Motivation Monday

Here is something truly inspirational and will encourage me to look beyond my front door.

Drawn From Water is truly amazing, there mission is to rescue and provide the best possible future for children who have been deemed “mingi” and sentenced to death by their tribes. In rural Africa there are three tribes that practice what is called “mingi”, which loosely translates to mean dirty or unclean. There are many ways in which a child may become “mingi”, but once the label has been placed all children suffer the same fate, they must be killed. For example if a child top teeth grow in before there bottom they are deemed “mingi”. But now there is Draw From Water orphanage who’s mission is to take in the children who have been deemed “mingi” and to educate the tribes that these children are a blessing and not a curse. In the three tribes, which practice “mingi”, there are a total of roughly 130,000 people living in hundreds of villages spanning an area totaling hundreds of square miles. It is estimated that more than 1000 children are killed each year because they were “mingi”

Grab a box of tissues and watch this video to learn more about the organization.

"It Began with Bale" from Drawn From Water on Vimeo.

I hope this video blesses you, encourage you to look beyond your front door, and have compassion for children and humanity all over the world. Because it only took a few people to start this organization, it took only one leap of faith and took only one person to say “I think I can do this, I have a chance to make a difference, I have to try.” So whether it be small acts of kindness, helping you community or support organizations like this I hope you give it some thought. I believe it will make an even larger difference in your own life.

Support Letter

I have posted a lot about the support I need to get back to Kenya. So I thought I would post my support letter that talks more about the ministry of Amani Ya Juu and exactly what I need to get back. If you know anyone who would be interested in supporting me please send them here!

Here you go:

If you can' read it here is what it says:


Hello,

God has blessed me with the most unique and amazing opportunity, and I am coming to you for support. I just recently returned from a short trip to Kenya to be a part of Amani Ya Juu (amaniafrica.org) and can’t wait to return for a longer stay. This wonderful organization is a sewing-marketing-training project for marginalized women in Africa. Amani aims to sow seeds of peace in the hearts of the women as they grow in community and in their faith together. Over 500 different products are made at Amani ranging from colorful women’s bags and clothes to soft toys. Amani is a self-sustaining project through the sales of products sold in Africa, and by volunteers throughout the US. Each sale of a product provides marginalized women a chance to sustain a consistent income, and sustains the growth and development of the centers in Africa. Amani is based out of Kenya with sister centers in Rwanda and Burundi.

I want to tell you a little more about the women at Amani. The first word that comes to mind when I think about all the ladies is Love. You can feel the warmth and love the second you first walk through the doors of Amani. I have yet to learn the stories of all the women at Amani, but those I have heard are heart-wrenching. Some have escaped the genocide in Rwanda with only their children, left to find a way to survive for themselves. Some have grown up and lived in the surrounding slums all their life, and only have a small shack to call their home. Others have come from Sudan, Uganda, and other African countries to escape the wars. All of these women have had great obstacles, yet all of them are so full of the Love of God and the Joy that He brings.

God has really shown me that this is where He is placing me, and I am anxious to return to Africa to use the talents, knowledge, and desires that He has given me, to help make a difference in the lives of these amazing women. The journeys that they have been, through the war torn countries of Africa to this place of peace, and the stories they have shared have convinced me that I have been made for such a time as this. As a fashion designer, I can take the pattern making, designing, sewing and tailoring skills that I have acquired and use them to bless and teach the women of this organization.

My return trip to Kenya, with trips to the other centers, and the year long stay will cost around $22,400. And as this is strictly missionary work, I will be funding the trip myself. There are a few ways you can support me and/or the women of Amani. First is through monthly monetary support, a one time donation, or as a partner in prayer with me. If you are interested in helping Amani as an organization, you can go on their website and sign up to be a US volunteer and host your own Amani Ya Juu party! The money from your party will go directly to these wonderful women. I know that this is God’s plan for my life, and I am so excited to see what lies ahead. I would be blessed if you would partner with me in this adventure, and I know that God will bless you in return. If you want to hear more as I continue with my journey, please visit my website http://www.hannahlenore.com/.

God Bless,

Hannah Sanford

You can donate to me through Amani Foundation by sending a check to the address below and write in the memo: Hannah Sanford Support Raising

Amani Foundation, Inc
PO Box 28133
Chattanooga, TN 37424-8133

Or visit my blog (hannahlenore.com) and click on the donate button on the right hand side.

Give me three good reasons?

I was confronted last week with the statement “Give me three GOOD reasons why you want to go to Africa”. I was a little taken aback, and really wanted to give some profound statement. I felt I needed to prove myself and my reasoning. I wanted to just start rambling off every “reason” why I was going. I wanted to name every woman at Amani, tell every story they had. I wanted to tell about my experience visiting the HIV+ women in the slums. I wanted to show every picture of every child who was given this life of poverty and sickness. I wanted to tell all about what God is doing in the lives of these women, how even with these great obstacles they can put one hundred percent faith in Him and know that they will be okay. I wanted to tell how just spending a few hours with them I felt God more than ever, and felt the Peace that Amani brings. I wanted to say how if I am able to do this one little thing, to use this one talent that God has given me to further his kingdom, I am going to! I wanted to list hundreds of “good” reasons of why I want, better yet, why I NEED to go.

