Emily's Micro-Business Mission
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Overview Information:
All of us who know Emily and her heart of gold, know that she is the last one to ever ask for money. So a group of us has taken it upon ourselves to make sure she is resourced as she gives her life to the poorest of the poor. This past summer Emily sold everything she had a bought a one-way ticket to be a light in the second poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, Nicaragua, to serve in the poorest district in Nicaragua, Puerto Cabeza, and to love the poorest people in that district, orphans and women in jail. All the funds we raise here will go directly to her for her mission’s effort among the great hidden treasures of the world, the literal poorest of the poor. She will use the money for a micro-business effort she is starting to raise women out of the cycle of poverty. May we give generously from our hearts to the “no longer” forgotten peoples of Puerto Cabeza.
- Trevor & Ben
P.S. We chose the goal to be $3,000 because Emily mentions the need for $2,000 in her below email. Our goal exceeds her ask by 1k to cover unexpected financial costs that may arrive. But, it would be FANTASTIC if we were to raise over $3,000. Let’s not stop at 3k.
If you are interested in more info from Emily, follow below.
Genesis of Emily's Micro-Business Mission Effort:
From Emily:
“A Greater Yes.
I was shocked at a graduation last week to run into Chickytina, a young teen who I'd met in the women's jail back in 2014. She'd been serving a year-long sentence in jail with her cousin Dina. At 15 and 17, they were the two youngest inmates at the time. My cousin, Liesl and I formed a special bond with them then, never realizing how our stories would continue to overlap.
A year later, I'd received a call from these two. Having just been released, they were asking when we were coming back to visit and if we could start studying the Bible together. Ironically, Liesl and I were leaving the following day for a month-long visit to Puerto Cabezas. During this visit, we got to have ice cream with Dina and Chickytina, listen to their hearts and hear the agony of trying to find work in a community where jobs are scarce. We invited them to several church events, and witnessed the tension between 2 cultures within a culture. How do two girls who've been raised along a pier where drug-dealing is an everyday occurrence find their niche in a culture of church-goers who are already fighting against the current? How does one influence the other without being dragged down in the process?
My prayer for the ladies in the jail to be set free, both spiritually and literally, grew into a bigger question, as I wondered, "what happens next?" What happens if they encounter Christ in jail, have the desire to change their lives and to live for Christ, - how do they live that out? Through prayer, an idea popped into my head of starting a business for women coming out of prison. They could continue to receive spiritual and vocational training during their time in prison, but instead of fighting to find their place between two worlds once released, they could have the option of living out their freedom through working in an alternative way to selling drugs.
4 months later, I returned to Puerto Cabezas with the ambition of starting a business for these ladies, not really knowing where to start. I contacted Dina and Chickytina, who were enthusiastic about joining me in this process. Dina said, "I want to change. I don't want to go back to the way I was living." We met several times, discussing ideas and even bought supplies to begin crafting a small inventory.
When I returned in August after 3 months in the States, I tried for weeks to find Dina and Chickytina. I tried calling and messaging. Nothing. That's why I was shocked 5 months later to find Chickytina at this graduation. She was shocked to see me too, but her face fell when I asked her about Dina. Chickytina told me Dina had been sent to Managua as a prisoner 8 months ago. Managua is where they send prisoners who are serving long-term sentences. My heart broke. Not Dina. Dina was never made to be a prisoner. None of these women were. But instantly, I knew Dina is my "why."
I've heard everyone needs a "why" – a greater "yes" that helps them push through all the unknowns and to say "no" to anything that would hinder accomplishing a purpose. My "yes" is this business for women in jail. My "why" is so that these women can have a greater "yes" – a legal way to provide for their families in the future, so that they can say "no" to past brokenness, addictions and relationships that would seek to take their freedom.
Financial Needs:
After pestering Emily through email, she finally gave sent me this email with a $ amount she needs:
From Emily:
"I've been learning a lot about what it takes to launch a business for women in prison, and it looks like we're leaning towards starting a cooperative, which places a microfinance project in the hands of a group of people, vs. just one person. This seemed like a better option to empower women coming out of prison since every woman's sentence is a different length of time. I've learned the cost to start a cooperative is close to $2,000. I have the $350 from the concert in an account set aside for this project once we are ready to launch, so we are left with $1, 650 to raise.
At this point, we have a group of women from the local church here who are willing to walk alongside the ladies in prison to provide mentoring and accountability spiritually and vocationally. I have to go to Florida mid-January to renew my visa, but we have a meeting planned in early February with these ladies to elect board members.
There is a team willing to come in the Spring to provide vocational training in the prison to prepare the women for their release, and another organization from Virginia interested in possibly buying the products once they are produced. The funding aspect is our one missing link, so your email is stunningly timely.
