See this special sale at our Online Shop!

www.amaniafrica.org 

]]> http://amaniyajuunews.wordpress.com/2012/01/25/beat-the-winter-blues-sale/feed/ 0 Amani ya Juu http://amaniyajuunews.wordpress.com/2011/12/23/christmas-greetings-from-amani-2/ http://amaniyajuunews.wordpress.com/2011/12/23/christmas-greetings-from-amani-2/#comments Fri, 23 Dec 2011 20:29:09 +0000 Amani ya Juu http://amaniyajuunews.wordpress.com/?p=1177 Continue reading →]]> Merry Christmas from the Amani Family! 

We are celebrating Christ’s birth at Amani! These chickens distributed as gifts to the Amani women brought an extra measure of joy to the festivities.

This Christmas, may the blessings of hope and peace that Christ brings be yours.

Much love,
The Amani Family

P.S.  We’ll be on holiday for the next week. Our Washington, D.C. office will be closed from December 24th at 5 p.m. until January 3rd. Amani Kenya will be on break from December 23rd until January 3rd. See you in the new year!

Pretty purses, toys, and stocking stuffers galore!

www.amaniafrica.org

Akiba haiozi.
- Swahili Proverb

As Thanksgiving rapidly approaches, anticipation builds and expenses add up. Thrift is a virtue, and saving is hard work. Yet giving is an important part of expressing love and thankfulness. When we give, we take stock of the many blessings in our lives and are moved to generosity as an outpouring of gratitude.

At Amani we value savings and contentious consumption. In fact, we make financial classes — with lessons about savings and other principles of personal finance — available to the women of Amani.

Like you, we appreciate all the savings we can get. With that in mind, we are offering FREE SHIPPING on all orders over $100 from now until December 15th. And, be sure to check out our wide variety of gifts under $20. We’ve got safari animals, coin purses, wristlets, half aprons, and lots of other unique gifts at great prices.

Three cheers for savings!

Every little bit counts. Thank you for your support!

Many of Amani’s striking products begin the production process in Amani’s Tie & Dye department. Skilled artists hand-dye, batik, and screen print large batches of fabric every day. Pieces of plain white cotton are stamped with wax and then dipped in hand-mixed dyes during the batiking process. Large bolts of hand-dyed cloth are screen printed with Amani’s signature designs. The Amani ladies in Tie & Dye work tirelessly to supply the unique and vibrant fabrics that the Amani stitchers depend on for making items like placemats, purses, clutches, and aprons. They are diligent crafters who work with dye, paint, fabric, and wax.

Mixing colors for screen printing

Working together to create Amani's unique labels

For the next week we are highlighting the Safari Collection, which exemplifies the artistry of our Tie & Dye department. Each product is made from hand-dipped canvas that has been screen printed. The process used to dye and then print every inch of fabric is what really makes these Safari products special.

In the Safari Collection, the Rugged Tote marries practicality and beauty. It’s sturdy structure, handy pockets, and neutral tones make it the perfect everyday bag. The intricate and subtle screen prints, striking hues, and handcrafted design make it a true work of art.

The Safari Collection -- photo courtesy of Carrie Dorean

For the next week, buy a Rugged Tote and get 25% off! Enter the coupon code “FallSpecial” at check out to recieved your discount.

Rugged Tote in Burnished Olive -- photo courtesy of Carrie Dorean

The recent visit from our Amani Kenya sisters is one I will cherish deeply. It was a special week, but the most memorable moment from their visit was the final meal we shared at Brittany’s home.

The AmaniDC staff enjoyed watching as the Kenya ladies sampled Butternut Squash Soup. Squash is traditionally only eaten as baby food in Kenya, but they deemed it delicious and were excited to have another chance to eat “leaves” (salad), for which they had a newfound culinary appreciation.

Singing together after our meal

As we broke bread together in an intimate setting, I was struck by the privilege it was to have that time of fellowship. Each of us shared what we had learned from our time together. After everyone had a chance to bear witness to the ways we had seen God work that week, Joyce thought it would be fitting to sing a hymn together and selected “How Great Thou Art.” Jerita’s strong voice led in Swahili, while the rest of us sang in a variety of languages. Psalm 96:1-3 perfectly captures that moment:

 Psalm 96

Sing to the LORD a new song;

sing to the LORD, all the earth.

Sing to the LORD, praise his name;

proclaim his salvation day after day.

Declare his glory among the nations,

his marvelous deeds among all peoples.

Our time together was a moving representation of how the Lord unites us and welcomes people from vastly different walks of life into his fold.

Dear Friends,

It’s just over a month since we got back to Nairobi. On the Friday after we returned, each member of the team that traveled to the United States had an opportunity to share about our trip to the Amani women who sent us.

A few of the ladies on the team sharing at a gathering in Virginia

Elizabeth gave a hilarious description of her many firsts: her first security check, her first escalator ride, and her first plane ride. But she spoke most vividly about the loving care and hospitality we receive while we were in the US. The whole team was deeply moved, and we have been inspired to grow in the gift of hospitality.