Then after giving a few measly reasons, after stumbling over my words, after really not making any sense at all and not getting my point across. Even after mulling it over at home, spending a day trying to come up with the best “three good reasons” it hits me; there is only ONE “good” reason for me to go.

And that is that God is calling me to go. I am to put all my faith in Him and believe that God has a plan for me, and I was made for such a time as this.

I am to believe wholeheartedly this:

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

I have been home for a month now and I am waiting for my time to go back and spend at least a year in Kenya. This waiting will be challenging for me, and I need to stay focused on my support raising. I have an approximation of how much I will need to raise. Total it will be over $22,000 for one year. This includes airfare to my trips to Rwanda, Burundi and Liberia. I have been blessed with a few gigs; I will be doing a wedding dress and a fundraising fashion show in September. But I am also looking for monthly supporters. If you are at all interested and would like more information I would love to chat. If you would like to donate you can send checks to: Amani Foundation. Just Make the checks payable to Amani Foundation and in the memo write that it for Hannah Sanford support raising. Then send the check to.

Amani Foundation, Inc

PO Box 28133

Chattanooga, TN 37424-8133

I want to thank everyone who is supporting and has supported me already. I am so incredibly blessed.

God Bless,

Hannah Lenore

Where did the time go?

Has it really been 3 weeks already? Time has gone by so fast and I am sad to say that I will be leaving Kenya on Friday. Don't get me wrong, I miss my family and friends but there is so much more I want to do here!

I have been patterning like crazy...designing like crazy...training the ladies on basic patterning skills and grading. I have been fitting and resizing...I became the "photographer" for a day. I have been stitching and stitching and stitching...I have been doing everything I love but what has been the greatest is getting to know the women, talking to them laughing with them, hearing there stories and seeing God working in there lives.

I am very blessed to worked closely with Dorcas the past few weeks. Dorcas is in charge of the clothing department at Amani Ya Juu and has done a wonderful job. Together we have created so great items that I hope will be available to the public soon! (there is a glimpse of one of the creations, it is a simple design but the fabric is what makes it, and yes those are chicken...I think I may have to buy it for myself)

I hope to write more about the women's lives and all my experiences but they will have to wait for now because I have SO much to do!

Well back to work...

P.S. If you are wondering when I am planning to return to Kenya the answer is as soon as I get support funding. I am praying that it will be soon (a few months maybe?)

My mom told me If its Gods will then its Gods bill : )

Also, again thank you to everyone who has supported me for this short trip! you are a blessing.

Amani Ya Juu

God has blessed me with the most unique and amazing opportunity As you may know I recently graduated with two degrees in Fashion Designs and merchandising. As of two months ago I planned on packing my bags and moving to New York City to pursue a life in the fashion industry. However, God had much different and completely amazing plans in mind for me, in just a few short weeks I will be traveling to Kenya to be a part of Amani Ya Juu. I was given the opportunity to work as a missionary in Africa where I will be teaching women how to sew. But Kenya is just the first step on my new life journey, eventually I will be moving to Liberia to be a central person in this organization. Isn’t God creative?



The organization is a sewing-marketing-training project for marginalized women in Africa. Amani aims to sow seeds of peace in the hearts of the women as they grow in community and in their faith together. Over 500 different products are made at Amani ranging from colorful women’s bags to soft toys to clothing. Amani is a self-sustaining project through the sales of products sold in Africa and by volunteers throughout the US. Each sale of a product provides marginalized women a chance to sustain a consistent income and sustains the growth and development of the centers in Africa.
Amani is based out of Kenya with sister centers in Rwanda and Burundi. They are currently opening a new center in Liberia and that’s where I come in. They need someone to spearhead the project who has patternmaking and tailoring skills. When I was first told this I thought, “No way will I be able to do this, I am not skilled enough!” But God has really shown me that this is where he is placing me, and that I can in fact be the person need and make a difference in these women’s lifes (with His help that is).



Things are moving pretty quickly now, and they want me to go to Kenya the end of this month. I will be leaving May 24th for a short 4 week trip. There I will meet all the wonderful Amani Women and will be helping redesign the 2011 collections. Once I am there we will discuss a more permanent stay in Liberia. My first trip to Kenya alone will cost around $4,000, and since this is strictly mission work, I will be funding myself completely. I need your support, either through monetary funding or prayers. I know that this is God’s plan for my life, and I am so excited to see where it goes.




I will be blogging my journey so stay tuned.

God Bless.