On the 15th of November we went to Tom's* place and after a cuppa the programme for the sewing centre started. There were a couple of songs and a few speeches. Many of the women from the previous sewing classes were there along with the tutor, several have become believers and baptised.
The cohort of students we met was the 8th and they have since graduated in early February and received new machines. Tom is very pleased with the outcomes of the training, as with earlier ones. They have trained about 100 women now and there is still a great demand for the programme. Most of the women are earning a living from the sewing they continue to do.
They have commenced a weekly meeting for people to come to hear about the Christian faith and around nine people attend regularly. Two have become believers and joined the church. Also, more children come to the Sunday School from the sewing programme.
The 9th cohort commences studies on the 3rd of March. There are 16 signed up, the maximum number they can do at one time.
S is a single girl from a Hindu background. She finished secondary school in 2024 and had nothing to do. She sat at home with her mother and did housework, she was very bored. It was not easy at home, there was not a lot to do, there was little food and there were constant fights and arguments. She was constantly bickering with her mother, and her father threatened her all the time that he was going to marry her to get rid of her. Her friend from school did the sewing training and told her about it. Her father said she couldn’t attend because it would cost too much and could not believe it when he heard it was free. Her mother didn’t want her to go either as she would embarrass the family because neither of the parents could read or write.
However, she joined the 8th batch and has just graduated. She heard about Jesus too and when she can she attends the Monday meeting. She loves the stories about Jesus and is so excited to now be able to sew and make clothes. Several neighbours are amazed at what she can do now and have promised to use her when they need something stitched. The attitude of her parents has changed and so has she.
H is from a Moslem background and was married when she was 16. She didn’t finish school. She is the second wife of a man who is 15 years older than her. There are six children in the household, two are hers. But her husband's parents, one grandparent and another wife make for a large household and the father is only a rickshaw driver. Some days he doesn’t make any money and all they have to eat is rice. She heard from a neighbour about the sewing course and her neighbour spoke to Tom about it and asked if a Moslem woman could attend. He agreed and her husband let her when Tom came and explained about it. Her husband was very reluctant for her to go to a Christian house, but she pestered him until he relented.
She was very afraid when she first went to the place, she didn’t know what to expect. But she was welcomed and soon made friends. She was in the 5th course and when the visitors came from outside India, she was very afraid, it was the first time she had touched a white person and been in a room with them. But they were nice and she was happy. Since she received a sewing machine, her life has changed. She is now earning more than her husband and makes a lot of savings as she makes clothes for the family. Everyone thinks she is very smart. She likes to visit Tom and meet the girls from the other courses. The girls from there are her best friends now. And the children from their place have the nicest clothes in the neighbourhood.
Those who are involved with the programme speak very highly of it.
The tutor is not yet a believer but says it is the best thing he has seen anywhere in terms of training people to make an income. He is from a commercial training background and reckons any of these women could get employment in factories if they wanted to.
The word is spreading wider. In the 9th batch there are women coming from long distances to be trained.
The potential for political interference and corruption at the next election.
Tom and his family are very busy and not getting any younger.
Tom does not have a lot of people around him to hand on the ministry to. There are several evangelists in the area, and they may well be able to step into his role when he has to step down. However, what he is currently doing is very worthwhile.
They want to continue this programme. It is an essential part of their bridge into the community and gives them a very obvious reason to be there.
1) There is very good acceptance of the programme in the community.
2) Because of the programmes they have access to many more families than before. They are often invited to share their faith because of relationships built as a result of the training programme.
3) Several people are attending the weekly gospel and prayer meeting, and some have been saved and joined the church. Some have been restored to Christian faith as well.
These are good people who have a clear vision for the project and what they want to achieve through it. I would recommend that we continue here for as long as we are able. It is achieving two outcomes, empowering many poor women and creating many opportunities for gospel impact.
We receive an adequate budget each course. Costs are increasing incrementally.
* name changed