Simeon and Sula Dolls

I am so excited to show you the wonderful work of Hajiba and the 3 other widows who have made the "Simeon and Sula" dolls.Hajiba and the other widows live in a rural village outside of Nairobi Kenya. Imagine now the book is alive, the dolls are made and a CD has been produced.

I want to take a minute to explain how the women who have sewn these dolls struggle to live each day. They are 4 widows who have children they are raising. Their inspiration to make these dolls came when Charles Mpanda went to our friend Eva with my book. He showed her the book, they read the story and Eva knew right away who could make dolls. It wasn't really planned but it was "the plan" all along. They got busy sewing the dolls and not only did they do this without electricity but on treadle sewing machines and their own hands. They made clothes for the doll all the way down to the "undergarments" for Sula. Each doll is made with love. Each doll is unique and has a special outfit to wear.

I am so proud to be helping Hajiba and her friends. I can't believe how we can help serve while learning about how others live. Hajiba didn't stop at just making the dolls but they also made animals for Simeon and Sula too. I will post these photo's next.

If you would like to purchase a book please go directly to my publishers website: www.authorhouse.com. If you would like to purchase the book and dolls you can email me. simplehope1@gmail.com. I can do a special Christmas mailing for you. The dolls are $15/each or 2 for $25. You can add the book and the total package price is $40.00. Their will be mailing charges based on size of order.

Remember my illustrator is an orphan young man too. So the book sales are also going to help him establish a life for himself too. He also composed and sang the song that I wrote called: "Love, Trust and Kindness" Please visit my books website to listen to it: www.simeonandsula.com. You can find the song under "kids corner"

I am available for author visits to schools, churches or organizations at any time. Please email me for availability.

Thank you for sharing your love with those who struggle to survive each day.

Blessings and peace ~

The story of our container of humanitarian good.

The story of our container of humanitarian good.

Thank you Lumen Christi - 3rd grade class

What a wonderful blessing to be asked to come and explain how my book became "alive" and "real" When I first gathered with the children at this school, the teacher said, "Does she look like an author?" and the children said "NO WAY" I laughed and asked them what an author looked like..they said: "Old, wearing a skirt and having long hair" Truly it was a wonderful way to see the image in their head.

The time I spent with these children warmed my heart. All of these children are more than blessed in their daily living. I asked them if they enjoyed the book? The teacher had read it to them the day before I visited. The kids mentioned what they learned and how they felt. I didn't expect to have reached them so deep. Their hearts were real and they shared their feelings with me. They explained how they felt sorry for Simeon and Sula. They wanted to know how people could really live like they did.

I was touched as the teachers came to me and hugged me and Thanked me for putting this story together so that others could learn. This was my hope and dream for the purpose of this book.

I am grateful for this visit today - what a blessing and I continue to hope and pray that the efforts from Sheggy (the illustrator) Hadjima (the widow who made the dolls) any my blessings of visiting Tanzania yearly will help others learn in a way that no other book could.

Blessings and peace -

The rest of the story...

The mission trip was packed full of so many miracles! After I had written the initial post and when we were in the "bush" time never presented itself to us again to do more writing.

Our moments with God and how he directed us all of us....Charles, myself, Elicana and Karen, seemed that it was surreal. We knew that "our" goal was to go and live with the Hadzabe to learn more about them, their lives and their daily living conditions...however, God had a much different plan. The man that was suppose to be taking us to live with this community, had a much different goal in his mind. After we talked to him in great detail about our desire to serve this community and asked him to please put aside his desire to make money, he became a bit unnerved with us. We explained that all of us were "volunteering" our hearts and souls to these people. That we dedicated ourselves our time and our possessions to serve. He said he understood but at the 11th hour, he requested that we pay him for his time with us - completely missing the point of serving his fellow brother/Tanzanian. Oh well, a big pole sana. We said we would find the way to learn about these people without him...he wasn't happy as he only wanted to make money! Our goal was to make sure that all the government officials knew who Simple Hope East Africa was! We met with the district medical commissioner, the regional commissioner and several ward officials before we even drove out to get to know one another. This was the "right" way to do our work. We let everyone know who we were, that we weren't there to take anything from the Hadzabe but to hold their hand and help them grow!

Our time was more than blessed by God. He made everything happen for us that we could not have done if we had not done the right way! Our time together with the Hadzabe was deeply meaningful. We cooked our food for them (of which they had never had..) They watched us cook it, then eat it ourselves first. Each of the community members took a bite then smiled then took another bite then smiled and finally asked for more.

