Stories of Hope: Vestine

Vestine hopes to turn a chicken into a cow.

After her mother passed away in 2004, fifteen year old Vestine became mother and father to her twelve year old brother Eric, seven year old sister Claudine, and five year old brother Jean Claude.

There was little hope for Vestine and her siblings.

With no safe shelter or income, hunger propelled them to beg for food. When Vestine was offered a chance to join ZOE Ministry’s empowerment program, she immediately began working hard and started a business of processing sorghum flour and selling it at the weekly market.

Through ZOE’s training and micro-finance resources, Vestine was able to secure a home for her family. Her next dream is to have a cow—to provide not only nourishment but also steady income for her family through the selling of milk and offspring.

Although Vestine now earns enough to feed her family, pay for school fees and buy decent clothing, she was a long way from being able to buy a cow. At approximately 120,000 Rwandan francs, it was simply out of reach. But through ZOE’s training, she learned about business and investments and hatched a plan to turn a chicken into a cow.

Vestine saved money from her flour processing business and invested in a chicken. Chickens are valuable because you can sell the eggs, and their waste helps fertilize the family garden. Vestine saved her egg money and reinvested it, ending up with three chickens.

Vestine continued to invest in animals by buying first one small goat and then growing her herd to three goats, which produce milk and offspring that can be sold.
With the proceeds from her eggs, milk and offspring sales, Vestine bought a piglet, which she then grew into a large pig now worth 35,000 francs. She can sell the goats for 15,000 francs each—so she now has 80,000 francs toward her 120,000 goal (the cost of a cow).

A ZOE team visited with Vestine in July of this year, and she told us with a gleam in her eyes, “I only have 40,000 francs to go. If you come back in December, you will find my cow!” Then she prayed with the team, and everyone thanked God for what God is doing in Vestine’s life and the lives of her family.

Stories of Hope: Peninah

Like so many children, Peninah was orphaned at a young age and left with siblings to care for. At the tender age of 12, she was left to provide for a younger brother. An uncle quickly stole the best of the land Peninah’s parents had left for her.

Hungry, alone and frightened, Peninah was approached by a man with the offer of $8 and some bread. With a hungry brother at home, and no other options before her, this young girl accepted. Peninah became pregnant and gave birth.

ZOE began working with Peninah two years ago. A recent ZOE workteam met Peninah, and Rev. Greg Jenks, ZOE’s founder said, “The girl I met bore witness to the redemptive power of Jesus Christ. As I saw her so tenderly care for her child, I was reminded that only Jesus could turn such a horrible situation into something so precious and beautiful. Peninah spoke with such pride about her daughter and her ability to now care for her properly.”

Peninah told the story of how ZOE had transformed her life.

Her Working Group of orphans approached the local chief and petitioned for her land to be returned to her. The chief agreed. ZOE provided a goat and $100 worth of
input for her farm. The other orphans in her support group helped her cultivate her 5 acres of land. She was then trained in tailoring and received a start‐up kit from
ZOE Ministry for her new business.

Today, Peninah has several hundred dollars worth of food stored from her most recent harvest. She has 12 goats, numerous chickens, and her own business in the market. She is a devoted follower of Jesus Christ and is completely self‐reliant at the age of 16.

A ZOE workteam member who met Peninah shared that she had waited her whole life to witness a miracle. As she saw the lives transformed through ZOE’s work she declared, “I have now seen that miracle.”

Peninah’s success in our empowerment program inspired us to feature her story in our Christmas Animals DVD.  She began with just one goat.  After a successful harvest, Peninah sold some of her food and purchased a few additional goats. Animals have played an important role in Peninah’s escape from poverty.  This is the case for many, many orphans in our program.  In fact, animals can often be the first step toward transforming the lives of orphans.

Stories of Hope: James

15 year old James joined Giving Hope in late 2009. He has been living in a small hut with his mother, who suffers from a severe mental disability, and several of his nine siblings.

Due to extreme poverty and his mother’s condition, James has suffered through years of emotional trauma and hardship and was often forced to sleep outside or on the porch of a neighbor’s home. James’ 18 year brother Lawrence was so overwhelmed by family problems and responsibilities he ran away from home.

