Beautiful jewelry made from fair-trade beads and Kenya silver, baskets of dolls made from dark fabric, and photos of beautiful happy African children adorned a display at the Corvallis Christmas Bazaar on Saturday, November 28th.
The jewelry business started by Brian and Debbie Lee is of dual purpose. First off, you'll look marvelous in this fabulous jewelry, designed by Coleen Brigs the couple's artist friend in Colorado, and secondly, children in two foster homes in Africa have love, security and opportunity.
"It's been an amazing thing. It is good fundraiser but also a platform for a way to tell the story. To tell what God is doing in the lives of these children," said Brian Lee, "It is an amazing story."
Although they work with Intervarsity (a faith-based ministry on the UM campus), this couple is sponsoring these foster homes on their own. They sell jewelry in the states and travel to Africa for seven weeks each summer to visit the homes, spend time with the children, and help with maintenance and outreach.
The Lee family has had an enormous impact on 21 orphans in Kenya, Africa, having built two homes that have foster parents and helpers for the children. With 2,000,000 orphans in Kenya, a country the size of Texas with a total population of 30,000,000 it's hardly a dent in the situation but it means the world to these children.
Brian explained the homes take in babies found wrapped in trash left in garbage cans, AIDS orphans, Mother Teresa Orphanage children, and children who have been neglected or abused.
They may have extended families in the slum area but with poverty conditions they are the lowest rung – a liability. They are ignored, unloved and unwanted. And the foster home is an enormous and positive change in their lives.
"When they come they've never used a utensil or a toilet," explained Debbie. "They've never seen running water. When they're given food they run to a corner and pack it in. They have no idea when they'll get food again. A couple of years later you'd never know their background. It's an amazing transformation."
Their business card reads: "As you adorn yourself with this jewelry, you are adorning a child with hope and love. Half of Pamba Toto's profits help to support Sanctuary of Hope, a children's home for orphans in Nairobi, Kenya, Africa."
The Lee's will be at the Holiday Art Fair at the University Center, on the campus of the University of Montana from December 3-5.
Find out more by clicking here.
- Michelle McConnaha reporting for kpax.com