Jerita spoke about the ministry at Hope and our purpose in going. Amani was invited to present the message of peace. We are grateful for the opportunity to bear witness to the fact that peace is found and nurtured in sisterhood.

The blessings of our partnerships were described by Trizah. She encouraged us to constantly remember to be grateful to God for our friendships and to never take such gifts for granted.

Finally, Bella shared about being at AmaniDC. In witnessing their daily activities — morning prayer, planning meetings, home visits, and meals — we found joy in knowing that these practices may not be unique, but together they form the threads that are woven into the rich fabric that is life at Amani ya Juu.

Joyce chatting with a new supporter

What have I taken away from this visit? A deeper understanding of the fellowship to which we are called.

With the women of Hope we were reminded that women are the same everywhere. This journey strengthened and affirmed our sisterhood in ministry. Through the opportunity to share our individual stories and the story of Amani, we were reminded of the infinite worth we have in God’s kingdom as individuals and as an organization. We are so thankful to Hope’s Women’s Ministry leadership for the great personal and church-wide sacrifice that made it possible for us to go and minister there.

We also cemented our deep and loving friendship with Redland Baptist Church in Rockville, MD. They have been an expression of God’s love to us through faithful support in prayer, presence, and participation in our lives both at the individual and corporate level.

The Amani Kenya ladies reconnecting with old friends

And the time at Amani DC confirmed our sisterhood. We are one. We are sisters with the same goal to pass God’s peace. I experienced a deeper understanding and connection to them as we worked alongside each other. We pray that though they are far away from all the women whom they serve so faithfully, they will constantly know that they are loved and appreciated.

Finally, I was richly blessed by the sisterhood of the ladies I had the honor of traveling with: Elizabeth, the wise and insightful; Jerita, the prayerful worshiper; Trizah, the practical and faithful; and Bella, the generous and thoughtful support to the team. I praise God for choosing these particular women for this trip.

The Amani Kenya team, left to right: Joyce, Elizabeth, Trizah, Jerita, and Bella

This visit was an amazing time of friendship and partnership. I hope this message captures the experience.

May the Lord continue to hold you in His mighty grip,

Joyce Muraya

Kenya Country Director

Amani ya Juu

They travelled to Memphis, Tennessee where they spent a week with the women of Hope Presbyterian Church, a long-time partner of Amani ya Juu. Hope’s Women’s Ministry invited the group to travel to the United States to share their stories and vision for peace with the women of their church. Amani is grateful to Hope’s Women’s Ministry for the great personal and church-wide sacrifice that made it possible for the group from Kenya to travel to the United States.

For the second leg of their journey, the visited the Amani center in Washington, D.C. The following are pictures from their time in DC, with some side trips to see friends in Virginia and Maryland. It was impossible to capture everything that happened during their visit, but we hope that you can at least catch a glimpse of the special time the Amani Kenya group was able to share with their friends in the United States.

Open House at the Amani DC shop

Open House at AmaniDC on their first day in DC

Elizabeth and Jerita did a wonderful job of welcoming customers in the AmaniDC shop

Stephanie Ball, AmaniDC's fabulous warehouse manager, made delicious cupcakes for the shop Open House

During the Open House, the Amani Kenya ladies showed our customers how to make paper beads

Elizabeth is an expert at rolling long strips of paper into beautiful beads

Trizah shows her new friends how it's done

Megan Burkhart, AmaniDC's Financial Assistant, meets the mamas

Happy to see old friends

Visiting with past and present Amani staff

Sightseeing 

First stop while sightseeing, the White House

Taking pictures of the White House

The ladies were quite impressed by the national monuments

They especially liked the Capital Building

Elizabeth outside a DC landmark, Ben's Chili Bowl

Time for fellowship 

Walking together in Washington, D.C.

Sharing a meal together at an AmaniDC staff member's home

Trizah made many kinds of new friends while in the US

Sharing with friends in Virginia

Gathering at the home of a new Amani supporter

Reconnecting with long time Amani friends

Elizabeth and Trizah share their testimonies

Working together at AmaniDC 

The AmaniDC staff and Amani Kenya group at the DC shop

Elizabeth learns how to use a computer

Jerita does office work

Bella and Julie enjoy working together

Affirming partnerships in Maryland 

Fellowship time at Redland Baptist Church

Women from Redland buying Amani product

Jerita shares her story

Bella speaking with Joyce at her side

Dancing and singing

Good friends cherish time together

 Enjoying an African Feast

Preparations underway to feed 20 people

Making chapati

Chaos in the kitchen

Joyce making yummy cabbage

The spread: chapati, cabbage, greens, stew, and ugali

After the meal with old friends

Kwaheri: Time to say goodbye 

One last meal together and time to reflect on the blessings of the week

Saying farewell

One last shot of the Amani Kenya team and the AmaniDC staff