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Key Person: Pastor Julius Bob Abdalla
It has been just over a year now since Kenya had its first case of COVID-19. The country has been hit hard by the pandemic which has greatly affected our partnerships. Kenya also went through locust outbreaks and severe flooding. This destroyed crops and largely impacted food prices.
Pastor Bob’s community has been feeling the effects of the pandemic and seeing the need he and his wife re-established their sewing project with some of the vulnerable women in their community. They started with 10 women in October 2020 who purchased materials and sold their products for a small profit. At the beginning they were sewing masks which was beneficial at the height of the pandemic. Many others are now doing this and the government are also providing masks to the community so this is now not as affective.
Pastor Bob said: “We praise the Lord for the shocking status of these widows has been changed, they are able to feed themselves and their children even though they still face challenges”.
One of the women, Akinyi, is very excited about seeing God in her business: “I had lost hope in life being a single parent without any job but when I received Christ in my heart I found a new idea of buying and selling second hand clothes. I got a sewing machine and I'm able to make masks and dresses for sale. I am standing on my feet feeding myself and my children. Thanks for your support”.
Pastor Bob continues to have an influence in his community and in the places he visits, supporting and encouraging church leaders. The 10 women he has helped start small sewing businesses are now impowered to provide an income for their families although it is a challenge.
Currently Nairobi is facing a third wave of COVID-19 and therefore are back in lockdown. This has made things difficult for the women’s businesses. Each time there is a lockdown the businesses must stop and then start again from scratch. The locals in the community who would normally be hiring the women to sew or purchasing their products are also in hardship and no longer have the means to support their businesses.
Pastor Bob has requested prayer for God's protection and provision for his family and the families of women in the project. Pray for them as they distribute food to their displaced church members and orphans, and provide counselling services.
Prayer is needed for the women’s businesses – for customers to come, for profit to be made and for protection. Pray the Lord will fill these amazing women with faith, peace, strength and wisdom.
Although this project is making an impact, it has been challenging. COVID-19 continues to be a major problem in Kenya which has impacted the livelihood of those trying to run small businesses and provide for their families. We will continue to encourage them and to support them in prayer so once this lockdown is lifted they can once again continue their work.