A few snapshots behind the why of Imani Design

It all began because of LOVE. I fell in love with these precious people in Africa and life has not been the same since. It was upon my return from our first trip that God told me to step out in faith. "Imani" - Faith in swahili. Somehow God was going to use the gifts He had given me to accomplish His will in my life and the life of others. My job was simple and complex all in one move - to step forward in FAITH.

So, I thought I would share a couple pictures that warm my heart. They are precious reminders for me to keep stepping forward in faith step by step!

ALL Aboard...Next Stop Africa: mission trips & online store

First of all we would like to say a HUGE...

{source: imagine foundation}

for the AMAZING support we received over the weekend. We were completely blown away by all of the enthusiastic and heart felt customers we met. You ladies ROCK!

Several of you were very interested in future involvement. Many were wondering about purchasing more jewelry on an online store. Great news! We have found a site that will fit the bill for us and it will be up and running shortly. 

The other common question was - how do I sign up to go? Oh how this makes me leap with joy! We LOVE to meet people who are being called to GO! So for those of you who asked, I am staying true to my word and posting the next steps here for you. It is most likely CTK will have two trips heading out this summer:  One to Arusha, Tanzania and the other team is the one my husband and I lead to Nairobi, Kenya. The information meetings and training meetings will be posted on the CTK Missions Community Page. There is also a separate page for CTK Kenya Mission trips and Tanzania as well. 

Again let us give a great big SHOUT OUT to all of  you who stopped by and supported what we are doing. We are so, so, so very thankful for each and every one of you!

Africa Shirts & Bags 4) Sale

This shirt was designed and created for a fundraiser towards our Mission Trips to Africa. It is a nice quality, pre-shrunk cotton shirt. Unisex in sizing. 

The shirts are digitally printed and really wash & wear nicely. 

Front of Shirt: "Heart graphic - One Another" with Africa.

Back of Shirt: 

"Love one another as I have loved you" John 13:34 is screen printed on the upper back of the shirt 

If you care about:

• PEOPLE
• LOVING OTHERS
• & AFRICA

then this shirt will be a great fit for you. Made out of a great quality pre-washed cotton. Right now we have small and medium in stock. We are happy to get another batch printed up if enough peeps show interest.  We also have several other products that represent things we love:

$15 
Custom Designed Shirt
by Imani Design

This aqua colored shirt was designed and created for a fundraiser towards one of our Mission Trips to Africa. It is a 100% cotton shirt. Women's sizing. Shirts are a lighter weight cotton then our Black Africa Shirts.  ***We also have some Children's sizes

Custom shirts are screen printed with quotes by Mother Teresa fit into the continent of Africa:
"We cannot do great things on this earth, only small things with great love. If you can't feed one hundred people, just feed one. Love is a fruit in season at all times, and within reach of every hand. Spread love everywhere you go. Intense love does not measure, it just gives."-Mother Teresa

Across the other side of the shirt is a 4 Africa logo.

Right now these shirts and bags are available in my ETSY STORE ! So easy to pick one up quick!

Hope can RISE in the Kibera Slum - Nairobi, Kenya

As we are forming our team to head to the Kibera Slum in Nairobi Kenya, this summer of 2012 I find myself once again clouded with memories: smells, sights and sounds from my trips past. Often these memories are so deep in the recesses of my mind I have to soak a bit to draw them out. Somehow the busyness of our culture frequently has me preoccupied with my L O N G list of to-do's. Yet this week I can scarcely keep my mind focused on any given task on my list of all I need to accomplish. I keep finding my chest heaving and my eyes leaking as the memories are so vivid to me. It isn't one trip that is standing out either but a collection of the three trips we have taken there. 

As I have been sauntering through the old pictures I have gathered images that I think will touch your heart as well. This boy in the pic above was SO precious. This shot seems to capture what I think every child in the slum is forced to live with:  "Be brave, be tough, stand strong...don't let 'em see ya weep". Yet there is an unspoken silent prayer that cries out from inside of each one of them. Help me...PLEASE...HELP ME!!!

The slum is not pretty, it is not healthy, it is not hopeful. I believe it can feel claustrophobic, limiting, debilitating:  H O P E L E S S.

Yet HOPE can rise in a dry and weary land. It is as close as one person making one decision. Whether that is a decision to go or a decision to help, it is still only one decision to be made. 

The need is SO GREAT there. Picture a 10 mile square with 1 to 2 million people. Imagine no running water, no clean water. Imagine generations knowing nothing different. This is the Kibera Slum. Yet... we have found a way to help. We have joined hands with a local couple who work every day in the slum. They run a school in the middle of it: Saviour King Academy by Garden of Eden.  They provide education, meals, prayer and H O P E. It is a joy to work alongside them.

Our family tries to offer SEVERAL ways for people to be informed of the needs. We try to provide many opportunities for people to find ways to give, to help support. Imani Design is one of those ways.  I have created MANY jewelry designs with beads from Kenya (which are on sale at etsy), we have bags made from fabric we purchased there. There is also opportunity for those that want to contribute to the trip directly without purchasing a product. AND OF COURSE you can always join us on one of our trips.

You can browse through here and see some of the items we have for sale. We will continue to add more as well. Sign up to follow this blog and you will receive updates as we add them.

Remember it is as simple as one choice. Together we can make a difference.

 Psalm 63:1-8

¹ O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;
   my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
   as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
² So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
   beholding your power and glory.
³ Because your steadfast love is better than life,
   my lips will praise you.
⁴ So I will bless you as long as I live;
   in your name I will lift up my hands.

 ⁵ My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,
   and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,
⁶ when I remember you upon my bed,
   and meditate on you in the watches of the night;
⁷ for you have been my help,
   and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.
⁸ My soul clings to you;
   your right hand upholds me

We usually give them rice and beans when we visit.

The school is PACKED.

Introducing Awana Games to them for the first time in 2008.

Team that returned in 2009