The art ministry continues

We have been working on starting a new art ministry since January. It has been a stressful, rewarding, learning, fruitful, confusing experience. We were sitting in Huaral in the living room and there were several ladies knitting and we had brought 2 ladies from Ventanilla and they knew how to knit as well. I was looking around and saw all kinds of poverty, yet at the same time so much talent. I decided right then, that we should help these ladies make a better living for themselves. Although this had been an idea that had been tossed around for a long with my dad, and I had thought about it too but the timing was not right. This time, I felt like it was time that we should start it. We gave each lady 200 soles. The art ministry started out with 9 different people involved, we took a group of ladies from Ventanilla to go shopping and we went shopping for the ladies in Huaral. We gave two of our men neighbors who did wood art work supply money to start out as well.

Jessi and I going to check out Kennedy Park to see about selling stuff there.

Out to eat lunch with the ladies while buying their materials. 

Oh you know, just yarn shopping. 

Sorting through all the materials. 

We had to get permission from the City of Mira Flores to sell in Kennedy Park, have a meeting with all the workers, etc. All the people involved from the project got together and set up tables in my house and at Huaral and sold their first group of things to the CrossPointe team. It was beautiful seeing how excited they were to sell, how much it boosted their self –esteem, and to see how excited the Americans were to buy their products. It was beautiful, and they ALL made a great amount of money. The first night each person made anywhere between 75 – 175 soles which is A TON of money for them, and in Huaral the ladies made anywhere between 150 – 175 soles. It was a great start.

Marta and Dora selling to the Crosspointe group. 

Norma and Ester selling to the Crosspointe group. 

Hermando selling to the CrossPointe group. 

Team meeting.

Then in April we started selling in Kennedy Park. Everyone has really seemed to enjoy selling in Kennedy Park. We took out the Huaral ladies a couple of weeks ago to see where the products are being sold and to Lima to buy more materials. They had a blast. They hardly ever leave Huaral, so to go to Mira Flores was just over the top for them. They had never been. We ate chicken for lunch, went shopping all day for supplies, went to look at an art market for ideas, and then went to Mira Flores, and McDonalds. It was such a sweet time to get to spend with these precious ladies outside of the normal context of studying the Bible.So far the ladies have made a decent amount of money each week. That is not all profit because their transportation and materials are not included. Most of the materials they have been using I bought for them. Once they have to start buying their own materials and paying the weekly rent, I don’t think it will be enough profit to be worth their time.

Marta and Dora's first day selling in Kennedy Park

First customer. 

Ester and Norma's first day!

Taking out the Huaral ladies to Lima to buy materials. 

Learning how to do a new style of crocheting just by watching for a few minutes. 

Nicchola, just chillin' waiting for the ladies to finally finish shopping. 

Eating chicken for lunch! A big luxury for them!

Getting ideas of new things they can make. 

Seeing the place where the stuff is sold at. 

Eating at McDonald's for the first time ever. 

Yum!

I am not sure what God wants with this project. I do know that it has been very overwhelming for me because the majority of the team members have broken the rules and we have had to put A LOT of time in it. Would you please pray that God would show us what form to continue this project? Would you pray that he would give us wisdom about an online ministry or what we need to do here to sell it in Peru? Would you pray that He would give us direction on if we should turn this ministry over completely to the people working in it? This is our last week to sell in Kennedy Park. We are going to spend the month of May praying and looking into possibilities of how God would have us continue this project. I know this project has not been a waste in the least, it has shown them that that they can make money for their families doing things they are very talented at and has raised their self-esteem to be able to earn money in the future. It has shown them that maybe there is a way out of poverty, and it includes them working as well not just waiting for what the man of the family can bring home. It is so incredible to see uneducated women be able to make and learn to make beautiful pieces of jewelry and clothes and for them to know that they might be able to add or subtract very well, write very well, or read very well, but they are so talented in other areas!