Operation Kenya 2022

February 11, 2022

Thank you for reading and being part of our Baskets and Beads community. I hope that wherever you are in the world that you are experiencing good things and making progress towards your goals and dreams for 2022.

January is gone already, and over the last month, I have been to a celebration of Life for Pastor Steve Rutenbar who I originally went to Kenya with and for a friend's son who died in a tragic car accident. It makes me realize that time goes by quickly, life is short and we have no time to spare.

For 2022 I have committed to having more me time. I work a corporate job that is still covering some of the business expenses as we grow back the business and recover from the effects of COVID. After that job I then go to work on Baskets and Beads and if I do that like I’ve been doing, it leaves very little time for much else.No one wants to get to the end of their life and say “I wish I would have worked more.”

When I got my puppy Indigo it forced me to get outside more often and take her places like the dog park and beach. I enjoy watching her run and play and I am going to get her involved in Agility soon. This forces me to exercise more. I walk at least 3 miles a day with her. I’ve also committed to spending more quality time with friends and doing fun things. As I am writing this Indigo keeps bringing her toy to me to throw and play tug of war. She is 8 months old now and weighs 52 pounds. I am happy she is part of my family.

OPERATION KENYA 2022 - TRIP TO KENYA AND FUNDRAISER

Speaking of family, the next trip to Kenya is set. I have booked my flight and I am leaving on May 26^th and I need your help. We have big plans for several things we are going to do while I’m in Kenya. We are raising $15,000 for this trip to accomplish the following:

Funding a mobile medical clinic to an area that has limited access to medical care. This will include transportation to the area, medical personnel and medicines to treat the families for various illnesses that they wouldn’t have the funds to get treated or the ability to get to a medical facility.
Funding transportation, food, blankets, supplies for a rural area up in Mt Elgon which is extremely hard to get to due to the road conditions. We will take our 30+ ladies from the Kipsongo slum up to Mt Elgon to meet with the women in that area and train and encourage them to build community and use their skills to earn income. This is the concept we have been developing to empower the women in poverty in Kenya to build a foundation of support and develop bead skills to earn income. Once they develop their skills and start producing products, we can purchase from their group too.
Funding to take our ladies on a women’s retreat from the slum in Kitale to the coastal city of Mombasa. This will include transportation by bus to Nairobi (8 hours) and train to Mombasa (5 hours), accommodation, meals, activities, etc for 30+ women. Why are we doing this? Here in the US we take something like this for granted. These women struggle and work so hard to produce the beautiful products that we sell and simply provide food for their children. We want to give them the gift of rest and rejuvenation for once in their lives. We will also find a group for them to meet with there in Mombasa and share how they have built a community and learned entrepreneurship.
Food packs, clothing, supplies for families, and school fees and uniforms for children.

In order to reach that goal, I need 150 people to donate $100.If you are willing to help with that or any amount, we would appreciate the support. If you are part of a church group, Rotary club or other groups that might provide a group donation, please invite me to speak and share the story of the ladies in Kenya. This is a goal I feel God has placed on my heart to carry out so I am walking by faith that the donations will show up to fulfill this mission. Please click here to donate.

Thank you for your continued support. If you have any questions please feel free to email me.

Nakupenda

Eldonna

P.S.Fair Trade Friday Product of the Week is our 3” Soapstone Hearts. We have less than 10 in stock and they are 10% off!