Today, with the support of ZOE Ministry and Giving Hope, Lawrence has come home to their village and is helping to care for James and his 13-year-old sister Flora.

Giving Hope is providing Lawrence with vocational training, and he is now confident in his abilities to support his family. James is in school and is at the top of his class.
In February 2010, Giving Hope built a home for the family. During the dedication, James stepped forward and spoke.

See the video of James sharing a memory verse from Jeremiah:

Stories of Hope: Lucy

In 2009, Lucy’s picture told a thousand stories.  Her grief was clear on her face and in her posture even for those who did not know of her heartbreak.

Lucy lived apart from her two sisters since their parents’ death five years earlier. The initial ZOE staff reports noted that she “cries daily from loneliness and grief.” Her dream was to work hard, support her sisters, and find a place where they could live together.

Lucy stands in front of her new home with Reegan Kaberia, ZOE’s Giving Hope program director in Kenya.

ZOE’s Orphan Empowerment Program provided training and a sewing machine for Lucy, who soon began earning a living as a seamstress. This allowed Lucy to pay for her sisters’ school fees and food. She lived in her sewing shop, while her sisters lived with two different family members. They came by to see her regularly, but had to say goodbye because the shop was not an adequate home for this family of three.

Lucy’s hope was fully realized in early 2010 as ZOE Ministry dedicated a new house that she helped build.  During the week of construction, Lucy boldly shared her favorite scripture: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord; plans to prosper you and not to harm you; plans to give you hope and a future.” —Jeremiah 29:11

Today Lucy, Nellie, and Jacqueline live together.  Today Lucy’s picture tells a new story:  Hope can come true.

Stories of Hope: Felicien

Felicien

ZOE first met Felicien last summer. An orphan since the tender age of 3, his life has been one of never‐ending suffering, hunger, and loneliness.

In 2006, as a 12‐year old, he was hired to tend goats. Even with that small job, he struggled to get enough to eat. One day, as he was looking after the goats, he took one ear of corn from his boss’s field in an attempt to stave off his hunger. The owner suddenly appeared and found him roasting the corn. In a fit of anger, the boss held Felicien’s hand in the fire and damaged it permanently. In June 2009 when ZOE found him, his hand had never been treated. Traumatized because of the suffering he has endured from childhood, Felicien was unable to express any dream.

Holding some of the food given to him by orphans in his Working Group, Felicien stands with his group's Adult Mentors.

ZOE visitors from the United States had the privilege of visiting with Felicien in February. The team gathered at the house that ZOE had just provided for him. Together with his orphan Working Group, team members worked to put in a garden and build a fence around his property. Felicien was thrilled. A smile spread across his face as he posed for pictures in front of his new home.

Felicien, however, had not yet been able to begin the work to produce food for himself. Thus, he was still vulnerable. At least, the team thought he was still vulnerable. Behind the scenes that day, the other orphans in his working group were quietly planning a surprise. Epiphanie Mujawimana, ZOE’s Giving Hope Director, and the ZOE social workers did not know what was about to transpire.

The other orphans asked Felicien to sit in his house and wait for them. Then, in a holy procession, they began to come into the room and present him with gifts of food from the successful harvests they had experienced because of Giving Hope. Beans, potatoes, and carrots filled the bag, and the bucket placed before him. Felicien looked like a child on Christmas morning. As the presentations concluded, the orphans spoke to Felicien.

They said, “We are committed to love you and care for you. We will provide food for you until you produce food for yourself.” This is the strength of Giving Hope. The orphans not only are shown the love of Jesus, but they become the very messengers of that love.

This was not lost on Felicien. As he spoke words of thanks to his group he said this, “When I was on the streets I never thought anyone could ever love me.”

Today he knows he is loved: by God, by his supportive Working Group, and by you!

Stories of Hope: Robert

Robert's family stands in front of their new home. He is caring for his brother, sister, and cousin.

Your gifts are empowering Robert to care for his family. After the death of his parents, Robert became the provider for his brother and sister. When he found out that a young cousin had no one to care for him, Robert took his cousin in as well.

