The Chimwemwe Ladies

Friday was the first meeting of the Chimwemwe Ladies.  Meeting on our veranda we had 9 ladies, including myself, who gathered to form this group.  Christine, our househelper, and I had been talking about this for awhile.  The purpose of the group is to teach each other crafts and ways to make things, as well as have Bible study together.  So each week we will meet for a couple of hours.  We will start with a Bible study (we will begin with the book of Ruth) and then learn to do bead work, crochet, and make different things. 

All of the women were very eager to be part of this group.  There is so little for women to do.  And no way for them to "better themselves."  Many of the women speak very little English, so Christine interprets for me.  She is such a leader and is willing to say it like it is.  I am putting in the start up money to buy the crochet hooks, "cotton"/yarn, plastics, beads, etc.  Our hope is that they will be making things that we can sell at the market.  Not only people passing on the Great North Road will stop, but when teams come from the US they will be able to have some of these crafts to buy and take back as gifts.

I'm very excited about this group and hoping that it will be a wonderful way for these women to have fellowship and feel that they are of value.