Widow's Ministry

Pastor Daniel Delma and his wife, Elizabeth, have a burden for the widows of Burkina Faso.  When a women in their culture loses her husband she either has to marry a brother, who may already have a wife, or she is on her own.  She must support herself in any way she can.  Some may have one or more children to have to feed. 

Pastor Daniel and Elizabeth began to offer food to them.  One sack or bowl of grain may last a family of four up to one month, if they have only one meal a day.  They also began to teach them a trade to be able to support themselves.  They now have several weaving looms. Elizabeth, with the help of other women in the church, teach the widows how to weave.  They get the thread and dye it themselves. The Delmas, with donations from their church and several in the U.S., were able to build a shelter where they can house up to 6 widows with their children.  The widows may stay for up to 3 years while they learn a trade.  Some of these women may not be Christians.  They may be Muslim.  Through the example of God's love towards them, through the Delmas and other women in their church, they are converted to Christianity.  When a widow leaves the shelter, the Delmas would like to be able to give them their own loom with which they may support themselves. Each loom costs about $250.

The widows now have a "Boutique".  It is located on a corner of the church property where they get a lot of traffic.  The women will be able to display their fabric and offer it for sale which will also help to finance this ministry.  The Boutique is still under construction and needs windows and doors.  

Donkeys with carts are another source of income for the widows.  When the Delmas are able to purchase a donkey cart, four women are assigned to it.  With this cart they are able to secure a contract through the city or privately to collect trash.  Each donkey costs about $200 and will only live from 2 - 3 years.  The carts are another $200.  

Pastor Daniel & Elizabeth were recently given some property outside the town of Ougadougou in the Bouzule' area.  So far they have already installed a well for water.  Their vision for this area is to have another place for widows and in addition they would also provide housing to orphaned young men to keep them off the streets and out of trouble.  There would be an area for the young men to farm the land to feed and support themselves and the ministry.  The widows could also have the donkey carts in this area and hopefully get contracts to collect trash here also.  They would also be taught to weave.  Please keep this new vision in your prayers. 

The women being helped by this women's ministry have asked to keep them prayer.  It is very hard for a women alone anywhere, but especially in Ouagadougou.  The women have asked that we pray for them and their children to have a strong and consistent walk with the Lord.  There are many distractions in a large city to pull their focus off of Him.