every cookie counts

This last week I gave a presentation to the Portland Christian middle school students.  They have been diligently raising money for months to help in "Martha's dream."  They managed to raise about 25% of the funds used to buy supplies and put up the structure.  They held a penny war and weekly bake sales in order to raise money for Premec Creations.  They have done an awesome job of involving their student body in supporting this program for women across the world!  Keep it up PC!

After learning about this program for women in Ghana my grandmother wanted to do something to help.  For those of you that know my grandma, you know that my family brags she is the best baker/cook around.  Sweet things are her speciality.  She decided to bake dozens and dozens of cookies to add to the bake sale at PC in order to support the ladies of Premec Creations.  Her cookies sold out in a single lunch hour on Thursday!  In one day her cookies made $30 for Premec.  That is enough to pay half of a month's salary, or to provide the supplies for one day!  Every cookie counts.  Thanks grandma!

 in summary 

Our time in Ghana far exceeded our expectations in every way.  We were able to purchase all the supplies for the 3 month session, participate in the opening program, spend significant amounts of time learning with and from the women and holding their babies as they worked, and plan for future sessions.  We had just enough money to leave with Martha to construct a temporary structure in which she can hold classes.  The church she attends gave her a section of land just next to the church for the center!  Construction is now underway and should be complete in about a month.  This would allow Martha to move classes from the current location of her rented room and landlady's unfinished home in order to have a more permanent location.  The structure will basically be a roof to shelter an outdoor work area where both classroom instruction and "practicals" can take place.  Eventually we will need to build an actual building, but for now this will do.

There are 15 women learning batik, tie and dye, soap making, pomade making, bead arrangement, hairdressing, and sewing on a daily basis in Gomoa.  They will graduate at the end of March to make room for a new set of women.  Amy and I will continue to be responsible for raising funds for each sessions supplies as well as the instructor's salaries.  The profit made from the fabrics and soaps made during the training program will be saved and used as capital for the women as they graduate and start their own businesses.     

 parting is such sweet sorrow

In the fading light a group of women gathered around a wax covered in a half-finished room.  We held hands and prayed to the God that has united women from across nations, tribes, and languages to form Premec Creations.  Huddled together in the growing darkness a sense of awe consumed me.  What an incredible moment to share with 17 Ghanaian women.  We prayed a prayer of blessing over the instructors Martha & Christiana, the women participating in the program, and the very table around which we were gathered.  The significance of the moment did not escape any one of us.  Amy and I said reluctant goodbyes as darkness fell and the women slowly began their walk home. 

An empty room and a bare table bear witness to the opportunity for change.  15 women appear each morning in anticipation of the skills provided at Premec.  But more than that, they now join a community of women, sharing more than just learning, but in their lives as well.  A transformation has occurred amongst the group of former strangers.  They greet each other with joy and part with hope of future meetings.  They share in each other’s burdens, caring for each other’s children while they take turns creating.  It’s a beautiful thing to behold.  

the ceremonial ribbon cutting

I finally made it!!!! My flight was delayed about 17 hours overnight so unfortunately I arrived a day later then originally expected, but better late then never! After a quick stop at the market to purchase fresh mangos and pineapples, Chelsea and I were blessed to attend and be treated as special guests for the grand opening ceremony of Premec Creations in Fettah.  

Since I arrived so late, today was the first time I got to meet Martha face to face. What an amazing woman with a huge heart to help women as she was once helped.  The ceremony was mostly in Fanti, because most of the 11 initial trainees do not speak English, but I followed Chelsea’s lead and did a lot of smiling and nodding.  J  It was a great event! Martha spoke about the goals and missions of the center, we prayed that the center would provide a means to strengthen their community, and all the materials that had been purchased for the first 3-month session were blessed and dedicated to God.  Chelsea even gave an impromptu speech expressing our gratitude and wishes for the center.  All the supplies were spread out on tables, including all the fabric that had been bought, the dyes, beads, baskets, soaps, and numerous other things that will be used in the center. 

Afterwards, we all shared a meal of meat pies and gathered to take A LOT of pictures (which we’ll share more of when we get back to the States and more favorable internet speeds).   Martha, Chelsea, another teacher, and I then finally had some time to sit down and really talk about what we aim to do.  Martha shared her story of being abandoned by her husband with four daughters to care for.  In her hour of need, a woman named Patience offered her the funds to attend a training center in Accra to learn to sew and make fabric.  Since that time Martha has yearned to repay the favor and help others in a similar way.  Monday afternoon, we will start classes.  Maybe I will even manage to pick up some domestic skills this week.  Miracles do happen you know.

Okay, got to run.  Chelsea is in the kitchen whipping up some eggs for our breakfast and then it will be time for church with all the sweet children at the Village of Hope.

 shop till you drop

You have never been shopping like this before.  Black Friday has nothing on Ghanaian shopping trips.  Martha and I set out before dawn this morning to reach Accra (the capital city) before the worst of the traffic hit.  It still took us about 2.5 hours to reach the Makola market.  This market can be summarized in one word: insanity.  The streets are FULL of cars, people, carts, and goods, and the shops are more crammed in than sardines.  I must say that I demonstrated my best parking skills in maneuvering through the only parking lot in the market where you have only inches to pass between cars.

Martha and I set out with all the money that we have raised so far in order to purchase all the supplies needed for the first three month session.  We spent hours checking prices and navigating the crammed sidewalks, dodging the loads all the sellers carried on their heads.  We were able to find all of the materials needed to make soap, pomade, and the batik fabrics.  We bought dyes, caustic salt, liquid paraffin, cloth, oil, water buckets, perfume, petroleum jelly, bottles, stamps, a white board, notebooks, etc.  By the time we finished shopping we had not stopped to eat or drink for more than 8 hours (we were ready to drop)!  The car was full to the brim with all the supplies.  After a 4 hour trip back to Martha's place, we inventoried and stored all the items just before dark.  A crowd of children gathered around the table in awe of all the new materials.  It was thrilling to see the fabric dying table overflowing with the materials that will change 10 women's lives over the course of the next three months.  Tomorrow I get to meet those women!

-Chelsea

surprise!

I reached Ghana late Monday night and contact Martha first thing Tuesday morning.  She informed me she had already started training 10 women in her home!  She wanted to make sure that she could do at least a week or two of full day sessions before school reopens and she will resume her teaching responsibilities.  She will then move to afternoon sessions with the women.  I was amazed at her incredible passion for this ministry and anxiousness to do things properly.  She took me through the projects they had already been working on, showing me the batik fabrics, soap, and beads they had been working on.
She was using her own bedroom space to teach these women!  I keep thinking what an incredible blessing it is that I get to be a part of Martha's ministry to the women of Fetteh.  The joy in her eyes at her dream coming true is brilliant.  Its the kind of light that will inspire many women.

-Chelsea