From the Casa Hogar Vida Team:
Dear friends, I want to take this opportunity to introduce to you a new program we have started in Casa Hogar Vida to help people sustain their own families. Its name is Manualidades (Handcrafts) and at the moment employs two people: Luz who many of you know and Lilly.
The aim of Manualidades is to make things with a sewing machine such as handbags, table cloths, curtains and other things which can be sold.
We are looking for your support in two ways if this is possible. Firstly; by bringing or sending any material that you can which will reduce our costs, fewer costs means more people can have employment.
Secondly; if there are things in the brochure that you would like to purchase then again this will help sustain the ministry.
For your attention here in brief are Luz and Lilly’s stories:
Luz
Luz is infected with HIV, she used to live in a tiny house made of mud with her three boys. When the father of her middle boy found out he was infected and had infected Luz he took his own life by hanging himself with the hammock. Luz struggled on but faced huge stigma and discrimination, even from her own family. Her mother would not let her eat from the same plate as anybody else and would not even let Luz touch her own son in her presence.
Luz went to the pastor of the church she was attending to try and get him to speak with her mother who also went to the same church. However, he told many people and told Luz it was her own fault, so Luz was alone. She said she felt like her family and God had turned their back on her and so she stopped attending church. Two workers from the Casa Hogar Vida team managed to reconcile Luz to her family which is really important but most important is her reconciliation to God.
Luz now has a new home in Casa Hogar Vida and a regular job in Manualidades, which provides a source of income for her family. She also attends church every Saturday evening and is an active member in a fellowship group.
Lilly
Lilly’s husband died of an AIDS-related opportunist disease, leaving Lilly a widow. Shortly after his death Lilly was raped by a man who she later found out had a hereditary problem with his heart. Lilly soon found out she was pregnant and gave birth to a beautiful baby boy naming him Brian. However, Brian to had the hereditary problem and at the age of one year old sadly he died.
Manualidades is helping Lilly in many ways, financially, practically but above all spiritually. Every morning at 8 o’clock there is a devotional when issues are addressed, Lilly has many and still has a way to go but through God’s grace she will get there.
When we think of how far Luz has come spiritually in the year and a half that the team has known her then Lilly can do it to. She now attends church every Saturday and is soon to join a fellowship group.
Here is a list of things that are needed as of the 27th January 2009.
o Stiffening both thick and thin
o Embroidery silks, various colours
o Navy zips and other colours various sizes
o Fasteners for skirts
o Various coloured cottons
o Felt material
o Ribbon all colours and width’s
o Edging material, cotton and silk fringing
o Imitation fur material
o Filling for cushions etc.
o Material with Aztec type patterns
o Tapestry type material
o Bag type material
o Sued looking material
o Leather looking material
o Sequins
o Transfers
o Fabric glue
o Ordinary glue
o Glue sticks
o Embroidery squares
o felt
Related posts:
