details

I can now better explain what Dawn and I are doing here, since I am now beginning to understand it myself. The plan was loose to begin with, and looks a bit different than what I was able to explain before I left the States. Here is what this looks like…

Alabanza is a missions base of sorts. It was started by an incredible woman named Dini and exists to equip and prepare people to be sent out to do what God has called them to do in the world. There is a pretty large staff here—some called to come here by God, some ending up here over time, several young people who came short-term and just never left—basically all kinds of people. The thing that they all have in common is an incredible heart for God, for South Africa, for service, and for building up and equipping others.

Dawn and I are considered staff here now. There is a building (pictured in a previous post) going up right now on the property that is to become a coffee shop and craft store. Many different people had a vision from God for such a place, and they obediently built and trusted that it would come to life. While here last spring, dawn was told about the gift shop, and felt called to head up the start of it. She then told me about it in May, and I realized then that I must also come (see: “living a dream” post).

The building costs are footed by Alabanza, but will hopefully be reimbursed by sales in both the coffee shop and gift store. Costs for the gift store start-up look like they will be coming from me and Dawn, and then reimbursed as the store becomes a success. Vision and details for the store are left up to me and Dawn. As of now, we see this as an opportunity for relationship building and discipleship with local women. We don’t want to just sell their goods, but also get to know them and share our lives with them. We’ve also recently developed the idea for including the individual stories of the artists with their creations. Each item bought will then have a story, and my hope is that upon reading them, some of the purchasers will begin to pray for these artists, many of whom struggle greatly financially and even just to survive.

As of now, we have 3 large (and quite beautiful) tablecloths from a couple in Zimbabwe that Dini’s sister acquired for us before our arrival. Zimbabwe is going through a depression right now, and they travel to South Africa once a month to sell their wares and then buy goods here to take back. They have 2 children and 1 on the way (due in a couple of days), and recently took in 3 children from a relative who passed away. This has become their livelihood. Dawn tells me that most of the stories we hear from artists will be very similar to this one, which encourages me that this store will truly be a life-changing place.

The other stock on its way is a load of 50 purses from Swaziland. Dawn met a woman while leading teams there this past year who has a ministry making purses. She employs women, teaches them to makes these beautiful purses, and then disciples them while helping them to make a living. Dora, Miss Lizabeth, Louiza, and Mary who all live here at Alabanza are gifted artists are plan to contribute to the store.

Dawn and I have several leads on places to go to meet artists and build relationships, and since we have a car now (as of today—Praise the Lord!), we will be able to go and check them out. Tomorrow at a local community center for youth, called Refillway, there is an open house. There is a sewing group and bead-working group there, as well as people who make peanut butter and locally grown honey and they will have their wares on sale. I am considering joining the sewing group to have a place to meet local South Africans and build relationships, and hopefully some of them will want to sell in the store, as well as teach me a thing or two about sewing ;-)

One of the women who works at Alabanza, Miss Lizabeth (or “Mama Lizzie”), had a vision in a dream about the store and coffee shop that it would be a place of healing. I pray that it is so. Dawn and I want so much to get to know and love on these artists—healing emotionally and spiritually, and the financial aspect will surely heal entire families.

I see the coffee shop, too, as a place for healing. I’ve always been fascinated that going for coffee with someone is an event, and I know that in my own life, some of the most powerful and influential conversations have been at a coffee shop. We are expecting a group of 50 people here to be a part of an extended training for first-year missionaries (through Adventures in Missions) called The Awakening. I hope they utilize this space as a place to develop friendships, mend hurt places, renew and relax, and allow us to get to know them. (This is also our first customer base—so I will be down there encouraging the come upstairs and buy things to take home!!!)

The store and coffee shop will be open to the public as well. Our opening is next Saturday, the 15th, and we will have live music and festivities. We are inviting anyone and everyone to come, and hopefully those who come will begin to spread the word. My head, even now, is bursting with ideas and vision for both spaces. Everyone here seems to be excited about it as well—feeling already that these new ministries will greatly add to the existing one at Alabanza.