Week 7 Part 1: Inspired by Jesus' Encouragements (March 31)

TESTIMONY OF ADOLPHINE MIRUHO

Born and raised in Bukavu, Adolphine had known nothing besides poverty and life in a slum. Three of her seven children attended the ELI Academy and received scholarships because Adolphine and her husband failed at every business they tried to do. She believed the only thing she was good at was losing money.

A sense of resignation settled over Adolphine’s family as they believed they could not overcome their poverty and build a different life for themselves. Instead of trying to make money, they (ashamedly) relied on local aid to sustain their family. Day by day their dignity was being eroded. This once loving mom and dad found themselves fighting with each other constantly. They stopped believing in God because there was no evidence of His goodness, care, or provision in their lives.

Despite problems at home, Adolphine’s caring nature shone brightly as she vocalized the desire to empower her children to the staff and social workers of the ELI Academy. They recognized her passion and saw potential in her. They believed if she had skills to help her earn income she could become a leader in the community.

So Adolphine was enrolled in the newly launched parent training program, and what happened next surprised her. Instead of beginning with business trainings, the group first unpacked what poverty is. They examined the connections between spiritual, emotional, social, and physical poverty, which helped her better understand what played into her own belief that her life would never improve. This reflection process alone immediately changed the lives of Adolphine and her family for the better! From learning how to recognize God as well as the enemy, they now encounter God in their everyday lives. As Adolphine testifies, “We have experienced an unimaginable spiritual growth in our lives; we live in peace in my home now!”

Understanding the root causes of poverty then laid the groundwork for receiving business training. Adolphine and the other parents began to grasp why their previous businesses hadn’t succeeded. They also learned essential skills so their new businesses could make a profit and provide for their families.

Equipped with invigorated mindsets and reliable skills, the parents were given the challenge of starting new businesses with only $10. Encouraged as they were, this task still seemed impossible, but they committed to try. Through the practical training they received, Adolphine began noticing new opportunities; the most promising of these that could be started with only $10 was selling unique types of women's clothing that were not often available in the slum.

The demand for this clothing became immediately evident, and Adolphine’s business has already started to grow! After less than a month, she was able to expand to selling shoes too. She is now looking to include handbags for women and girls, as well as higher-end work shoes.

Adolphine is learning that slow and steady growth will produce great success in the end. “My business is already growing little by little. With each day of sales, I expand the business little bit by little bit. I am not stressing over the money to add on because I know over time the profits I save in my business will help me grow big.”

She has also found that having a healthy relationship with her husband makes the biggest difference. In her opinion if the training had started with only business topics, it would not have been successful. Her business can only grow if she and her husband are unified in how to handle their finances. And they finally are! Together they have plans to grow their business and bless others as they’ve been blessed. 

Because of the miraculous turnaround in her own life, Adolphine plans to train other moms in the slum to start similar businesses. Adolphine shares enthusiastically:

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• How has God loved you well recently? How can this love fuel your love for others even while you're struggling?
   
• When you're under pressure or feeling stressed, do you give other people your very best? How could you better love and serve them, even while you're struggling?

• Who is one person you can empower through your service today?

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