Asante Sana, Amani Kenya.

I had such a blessed time during my stay in Kenya. The two and half months flew by. Amani Kenya is such a special place, so full of love and peace. I stayed very busy between design meetings, clothing designing, construction training, chatting with the Amani ladies and enjoying all their company!

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.

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.

...And it was good.

And God said, "Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind." And it was so. God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kind, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:24-25

Yesterday I went on a Safari at the Nairobi National Park. It was amazing to see all the animal in the wild. God truly is the master artist!

My favorite are of course the Giraffes. They are beautiful and amazing creatures!

Me and Ruth in the van (I was so excited when I realized that the top opened up and we could stand!)

There were only a few times we were able to get out. This look out was incredible!
We saw so many different animals...many of which I couldn't photograph because they wouldn't turn out.

Here is the whole gang for the day

Me...Betty...Ruth...Fred

The Zebra were fascinating!

Here are the rest of the pictures of the animals I could actually get a good photo of...isn't the baby Rock Hyrax so cute!

Asante Sana Nairobi National Park!

Bwana Asifiwe

Bwana Asifiwe: Prise the Lord!

I still can't believe that only two months ago I had every intention to move to New York and now I am in Africa. I could have easily seen my denial letter from the school I so wanted to go to as a reason not to pursue my fashion career and get down on myself, but instead I listened to God and sought out my desire to do missionary work in Africa. And what do you know...That was exactly what he had planned all along...I praise the Lord for Amani ya Juu!

"I Know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Jeremiah 29:11

I wanted to share a little more of where I work everyday. I am so blessed that I get to work up on the floor where most of the productions takes place. I love working with these ladies and hear there stories. Every morning one of the ladies leads Prayer. We pray for anyone that had pray requests and give thanksgiving to the Lord. The women are so passionate about God. They are inspiring!

Then its off to work, we have quilters (which is amazing to watch! I don't have the patience for that) Some are working on the Amani bags, others are working on the clothing line or the house ware. Each lady plays a very important role at Amani!

Here I am below working on patterns! There is a lot left to do to make the existing collection work. There are fitting issues that I am working on and we need a few more key items to design. Please keep me in your prayers that I will have the knowledge to design and finish all that needs to be done before I leave.

Here is another thing that I find so unique at Amani. Not only is all the fabric bought in different countries in Africa, they all have there own tie dying and SILK SCREENING! they do it all here. It is so amazing to watch and the fabric is so beautiful. They do other things like stamping the fabric (I don't know the correct term for that.) All the textiles are beautiful and really makes an Amani product one of a kind! I cant wait to own everything from here!

So that is some of the things I see up on the production floor.

Today I attended the afternoon Devotional. It was wonderful hearing the Word of God and to share that with these women. I am learning so much from them!

Well I am off to bed because...I'm going on a SAFARI tomorrow!!!

"God does not demand us to be successful but to be faithful."- Mother Teresa

My Backyard...for now

This is what I came home to today! Isn't that amazing!

Oh and I can't wait to try one of these Treadle Sewing Machine!


I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength: Philippians 4:13

First few days in Kenya

I am so blessed to be here in Nairobi, Kenya among all these amazing people. I am falling in love with the country and the people and I can feel my relationship with Jesus grow stronger and stronger each day.

I have worked 2 days at Amani Ya Juu (the third day I was home in bed with a stomach flu...I feel much better today). Amani is more amazing than I though. They do so much for the women and their families. I am so honored to work with them!

I have been working on the collection; there are some fitting issues that I will be able to tweak and some designing to do. But overall everything is beautiful made. I urge you to check out Amani Ya Juu's website and buy some of the home furnishing, bags and quilts...Even sign up to be a US volunteer and sell the Amani good to family and friends. What I was most excited to see is the women tie dying and making most of the prints on the fabric themselves. The photo below is where all the fabric dying is taken place.

I work up on the floor where all the sewing and quilting is done. It is so exciting to working up there...Listening to the women sing in Swahili, talk and laugh. Most of these women are refugees from surrounding countries and they find peace and hope when they come to work at Amani. Here are some pictures of the work area.

There are also a few beautiful women who prepare food everyday for the workers. Below are some photos at lunch time.

I am blessed to stay with one of the ladies Ruth, she lives on the boarder of the Nairobi National Park. Aren't you jealous that I get to wake up to this for the next few week!

Oh and this morning when I was enjoying the sunrise I could have sworn I heard a Lion...Its what the Lions at the zoo sound like and I heard it like 5 times...but who knows. I will try and find out later what it was. Oh and on the animal topic...everyday to work I see a whole bunch of baboons on the side of the road! They are so cute/funny looking!

I will post more pictures, I am off to go on a tour of a Tea Plantations...I hear it is beautiful...but im not surprised...everything is here.

I will leave you with this bible verse which was the first one I read when i arrived here...It has help me tremendously.

"I ask-ask the God our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory-to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the eimmensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers, Oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him-endless energy, boundless strenth!" -Ephesians 1:17-19