July 26th, 2023
We love to see our volunteers fall in love with Africa, with mission work and with the babies and moms at Neema Village. We have had volunteers from around the world this summer. God is Good!
(If you are short on time, just skip to the bottom and read a really important message. Blessings, Dorris)
I thought it might be interesting for you to hear from one of them this time.
Holly, volunteering at Neema, writes:
“After lunch on Monday, we went with Anna, Neema’s director of the MAP program, to visit a woman who was destitute and begging on the street. The young mother was sweet and invited us into her home, but it was very sad.
Eva has a 6-month-old baby girl and they are living in this borrowed room in a mud hut.”
The women we interview for the MAP program, who have been left out, pushed out, or abandoned and become destitute in their society are so depressed they can hardly hold their heads up as they tell their story.
“As we listened, Eva told us that when she was pregnant the baby’s dad had told her to quit her job and she could stay home with the baby. But after she had the baby, he ran off and left her with nothing. She couldn’t pay her rent so the landlord took all of her things for payment. She was begging on the street when a man told her he would help her if she sold herself for him. She refused and continued to beg for food and shelter.
Then a kind lady stepped in to help her. She found Eva and the baby a small room to stay in and she helps take care of the baby while Eva goes out and washes clothes for people. Eva makes about $2 a day washing other peoples clothes.”
You just can’t live on that even in Africa. After some training Neema Village will be setting Eva up with a new MAP business so she can support herself and her young child. Hope has come alive for this young woman!
It was good for us to see the outreach programs at Neema Village which are beyond amazing!
The babies are a huge part of Neema but Neema’s outreach programs to mothers, young girls and children are an absolute blessing to SO many people! ”
Above, Neema’s four newest babies, three of whom came in last week. They lost their mothers in childbirth. There are 63 babies today in-house at Neema but they care for many other children through Neema’s outreach programs.
There are twelve bibi’s, (Swahili for grandmothers) who are traditional birthers, (similar to midwives) from the Maasai Villages on campus this week for the “Save The Mothers” program. Twelve different Bibis come to Neema Village for a week every month to learn safe birthing practices to help save these young Maasai mothers from dying during childbirth.
They are brave older women who have traveled up to 4 hours to get here. They have never been to school and the men leaders in the village tell them they will come to Neema. They do not choose to come, they do not know us, whether we will feed them or have a bed for them or keep them safe and yet they come.
Kelley from Georgetown, Texas did a devotional with the Bibis this morning before the day’s activities. There is always a lot of singing and dancing with the Maasai.
Maria’s father had 8 wives, one of his wives came with this group so Maria (the Fortson’s adopted granddaughter) got to dance with her Auntie. This Maasai Bibi is also our night guard, Kilele’s mother which makes him Maria’s nephew… I think.
“After dinner tonight we went to sing with them again before bed. Dorris asked for one of them to tell us one thing they learned today in birthing class and there were at least 7 or 8 who wanted to talk about different topics.
They learned about male and female anatomy, how the fertilization process works and the growth stages of the baby in the womb. They did crafts, sang and danced, smiled and praised God. Hallelujah seems to be the same in any language. Both Neema programs, “MAP” and “Save The Mothers,” are wonderful programs at Neema Village that are truly making a difference in the hard lives of women and babies in Tanzania”
This photo below was taken by a friend and it broke my heart to see how hard these women have to work to survive.
Both of these programs for women are $24,000 dollars in the red.
One of our current volunteers has come up with an idea to help with funding for our outreach programs and is holding A Day of Giving for Neema Village. Here is her letter:
Dear Friends & Family of Neema Village,
What can happen in 24 hours when we all come together for the same cause? I am asking YOU to help me make July 29th a day to remember.
Over the last 11 years, we have proven that even though we are thousands of miles apart, together we are changing lives! Despite some uncertainty and change, we have witnessed incredible examples of hope, compassion and generosity.
As a volunteer and donor, I am asking you to join me in the FIRST ANNUAL Day of Giving for the moms and babies of Tanzania. July 29th will bring volunteers, donors, family and friends together to support a cause that we all believe in. In just 24 hours, we can provide much needed support to Neema Village.
This years Day of Giving donations will be specifically used for the growing outreach programs that have included the MAP program, Daycare for disabled children, supplying food to neighboring communities, school fees, women’s rights classes and many more.
Will you please join me on July 29th for the First Annual Day of Giving for Neema Village? Our dream goal is to raise $50,000 in just 24 hours! You can donate through the website or by clicking the direct link below. Please specify “Outreach” on your donation. I am also challenging you to copy and paste this letter and send it to 5 friends to encourage their participation.
God Bless You & Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your financial and prayer support!! Click on either of the giving websites below to give your tax deductible gift. It all counts!
Sincerely,
Holly K. Doring
Wayne, Nebraska