Paper Making and Enshima

It's been a week since we updated the blog and so much has happened. Internet here is a scarce commodity otherwise we would have updated the blog every day.

Last Tuesday and Wednesday the business students and J-Lynn traveled out to Simaubi, a collection of tribal villages that are located two hours into the bush. There we met with community leaders, shared enshima, and lived in mud huts with the locals. Our purpose in being there was to get to know the people and learn from the business experience and knowledge they have. Most of the people are subsistence farmers who, with a bad rainy season, are struggling to get by. However, this hasn't appeared to affect their generosity and hospitality.
We met with 50 people from the community to learn from them what they want and need to learn about business in order to improve their well being. They were all extremely interested in everything we had to say.
We spent the weekend preparing lesson plans in anticipation for our return to the village tomorrow. Shannon and I will be teaching the people about basic business and marketing skills, while Matt will be introducing them to record keeping and accounting skills. We think that one of the concepts that will be most beneficial for them is the idea of profits.

The art department has also had a fantastic week working on the hand made paper project. They are working with 10 people who are "living positively with HIV and AIDS" on a small business that will help the people support themselves. The group has come together quite nicely and is diligently learning the skills of paper making and tie-dying in hopes of selling their products to tourists through the country. They just finished the first products which look great!

Our week has been busy but God has been showing himself faithful by giving us plenty of energy and encouragement. The people here are kind and sweet and have made our work thoroughly enjoyable.

Chris