Robert’s Giving Hope Journey began close to one year ago. Through Giving Hope, Robert is receiving excellent training from an orphaned teen who has completed his Giving Hope journey and is now a successful farmer in the community. This training will allow Robert to cultivate his land and provide for his family.

Like a parent, Robert is passing on all of the important life skills he is learning to his brother, sister, and cousin.

Giving Hope recently built and dedicated a home for Robert and his family.  Members of his community, a local church, Robert’s Faith Working Group, Giving Hope staff, and a ZOE mission team gathered to surround them in joyful celebration.  At the dedication, Robert was honored to accept a handmade, green prayer shawl on behalf of his young family.

See the video of Robert’s home dedication:

Stories of Hope: Purity

“When my parents died we were so afraid.  We were praying only to God to help us to get something even to eat because we were sleeping without food…But nowadays we can eat more than even those who are having parents.” – Purity M., age 18.

Before Giving Hope, Purity says her family of four was completely without hope. Their parents died of AIDS within several years of each other. Their oldest brother lives with a mental disability so the burden of care passed to Purity. Their land sat empty like a desert providing no food for the hungry children. They were often kicked out of school because they could not pay their school fees.  The children spent lots of time inside their home crying because no one would have anything to do with them.

When members of ZOE’s Giving Hope staff met the young family for the first time, they cried as well. It was one of the most difficult cases ZOE’s staff had ever seen.

Purity joined Giving Hope, and life began to change. Today, Purity is a leader in her community and a faithful disciple giving hope to other orphans in her community.

Watch this video and discover how Purity’s story of transformation is a gift that now brings tears of joy to ZOE Staff and all who love her.

Then, join Purity and give a gift that will transform the lives of other orphans in need of hope.

Stories of Hope: Titus

Titus was 15 years old when his parents died of HIV/AIDS. Left with a 9 year old sister to raise, Titus was forced to drop out of school.

His story was like that of so many orphans in Africa: Titus and his sister were isolated, stigmatized, and despised by their neighbors. They frequently went hungry and could not afford medical care or pay school expenses. With no opportunity for a steady job, Titus worked as casual labor at the local market. He was trapped in poverty and hopelessness.

Titus’s story began to change when he joined ZOE’s Giving Hope project. Through ZOE, Titus was given the opportunity to start his own small business. He used his first Income Generating Grant to purchase a goat and began a breeding project. After his goat gave birth, Titus was able to rapidly expand his business. In addition to his original project, he also buys and sells goats from a rural market and resells them for profit in his village. He now has a herd of animals, 8 goats and 5 sheep!

Two years ago Titus had nothing. Today, your support means he is able to meet the needs of his family and save money to open a butchery shop in the future.

Stories of Hope: Faith

Under One Roof

Faith and her sister Lisa stand in front of their old home

Faith, her family, and friends gather beside their new home

See a video of Faith’s new home as it was built by Faith, community artisans, and a ZOE team.

Stories of Hope: Dickens

Dickens and one of his younger brothers

Dickens was orphaned when he was only 9 years old. When a ZOE team visited his home, Dickens explained that he now understands that his parents died because of HIV/AIDS. His brothers were only 5 and 2 when their mother died.

Following the death of their parents, the children suffered the stigmatization so commonly experienced by orphans. Initially they lived in several different places. At age 15, Dickens took his brothers and returned to the empty home left by his parents. To feed his brothers, then 11 and 8, he was forced to beg and go to work. Earning less than $2 per day doing back-breaking construction work, Dickens struggled to care for his brothers.

Dickens is a successful businessman.

In 2007, Dickens joined ZOE’s Giving Hope project through Maua Methodist Hospital in Kenya. Receiving training in small business management, Dickens coupled his experience in construction with an income-generating grant from ZOE to buy and re-sell truckloads of rock for construction projects in the area.

Now Dickens earns enough to support his family and to diversify his business. Using proceeds from his initial venture, Dickens has purchased two cows, opened a kiosk, and started a chicken-raising project.

Like many orphans who have been touched by ZOE Ministry, Dickens has become a follower of Jesus Christ. Attributing his success in life to God, Dickens explained to the ZOE team that God never fails him when he prays.