Show Notes
Becky Chinchen, the executive director of Amani, tells host Kristy Graham about Amani's background and how she founded it to give refugees fleeing warring countries around Kenya a place to belong and have a family—no matter what tribe they came from. It is a space for women to heal, hear about Jesus, and learn new skills or hone existing ones.
“We don't have to be opposed to other tribes, other communities, because through Jesus Christ, we can learn to forgive and to love again.” – Becky Chinchen
Before getting to work, the women start their day at Amani with praise. They gather in the chapel, sing worship songs, and join in prayer together. Becky showed Kristy the workshop where women—in assembly style production—create the 900 different textile pieces. Each woman creates a different part of the product. Kristy also got to dye fabrics with the participants.
Kristy’s favorite part about her time at Amani was getting to sit down with the women and hear their stories. One of those women is Ingrid, who fled Rwanda during the war and went on to live in a refugee camp in the Democratic Republic of Congo for several years. Years later, she found Amani and discovered that she could have a relationship with Jesus.
“I can say that Jesus is enough for me. Because I just surrender everything to Jesus—my tears, my situation, my pain.” – Ingrid
One night, Kristy went back to Amani for dinner and a fashion show. But this wasn't just any fashion show—it was an opportunity for the women to look back, remembering their pain and brokenness, but also celebrate the healing they have experienced as they look toward the future. The program tells the story of the journey every woman experiences at Amani, and God's transforming power is displayed.
“And so, these are the garments that they wear. And each garment tells part of the story, the story of our transformation, what God does in us. So, we have three parts: brokenness, transformation, and celebration.” – Becky Chinchen
Kristy also spoke with Cathie Burke, who has seen Amani from its inception and served alongside Becky for nearly three decades. Cathie shared what the Amani women have taught her over the years, like what it looks like to live life day by day, moment by moment.
“I just assumed the missionary was the one to help. And I wasn't here but a few days and I realized, no, I need help from these women. I need to be more humble. I need to be more grateful for what I have. I need to see Jesus in every single step, in every single need.” – Cathie Burke
If you’d like to keep up to date with more stories from On the Ground, please visit SamaritansPurse.org.
Amani ya Juu gives women a fresh start, equipping them by teaching skills like stitching to give them an income, and most importantly, point them to Christ. Take a tour with Kristy Graham through Amani ya Juu headquarters in Kenya, where you will get to meet women whose lives were changed through the program. Every single woman at Amani has had to flee something: poverty, war, loneliness, abuse, rejection, and they have all been transformed through Jesus Christ.
Resources
· Learn more about Amani ya Juu.
· Listen to “Giving Back Smiles, Sharing God’s Love” to hear from patients whose lives were changed after receiving oral and spiritual care from our World Medical Mission dental team.