Written by: Allie McLaughlin
Imagine this: You’re a mom of three, ages 8, 5 and 2, and the daughter of elderly parents. You need to provide for your family financially but you long to pour into your children both spiritually and to give them a quality education. Currently, your kids attend the public school where they are in classes of fifty plus students assigned to one teacher. Supplies are scarce and they must share textbooks. Oftentimes you get there only to find out the teacher has not shown up and your child won’t receive instruction that day.
After traveling to drop your children off at school, you begin the walk to your job with your toddler in tow. It’s been difficult to find work where you can bring her along safely. The days are long and you hope that your children are receiving a good education but you aren’t sure they are learning much in the school they attend. After a long day of working and traveling, you have little energy left to invest in them spiritually. You feel guilty you aren’t able to be as present as you wish with them.
You desire an opportunity for a change. You pray that there might be something different for you and your children.
Enter a job at Francis + Benedict. You’ve just been hired as a seamstress and been told your children’s private school tuition will be paid for as part of your employment. There’s a sponsor in the U.S. who prays for them and corresponds via letters and emails, rooting for them and your family. Their school is just a few blocks from the House of Peace where you will be working, the class sizes are much smaller, and the teachers show up consistently. You’ve been given a motor bike so your commute to work has been cut to a fraction of the time. After dropping your older kids off at school, you travel the few blocks to the House of Peace and work with your toddler on your back or pass her around to the other mamas you work alongside with. Your mind is at ease as you begin your work day and are able to earn a generous wage to provide for your family. Not only that, but all three of your children are being set up for the future as they receive a quality and consistent education. Your days are lighter and filled with hope as you’re surrounded by other women who love the Lord and desire to honor Him in their motherhood and in their work. Pastor Francis and his wife Benedict Avoyi pray daily with and for you and you know you have a global family of supporters who are cheering you on from the U.S. You’ve found a family-not mere coworkers-that will be with you for the long haul.
When our seamstresses come to work at Francis + Benedict, they get more than a job. They join a spiritual family. They gain hope for their children. They encourage one another and the global family of F+B supporters in the U.S. And when we partner with F+B we get more than a good feeling from giving. We see life change in Togo and in our own hearts as we watch how God chooses to work through us, His bride, the church.
Would you consider becoming a monthly mission partner and giving $15, $25, or $50 a month so that our seamstresses and apprentices can continue in this life changing work?
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