Hello all,
I just wanted to write you to say thank you, and update you on the incredible progress of our Health campaign.
I met with a few of the women on Thursday and Friday and it is amazing to see how the program has grown, and the impact they are making in their communities. Living Goods has almost doubled the number of women health promoters they’ve hired since last year. It’s remarkable.
Esther Havens is also with me to help shoot photos and stories of the impact.
Gertrude, the kind one, with her children, Helen (14), Titus (13) and Ephraim (11).
The photo of the mom hugging her three kids is Gertrude, who is such an inspiring woman. She told us her husband died two years ago, leaving her widowed and without an income (she said she was terrified). Fortunately, Living Goods was expanding to her community and she was hired as a community health promoter.
As she was starting out she visited a home where three kids had terrible cases of malaria. Their mother was beside herself, because she didn’t have any money to buy the drugs. Gertrude knew the mom was truly desperate so she decided to trust her, and bought the medicine for her. Two days later the mother repaid Gertrude, and then told everyone in the community that Gertrude saved her children. Ever since, Gertrude business has been booming, and she is earning enough to send her three kids to school.
Gertrude’s 14-year-old daughter, Helen, said that everyone in the community tells her, “your mom is the kind one.” Helen later whispered to me, “When I grow up I want to be a nurse, like my mom.”
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I love stories like this. Where the benefits of one job can send children to school, save three kids from malaria, and give a widow purpose and light. These are stories that will continue to grow long after we’re gone, swelling and rippling to help thousands of people I may never meet. I feel like my heart has grown three sizes this week.
I’m in Kenya now, and will be visiting Kickstart’s irrigation pumps tomorrow. Thank you so much for joining us since the beginning. Your support is making a profound difference, and I am so fortunate to watch it grow.
- BECKY STRAW – co-founder & chief adventurist
Becky and Betty, Living Goods Branch Manager
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Thanks for sharing. I cried. Big fat tears of joy. So filled up when I see redemption at work for real. So blessed to be a part of this. Thank you for your pioneering spirit and relentless drive to seek and serve “the least of these.”
Angela, thank you so much for reading and commenting! Sorry you cried, I did too, a bit! Thanks for being so kind and caring, truly appreciate it.
- Becky