya meal will be served for a suggested donation

Art and Jewelry "Boutique" by 34sisters

Orphan, Widow, Teacher, and Aspiring Business Women Sponsorships will be available

The event is free and open to the public, but I am reserving tickets so that I can have adequate seating and food available. If you would like to come, just let me know so that I can reserve a ticket for you! organize@midco.net

Have a happy Saturday...this chick is off to try to save the world - or at least make a good hearted effort to make a small difference anywhere I can.
Jenn

For many months I have neglected my blog. Partly because I am overwhelmed, partly because I have been sick, partly because I feel a little vulnerable.

The focus of my blog will be turning from simply updating the general public on Art for Africa into a way for me to communicate my deepest thoughts, emotions, trials and triumphs. I will be writing to the 34 sisters I have in Kenya through my blog, and I invite you to feel free to read up on our adventure.

Art for Africa is now called 34sisters, named after the original 34 women (33 kenyan women and myself) who started this art and jewelry making project.

The orphan program changed formats over the past few months, and is now called Do Something. Do Something is run similarly to Compassion International in some ways..I set individuals up to sponsor a specific child in Kenya and help them to maintain communication with eachother. I found that if I simply explain the needs of the orphans, those with a heart for loving children come forward and happily help. I love that I don't have to sell anything in order for this to happen. It is definitely Christ driven.

Thank you for caring enough about these projects to read the blog. Please pray for us as we continue on our journey toward easing poverty, hunger, and disease in Kenya.

Jenn

Greetings from KENYA!

Hello everyone! It is with great excitement that I write my blog to you from Kenya. I won't be able to update daily, but will do my best. Let me tell you first and foremost, Christ is alive and well in Kenya! The people here are so joyful and have great faith, it truly puts American's to shame. I am so happy that I came and I pray that I will NEVER be the same. NEVER!!!

I have adopted Kenya as my second home. The people here have honestly adopeted me as their own and treat me like royalty. I have to tell our hosts not to carry my bags or serve me because they are constantly trying to do things for me. The women who serve us and keep our home nice even iron our clothes. It breaks my heart to see how hard they work and how tired they are by the end of the day. Last night one of the servants fell face first on the couch and fell asleep instantly. She is an amazing and beautiful girl, who deserves so much more than she has.

Each morning we are awakened by a rooster who just won't stop crowing! Infact, as I speak that rooster JUST came into the house and started crowing. Too funny!!!!

In Kenya, we are learning so much about culture. Here once a man is married he does not have to tell his wife that he loves her! We are pulling out the bible to show them how important it is for a husband to love his wife as Christ loves the church. We also found out that if you are not a pastor you can have up to 10 wives!!! We are just dumbfounded. But we are all laughing our bumpers off having this funny discussion about the differences between americans and Kenyans.

It has not all been roses, but I will write about that later. But we are all back on track and doing great.

My health has been wonderful!!! I did have a horrible migraine for 15 hours that stopped me from attending the first day of our crusade. I have not had that bad of a migraine for a very long time. I slept the whole time and cried in my sleep, but the people of the church prayed for me and I was healed and attended the revival that night. I have been healthy since. No tummy problems- Praise the Lord! A pastor from Kenya who has the gift of healing prayed over me today and it was amazing. So wonderful!

I miss my family so much, but I love it here so much too. I will be so sad to leave this wonderful, god filled country. When I wave, the entire community waves back. The children run to me just to be touched and smiled at. Thank you Jesus for this amazing adventure and this opportunity to grow. I can't wait to share everything with you and to show you all the pictures. I am truly a changed person, but it is different than I expected. I am not so much sad or have pity on the people I am with, but rather see a partnership of friendship, resources, and love as the best way to help. They do not want our pity!! THey are so resourceful, smart, and amazing. I am so grateful that I got to come here to see first hand what they need and how I can help.

Miss you all. Going back to our lively discussion on marriage, sex, and saying I love you!!! I can't believe that we are having this conversation with these pastors! It is so awesome.

Love, Jenn

Great Expectations

It feels like the night before Christmas, and I am a little girl who just can't sleep. What will tomorrow and the next 14 days bring? I am not naive enough to think that this will be all roses and daisies, but I have faith enough to know that no matter what God is with us and we are taken care of. I am filled with excitement, hope, and great expectations. I am in my bliss! I feel like I am exactly where I am supposed to be, and I am grateful.

So with great care, I packed my suitcase filled with personal art supplies and clothing to wear there and share with my new friends in Kenya. I packed two rolls of toilet paper for comfort, and a bunch of undies because I am shy about the housekeepers having to wash mine. Oh, the things that I think about!

I realized this week that it will be two weeks before I drive a car or watch a tv again. Two weeks before I kiss my sweet girls and smell their hair or do my "pug and a mug" morning coffee with my dogs. Two weeks before I take a hot shower again. Two weeks before I sleep in the comfort of a real bed. Things I take for granted, and will miss so very much.

But what a blessing to serve and love and to be served and be loved on. I strangely feel like I am going "home" to Kenya. It is no longer a foreign place to me, I feel like I am reuniting with family and friends. I don't know what the next two weeks will bring. So much is changing each day, but I do know that no matter what I am blessed to be a part of this amazing adventure in God's story book of life.

Please pray for me when I come to mind and for my amazing group of fellow Christians who are on this journey. I have included the poster that the church printed for the conference that we are speaking at. This is so amazing!
Love, Jenn