Spring 2018 Newsletter

Through the efforts of Widow’s Might and approximately three hundred “Good Samaritans”, individuals and churches, who have prayerfully seeded into this ministry, the 2017 mission trip to Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria was successfully completed. We are excited to announce that progress is continuing to advance on the building of the Skills Acquisition Center. Laborers are currently completing the screeding of the cinderblock walls. This process is laborious, combining five ingredients in a concrete compound used to seal the inner and outer walls, so that the harsh sun and humidity will not disintegrate this structure. The reception area has been completed with screeding and is waiting to be painted. When the final five rooms are screeded, both levels of the inside will be ready for paint.

Two guard houses protect the front and the southern border of the property.

The Struggles

On the south end of the property, just outside the gates, a private school operates five days a week. The owner of the school approached Tony with the following comments. “ I have seen pastors with faith, but I’ve not seen your type of faith. I thought you were crazy when I saw you building the foundation. If I had known your people, I would have called them and told them to stop you from wasting time and money.  Now, I am amazed at the structure and excited to have the Widows’ Center as a neighbor.” 

The personal costs to Tony and his family have been high. 

Tony rises early to go to the project. Hephzibah tells him he needs to rest and go later, but he says, “Mama and Papa have gone about raising money and they have been trusted. If anything happens and the money is not used as intended, God will not be happy, and I could not sleep.”  People think that the Agwaniru family has lots of money. Yet, many times they have gone without food in their home. They have sacrificed personally while maintaining great integrity with God.  Fellow pastors have spoken against Tony because he will not share the funds he gets from Widow’s Might Ministry. 

Planned Usage for Level One

As the widows enter the center, they will register at the reception area just behind the main entry on the first level. A manager’s office with a waiting room is on this level just to the left of the reception area. Two other rooms house emergency first aid and legal services. Training to manufacture soaps, perfumes and hair creams will be conducted in two additional rooms on this floor. Air extraction and air conditioning are necessary to protect the women’s respiratory systems. The Nigerian government must issue a national drug number to permit the Center to produce and sell these products. Culinary Arts will be taught in three of the large class rooms. The Hair Salon will be outfitted with sinks, dryers, chairs for manicures, pedicures, and for braiding. A break room is also found on this level.

Planned Usage for Level Two

Fashion and Design will occupy the greatest amount of space on the second level. A cutting room will be adjacent to the design machines room. Located across the hallway are sewing machines, button machines and folding tables. Classes in machine maintenance will also be offered in that area of the building. The second floor will house a computer lab where the widows will become proficient in I.T. The lecture hall along with smaller classrooms are available for training.

Additional Information

This facility has two septic systems. Four bathrooms are located on each end of the structure on both levels. One wash bowl is available between the two sets of toilets at each location, thus yielding sixteen bathrooms and four wash basins.

Two stairwells in the front of the building allow for entrance and exit to the upper reception room. Both the stairwells and the reception room will be guarded and only registered participants will be allowed to enter the second level. An additional gated exit is available through the break room on this same level.

The building is up!  The next step is to fill it with equipment!

Pictured here are samples of the types of equipment that will be used in the fashion and design center. Notice that these are treadle sewing machines. This style was chosen because of the lack of electricity available to the widows in their villages. As they train on these machines, they will be able to prosper in their home environment.

A button hole machine and an embroidery machine have been purchased to be used as an income producer at the center. Training on these machines will be available to the widows. One of the classrooms has been designated as a pattern making-cutting room. This will require large tables that will be built in that room.

Unlike America, where clothing patterns can be secured from a dry goods store, Africans use tape measures and draw out patterns according to the individual measurements of their clients. Also, many seamstresses and tailors in Nigeria carry portable machines on their shoulders to repair damaged goods, as well as new merchandise. This is historically reminiscent of the 1800’s and early 1900’s when tinkers traveled from town to town in America with their wares. Business practiced in this manner reflects how this type of commerce is generally conducted in African villages today.

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