Jam House

I just wanted to give everyone an update on the Jam House because people ask me how it's going. In July the women of Eglise Evangelique began working at the jam house 5 days a week from 9-5 p.m. everyday. They really wanted to make a full fledged business out it. They have received two other trainings since the one I participated in, in April.

The work has been a real challenge for the women. These are women who's entire lives and the lives of most of the people they know are only centered around their home, husbands and children. Now they have been given this opportunity to WORK!!! And truly they love it. The come early and they stay late. They work hard. The only problem, is that there has not been a director at the jam house. They do the work together, so when they are out of sugar they don't work until someone goes and buys sugar in Zigunichor or they find money to go and buy sugar. They really needed a manager who could plan, project and bring order to what they were doing daily. Initially they rejected the idea but finally they agreed. In October a man from the church who was working as an accountant for an NGO returned to Oussouye to work with the ladies. He is a great administrator and also sensitive to the strong personalalities of the women who have been running the show from the beginning.

This man is also working with Marcel to find more funding for the Jam House, to paint and tile the building and repair the fence.

The women absolutely love their work at the jam house. So much that some of their husbands complain because they feel they "aren't being taken care of" Also some of the women have small children who stay at home with the older children because they cause problems when they are at the jam house. There are still problems that need to be worked out. But God has really blessed these women. They are more confident now and their world is so much bigger than it was before. Please contiued to pray for their work, their business and their relationships with God.