Artisans 11-20

Praise God for the blessings that He showers on His children. I have lived an average life, whereby I do not have a lot, but I also do not have a little. My name is Joseph Sambai, and I’m married and have nine children. My oldest child is 20, and my youngest child is one. We live in a grass-thatched mud home in the rural village of Chebaiywa where there is no electricity or running water. Before I began making envelopes for the Paper Project, my children were not able to go to school. But because of the income I am receiving from making envelopes, my children are able to attend school and other basic needs are being met. It’s exciting to see the joy in my children’s faces as they return home from school every day with more knowledge to share with me. Thank you for your part in helping my family.

I pray that God will continue to bless the Paper Project because of the good things that it has brought to my life. My name is Martha, and I am a widow who lives in the village of Chebaiywa. I have seven children who are married, but I am still providing the necessary school fees for my grandchildren. This is often disheartening as I am almost 70-years-old, and it is difficult for me to do physical work. When I began making envelopes for the Paper Project, my hope was renewed. Praise the Lord for the Paper Project.

It was only one year ago when I was brewing alcohol to sell to the community in order to provide for my family. Now, I have left that behind and am able to have an income through the Paper Project. My name is Gaudencia Melly, and I am saved. My husband and I have nine children, ranging from two years old to 22-years-old. Because we do not own land and we live in a rural, agriculturally-based area, it has been difficult to provide for our family’s basic needs. Therefore, because of making envelopes, I’m able to feed my family, and we are able to rent land in order to plant crops for my family. Also, I am now able to participate in small businesses, which allowed me to open up an account to help me to get a loan. Thank you for your assistance in helping my life move forward.

I was married in 1995 and not saved. In 1997, a pastor shared about the love of Jesus and the free gift He offers. It was at that moment that I knew I wanted to receive Jesus. My husband did not want to hear about my newfound joy. He continued to drink and would not listen to me. I asked everyone in my church to pray for him. One day I sat down with my husband and told him to quit drinking alcohol and come to church. He agreed to go, accepted Jesus, and hasn’t touch alcohol since that day! In 1998 we moved to Kipkaren River, saved our small income, and built a hut. Now we have a hut, plus a small store for the community and a new house that is currently being built with bricks. All of this is possible because I am a part of the Paper Project. For the first time last year I was able to buy a blanket for my bed, food for our cupboards, and seeds for the garden. Everyday I celebrate the day the Lord has given me. I was brought from darkness to light. Things may be impossible to us, but we call upon the Lord and everything is easy when we rest in His promises. We praise Him for everything!

God’s faithfulness has been evident in our lives as we trust in Him. My name is Ruth Maru, I’m married, and we have two children, Abel and Faith. I live in the village of Chebaiywa on a small piece of land with no electricity or running water. In 2000, I began making envelopes out of recycled paper for the Paper Project. This project has tremendously helped my family, our lives are now stable, and we are able to plan for our children’s future (i.e. school fees and upbringing). Recently, I was chosen to make boxes out of recycled paper for the stationery sets that will be sold in America. This is an exciting and fun new product to make. Please pray that the Lord will continue to guide my family as we seek Him.

Since I began making envelopes in 2000, my family’s life has greatly improved. My name is Mary Talam, and I am married with seven children. My family and I live in the rural village of Chebaiywa with no electricity or running water, but we are fortunate to have an iron-sheeted roof for our house! Before I started making envelopes, I was without a job, resulting in my children not being able to attend school. Now, my children are in school, and I have started my own business that is allowing our family to have a little income in order to pay for the basic necessities. God’s faithfulness has been evident in our lives, and we praise Him for that. I wish you could see the smile on the faces of my children as they are now being educated and our needs are being met. You are helping break the chains of poverty around the world…thank you!

Praise the Lord, oh my soul, and forget not His benefits! My heart rejoices at the things that God is doing! My name is Purity Kemei, I am married and have four daughters, Vanessa, Winnie, Mercy and Anicah, and we are saved. In 2000, my husband and I looked at each other one day and wondered how we would be able to put food on the table that night. This used to be a common situation at our home, but now those days are behind us. I praise God for the Paper Project, because it has helped provide the daily needs for our family, pay the school fees for our daughters, and we are able to put some money aside in case of any emergencies. Thank you for your assistance in helping my husband and me provide a good life for our children. We thank the Lord for you!

My name is Selina Jerop, and I am saved! I thank the Lord for His provision for my family and the way that He cares. I am married, we have five children, and we live in a grass-thatched roof home with no electricity, telephone or running water. One year ago I started making envelopes for Empowering Lives’ Paper Project. Since then, I have seen the wonderful blessings of that project. I am now able to provide the necessary school fees for my children and basic needs that we before did not have, such as soap and sugar. Other than making envelopes, I have a small income in sheep farming, but that is never consistent and often troublesome. Therefore, the Paper Project has been a big help in assisting my family to be able to meet our daily needs!

With 12 children, life can sometimes be difficult, because I cannot provide for all of their needs. My name is Paulina Mutai, I am 48-years-old and am married with 12 children and a member of the Alcoholics Anonymous group in the village of Plateau. I am now making envelopes for the Paper Project, which has opened many doors for me and my family. Food on the table, clothes on my children and paid school fees are all a direct result of the income that I am earning from the Paper Project. Thank you for your assistance with my family, and now we are working hard as a family to move forward.