Stepping Out...

Sent May 2008...

Dear Friends,

In my previous letter, I shared some of the journey I am embarking on with Amani ya Juu. I’ve heard from many of you who share my excitement for this adventure. Thank you! Your responses have been such an encouragement to me.

I hope you have seen that I am committed to respectfully and genuinely sharing this journey with you as it develops, trusting that God is working in and through Amani. I believe that Amani’s work Stateside presents a unique, cutting-edge opportunity for supporters to empower an African organization for ministry in the US. I am writing this letter to ask if you would join me in this journey and consider financially supporting me as I come on staff.

Although Amani started as a small stitching project in Nairobi, today its presence extends across Africa and throughout the United States. As our US presence has increased through sales, Amani has remained committed to developing its US outreach to accompany the growth. In my new position, I will focus on developing this growing outreach in DC through an Amani center—a boutique and café where Amani’s African products will be sold and people can come together to share work and life.

As an African-based organization, all staff members make regular trips to the Amani centers in Africa to stay connected and provide natural ways for the Amani women to pour into us as their emissaries in the US. I am looking forward to spending some extended time at the African centers in 2009 as a part of my training and mentoring from the Amani women.

Your support will go directly to provide my living expenses as I pursue this work. It will cover my rent, food, car, health insurance, and some ministry expenses such as travel, etc. Since these funds go directly to my monthly living expenses, I would like you to consider supporting me financially on a monthly basis. My current goal is to raise funds amounting in
$2,000 per month by December 2008. As support grows, I will be able to leave my other part-time jobs and devote time to growing Amani’s ministry in DC. For the rest of 2008, I am focusing on becoming financially stable through support-raising. I have time available to talk with you more about this ministry, and will send occasional updates.

Your role is crucial to building the Amani ministry in DC. Many of you have already been supportive of Amani in various ways as it has grown in the DC area over the past few years, and for this we are deeply grateful. Your prayers, friendship, and involvement have and will continue to sustain and grow this ministry. Amani’s DC presence will emerge through a wide
community of people making financial and spiritual contributions—a growing family committed to passing God’s peace to others around them. I invite you to consider partnering with me and the women of Amani to explore this new territory in peace-building.

Please contact me directly if you are interested in supporting my work with Amani at brittany at amaniafrica.org.

I look forward to walking this journey with you.

Na Imani (In Faith),
Brittany

PS: To learn more about Amani ya Juu, visit our website at www.amaniafrica.org.