There is a new addition to Matara…a baby girl named Irankunda. Her name means ‘God loves me’ and the chosen name reflects her parents’ knowledge that their daughter is cherished by God, being born into a good place and at a good time in their lives. This family is feeling God’s love, and expressed as much in the naming of their little girl.

There are other new things happening in Matara these days. In the last couple of months Donatien, our micro-finance trainer, has offered training sessions on the basic principles of micro-finance. He taught our friends about loans and repayment, investment in local enterprises and income-generating ventures to help earn money for their families. As of today, twenty individuals have been certified to participate in this in-house program.

This group is the first within Matara to attempt to start their own businesses. They have each qualified for a $50 loan to start something and learn how to run a successful business. Ten of the group members decided to begin making charcoal to sell to local communities. Some are buying beans, a staple for the local diet, and trying to sell in the nearby marketplace. One man is doing shoe repair. Others are providing wood for construction sites in the vicinity. For all of them, creating and running a business is a new thing. So learning by trial and error is to be expected during this initial season of the micro-finance project.

Donatien has noticed that while the business people were initially a bit shy to ask for his help, as the weeks progress they are seeing his value as a business counsellor and resource for them as they develop a new set of skills. Now he regularly meets with these friends to offer advice, help them think through rudimentary business strategy and related matters. He is pleased to report that 100% of the new business people are repaying their loans on time! Donatien, as a member of the CFB staff, is in Matara 5 days a week. His constant presence helps the participants to learn, offering daily accountability and daily access to advice. So far, it seems the friends in Matara are learning about the basics of business and enjoying the challenges of entrepreneurship!

So babies continue to be born… as well as a new crop of business people!

Well, it is a long overdue update, I realize. But I am happy to report that life is happening at a good pace and there is a routine developing in Matara. Life is a wonderful type of ‘new normal’ – including kids walking to school every morning, some going to the river to get fresh water for cooking and cleaning, others going to the fields to cultivate crops and regular community gathering in the make-shift public meeting room they constructed. All of these ‘normal’ elements would have been unheard of and even unimaginable just a year ago – these families had no reason to hope for such a reversal. And yet, God does just that, reverses fortunes in favor of the marginalized. Now instead of being on the verge of survival, these families are at the core of a thriving young community! God is good, indeed!

Recently Matara residents held an election. They elected their second set of community leaders. We are pleased to report that there has been a peaceful transition of leadership! Now there will be new voices steering the community and working with CFB staff, more learning to lead and serving their neighbors for the next season of Matara life.

The students at the student house are also well. They are amid their second term, working hard at their studies. After term one, we noticed that many of the students brought home higher marks that ever before! Their hard work is paying off! A great number of students are on track to pass the term. We have every reason to be proud of their efforts and achievements! However, we do have some students who continue to struggle in the classroom. Please keep them in your prayers, that their diligent work will reap academic benefits.

Life is good, thanks to the goodness of our God who showers His people with blessings. Please pray for God’s continued presence amid the families and students. Please pray for on-going wisdom and energy for the CFB staff who work alongside these friends in selfless ways.