A Door Opened

Open Doors
Friday June 19, 2009
I spend a lot of time thinking about the impact of the work we do here in Cape Town. Some of it is easy to measure. For example, in the last three years we have given new sewing machines to women and a few men who completed out sewing class. When I write about the sewing class I am still astounded that it is connected to me, someone who does not sew and understands little, as much as people try to help me. But I have come to realize better the impact of this ministry. A few days ago, I surprised our principal helper Namgamso working on a project. She had come very early to the sewing class, which i realize is her workplace since there is no space in her shack for any privacy or time to work on her own. I recognized she was making some items for a woman whom I had met. When I asked Namgamso what she was doing she was hesitant but I assured her I was pleased she was working on something that would help her earn some more money. I explained to her that I was more interested in taking her photo because she was an example of how life changed because of the work of EM. We have started a successful home bags business that is now owned by the women but we have also opened a door for her and others to earn extra income. Namgamso is part of the bag team and has also done work for Living Hope and others. Khumi made the curtains for Living Way and among other things, sewed bean bags for children involved in another ministry. Right now there are offers for them to be involved in tee shirts and hardly a week goes by without someone asking if they are available to sew one thing or another. I also get a lot of ideas for things they could do. I explain that they can sew anything if someone can finance it and also bring the market as well. So when I assess what we have done, I include the door of opportunity we have opened for many of the women. I can confidently say, as I told Namgamso, that none of this would happen if we had not been there. What is always harder to measure is the impact on their lives, but there too, we can be thankful for the chance to be with them, teach them, learn from them and let God do His work in their lives.