We will be building a feeding/foundation center for this community. The government wants everyone of them to be educated! However, throwing them into a school straight from the bush will not prove to be effective. Our feeding center will be the first "foundation" or "platform" for them to begin to acclimate to the world. We need to help them slowly slowly! We don't want to change them or their lives, we want to bring them hope and education at their own pace. They were so thrilled to hear about our help however the elder tribe member came up to me during the meeting and said a few words. After the interpretation, she said, we really and truly appreciate your help...but PLEASE DO NOT leave us! We need you and your help! Tears weld up in my eyes and I completely understood what she was saying! They have no other help or hope!

This is a huge calling for us but we have accepted the call, we will not leave them alone and will give them every opportunity to grow strong!

This group has had very little interaction with others. They are not afraid but they are afraid of the let down and loss of hope! I get this! I have committed myself for the rest of my life to serving this community. I need lots of help!

Will you join me in serving the "least of the least?"

Blessings and peace~

Mission Trip to Tanzania Sept 2011 so far......

I am sitting deep in the bush right now experiencing life like I never knew. I happen to be able to connect through a phone and the internet (still not quite sure how this is even possible as there is nothing around us) however, I am quickly going to share the journey so far.

Our flights went well through Nairobi. We were delayed by a few hours on the way from Amsterdam so arrived at 10:30 vs 8:00. Charles, Elicana and Eva were there to greet us. It was great to see their smiling faces and know we were right where we needed to be. We spent the following day meeting Hadjiba who is making the Simeon and Sula Dolls. They were exactly as I had imagined beautiful and made with love. I have ordered 40 dolls to be sold when I get back to the USA. Monday we traveled by bus to Arusha. We arrived and checked in the hotel. We met with our friend Ryan who is doing missionary work from the USA. We managed to have a fun reunion with lots of laughs.

Tuesday was business day for Simple Hope East Africa. We managed to check off almost everything we needed to accomplish. We worked and walked all over Arusha. We signed a lease on a beautiful office for SHEA which is also a guest house. This home will be open to all guests that come from anywhere in the world. We will post pictures on our website with all the details when we get back. Our other work was getting things checked off from what the government needed from us to complete so our NGO works and functions 100% in the positive and in complete transparency.

We visited the Matonyok Orphanage in the evening. It was great to see how well the center is doing and to see little Bryson. He was standing up and walking when we arrived - PRAISE GOD! We passed out the school bags that were donated by Mary C and the VBS photo cards that were made by St. Elizabeth Ann Seton parish in July. The children were so happy to see these gifts. Pilgrim UCC also made some very awesome origami toys that we brought along...what fun to see them blow up the balloons and watch how the tea cups were used. We built a bridge of love between our worlds by sharing these many gifts with the children who otherwise would not have anything.

Wednesday we packed up and headed out to Lake Eyasi. We had a few complications to get through but in order for Simple Hope to do the "right" work all these steps were necessary. In the end our making the decision to follow down the right path (not easiest though in terms of wait time) but it allowed up to move free and clear because the government recognizes us as a NGO that is truly a passionate and caring organization. I will post more on that when I get back.

We are now on day 5 in the bush. It is peaceful, beautiful and breathtaking. We are living in our Cabela's tents where are wonderful. We are remaining simple in our daily needs - we are eating just a meal a day and are happy for the one shower we have each and everyday. This morning I heard something walking passed the tent and thought it might have been our night watchmen but when I sat up to look there were two cows just outside the window. Then I sat up on the other side of the tent was monkeys playing and screaming with each other. It is always so relaxing to know that we all move in harmony with each other.

I will write more about our wonderful journey with the Hadzabe on the next post. Time is ticking and the internet keeps going in and out and I don't want to lose what I have typed.

Thank you for your prayers, kind hearts and well wishes. Our mission trip is another awe inspiring trip and we are continually amazed at how GREAT GOD is with our work.

Blessings and peace,

Looking forward to the next month!

Not quite sure what is in store for this mission trip - however we know that there is much to accomplish! We have many people to see, business to do and each day find a way to Thank God for calling me to this mission.

I never thought I would say this but Mission work is NOT easy. In fact, I have really felt alot of challenges coming on this trip! I know that if I ignore the call to do this work - too many would continue to suffer, and really when I talk to my youngest daughter about doing this work, I explained to her that there are children we are helping who are orphaned. It became more clear for her that having a roof over her head, clothes to wear, school to attend and food to eat was truly what she needed to be content and happy.

I am looking forward to the next couple of weeks and seeing how God wants us to work in his kingdom!

Thanks for your prayers and thoughts - they are truly making a difference
Blessings and peace ~