If we can raise the $1,650 to start this cooperative we can begin inviting the people who are willing to participate in the training and producing aspects of this vision. The ladies in jail are more broken but more hungry than ever to change. They've told me they want to do life differently. They don't want to return to jail or a lifestyle than keeps landing them in jail. I'm more hopeful than ever about their potential to change. "
Organizations Emily is partnering with:
Yobel International
Vocational Training
http://www.yobelinternational.org/
The Marketplace
Fair trade store
https://www.themarketplacenc.com/
All of us who know Emily and her heart of gold, know that she is the last one to ever ask for money. So a group of us has taken it upon ourselves to make sure she is resourced as she gives her life to the poorest of the poor. This past summer Emily sold everything she had a bought a one-way ticket to be a light in the second poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, Nicaragua, to serve in the poorest district in Nicaragua, Puerto Cabeza, and to love the poorest people in that district, orphans and women in jail. All the funds we raise here will go directly to her for her mission’s effort among the great hidden treasures of the world, the literal poorest of the poor. She will use the money for a micro-business effort she is starting to raise women out of the cycle of poverty. May we give generously from our hearts to the “no longer” forgotten peoples of Puerto Cabeza.
- Trevor & Ben
P.S. We chose the goal to be $3,000 because Emily mentions the need for $2,000 in her below email. Our goal exceeds her ask by 1k to cover unexpected financial costs that may arrive. But, it would be FANTASTIC if we were to raise over $3,000. Let’s not stop at 3k.
If you are interested in more info from Emily, follow below.
Genesis of Emily's Micro-Business Mission Effort:
From Emily:
“A Greater Yes.
I was shocked at a graduation last week to run into Chickytina, a young teen who I'd met in the women's jail back in 2014. She'd been serving a year-long sentence in jail with her cousin Dina. At 15 and 17, they were the two youngest inmates at the time. My cousin, Liesl and I formed a special bond with them then, never realizing how our stories would continue to overlap.
A year later, I'd received a call from these two. Having just been released, they were asking when we were coming back to visit and if we could start studying the Bible together. Ironically, Liesl and I were leaving the following day for a month-long visit to Puerto Cabezas. During this visit, we got to have ice cream with Dina and Chickytina, listen to their hearts and hear the agony of trying to find work in a community where jobs are scarce. We invited them to several church events, and witnessed the tension between 2 cultures within a culture. How do two girls who've been raised along a pier where drug-dealing is an everyday occurrence find their niche in a culture of church-goers who are already fighting against the current? How does one influence the other without being dragged down in the process?
My prayer for the ladies in the jail to be set free, both spiritually and literally, grew into a bigger question, as I wondered, "what happens next?" What happens if they encounter Christ in jail, have the desire to change their lives and to live for Christ, - how do they live that out? Through prayer, an idea popped into my head of starting a business for women coming out of prison. They could continue to receive spiritual and vocational training during their time in prison, but instead of fighting to find their place between two worlds once released, they could have the option of living out their freedom through working in an alternative way to selling drugs.
4 months later, I returned to Puerto Cabezas with the ambition of starting a business for these ladies, not really knowing where to start. I contacted Dina and Chickytina, who were enthusiastic about joining me in this process. Dina said, "I want to change. I don't want to go back to the way I was living." We met several times, discussing ideas and even bought supplies to begin crafting a small inventory.
When I returned in August after 3 months in the States, I tried for weeks to find Dina and Chickytina. I tried calling and messaging. Nothing. That's why I was shocked 5 months later to find Chickytina at this graduation. She was shocked to see me too, but her face fell when I asked her about Dina. Chickytina told me Dina had been sent to Managua as a prisoner 8 months ago. Managua is where they send prisoners who are serving long-term sentences. My heart broke. Not Dina. Dina was never made to be a prisoner. None of these women were. But instantly, I knew Dina is my "why."
I've heard everyone needs a "why" – a greater "yes" that helps them push through all the unknowns and to say "no" to anything that would hinder accomplishing a purpose. My "yes" is this business for women in jail. My "why" is so that these women can have a greater "yes" – a legal way to provide for their families in the future, so that they can say "no" to past brokenness, addictions and relationships that would seek to take their freedom.
Financial Needs:
After pestering Emily through email, she finally gave sent me this email with a $ amount she needs:
From Emily:
"I've been learning a lot about what it takes to launch a business for women in prison, and it looks like we're leaning towards starting a cooperative, which places a microfinance project in the hands of a group of people, vs. just one person. This seemed like a better option to empower women coming out of prison since every woman's sentence is a different length of time. I've learned the cost to start a cooperative is close to $2,000. I have the $350 from the concert in an account set aside for this project once we are ready to launch, so we are left with $1, 650 to raise.
At this point, we have a group of women from the local church here who are willing to walk alongside the ladies in prison to provide mentoring and accountability spiritually and vocationally. I have to go to Florida mid-January to renew my visa, but we have a meeting planned in early February with these ladies to elect board members.
There is a team willing to come in the Spring to provide vocational training in the prison to prepare the women for their release, and another organization from Virginia interested in possibly buying the products once they are produced. The funding aspect is our one missing link, so your email is stunningly timely.
If we can raise the $1,650 to start this cooperative we can begin inviting the people who are willing to participate in the training and producing aspects of this vision. The ladies in jail are more broken but more hungry than ever to change. They've told me they want to do life differently. They don't want to return to jail or a lifestyle than keeps landing them in jail. I'm more hopeful than ever about their potential to change. "
Organizations Emily is partnering with:
Yobel International
Vocational Training
http://www.yobelinternational.org/
The Marketplace
Fair trade store
https://www.themarketplacenc.com/
Organizer and beneficiary
Ben Senio
Organizer
Mount Airy, MD
Emily Howard
Beneficiary