Wednesday

Today my job was to go to the wedding shop and teach business skills. The three who were working there were under pressure to finish some clothing that was ordered by the group leaving tomorrow. I thought I could just ask questions while they worked. That worked for a while. You know, there seems to be a lot lost in translation! I wonder over the cultural differences also. so pretty much I stuck to the Bible for wisdom.
Unmuzzle-ing the oxen was one thing I remembered! Those who are there doing the work are to be the ones who should receive the benefit of their labor or else they will get discouraged and not work as hard. This was a rule I lived by out in the strawberry field! It's those who do the labor need to see fruit of it otherwise they will get discouraged and not work as hard. It's the principle of "if you don't work, you don't eat" stated in a positive way! The money coming in needs to go to those who are doing the labor.....not to all members of the co-op! Unless they are doing things I don't see or know about. But from what I understand these unseen members get pay even though they are not doing any of the work.
As it is now, and if I understand rightly there are those who I haven't seen working yet who get a portion of the income, even the bride who is taking a month off with another girl who is "in her company." Another lady has a day job at a hotel and works there in the evenings.

I was encouraged to help them see that they need to really get going meet their expenses, or it just won't work. They must get marketing their services. Krysti has been emailing me ideas too.
While I was there today three customers came in. That was very encouraging. However, not all the dresses were available to view as they were in bags dirty from rentals long before I came. I tried to instruct them that these needed to be laundered right away for good business practices. There are no washing machines to just throw a dress in I found out. They must be taken to a dry cleaners....where they either dry clean or perhaps use a washing machine.....no one really knew if their were washing machines in that place of business. But the price is the same $20 US. There are such interesting things to consider when doing business here!
Also, we thought a sign would help. Nope. The taxes on signs are to be paid monthly and John the Baptist thought it was over $50 per month! Yikes! And this is in addition to the rental and city taxes. Interesting!
All this to say "We ain't in Kansas, Dorthy!" Oh yah, a jar of Jiffy peanut butter is $22! Arlene, who is working with Prison Fellowship lives here at the guest house showed us the pricey jar!

Well, the most encouraging thing to happen today was that I had opportunity to talk to Tom about the Lord, Bible truths and I know the Lord gave me wisdom in this as His Word is truth and will accomplish what God wills in it being proclaimed!
I was also introduced to a widow lady who will be starting the summer Bible Study with me! It's so close now.......these days are not going as I expected.....but are days that I find God graciously using me to disciple one on one and encourage believers, my sisters in the Lord.
It's hard to explain the suffering here. It's overwhelming if I stop to ponder it. So many needy people! Those without Christ, well total despair. The basics needed for living are not available to so many......refuges, people struggling to find work to care for the basic needs.....shelter, water, food. However, so many of my sister's in Christ are filled with joy, the promise of a home in heaven and an end to all this here.
Hey! did I mention that at our guest house is the father of a couple that attends our church! The Steven's family....their Dad is here working with the prison group (Arlene!) SMALL WORLD!
There is also a group from Michigan working on water projects. I'm really going to try to get pictures up......
A funny thing happened. I showed a couple a picture of my son as we were walking home from church on Sunday. The man stated that he thought he'd seen him here before! He got son Joel mixed up with Rick Warren! I thought it a bit ironic and funny!