Rachel's Ministry Updates

December Letter

2008-12-16T12:46:00.000-08:00

Christmas greetings from DC! I pray this letter finds you well during this season of our Lord’s birth.

Ben and I continue to be blessed living in the District. We have been excited to see an Amani storefront space become available for the US office! Last night we unpacked a uhaul with friends, moving the rest of the Amani products into the new space. Friends from church helped to not only drive the items up from NC, but also a small group in the neighborhood helped to unpack it all. This truly is a community effort, and I am honored and blessed by the friends and supporters who are helping to make this new location a home for Amani in DC!

Sankofa US Tour
Let me back up and share a little bit about Sankofa. Ben and I were especially excited to be able to open up our home to the Amani Sankofa team that was touring the US this Fall. The team spent a week in the DC area, and we hosted a big African style banquet in our home. We were maxed out at 30 people, but we had a wonderful time all packed in the kitchen cooking together. Grace made an amazing beef stew, Gladys and Catherine made Chapatti’s, Lucy ugali, Rahab perfected the suma- weeki (greens), and I made an American jumbalia. It was a great time, and we felt like one big family.

Sankofa was wonderful. I was able to travel with the team through four states and be a part of the Sankofa presentations and events. We had many wonderful times of outreach in different homes, offices, groups, and each show shared the message of Christ’s transforming peace to eager audiences. This included a Charlotte audience of over 1,000 people. We were all truly amazed! If you didn’t get a chance to see the Sankofa show, there is a link below to a video of it from Charlotte.

New AmaniDC shop
So Sankofa wrapped up by November 10th. We were able to take a deep breath and a few days off before diving into the next big project. This one though has been a long time coming- opening a US Center in DC! We have dreamed of it for years, have made countless proposals and plans, and this year the details finally came together and we found ourselves in a sound place to plant a new center in DC.

Brittany Noetzel has been helping with the location search since she came on in the beginning of this year. A month ago she walked by a storefront property on Mt. Pleasant St., which is owned and managed by The Community of Christ La Casa church. After looking at the space and talking with the church, we realized it was just a perfect fit. There is room for a storefront (two windows right on a main retail street with foot traffic), an office, and a back-room warehouse. In addition our landlords are wonderful and excited about the mission of Amani, and working with us to reach-out to the DC neighborhood surrounding us. We signed the lease on Monday Dec. 8th, and are currently moving ourselves in.

We are also welcoming Julia Simmerly to the Amani US team to help with the US warehouse which is relocating this month to DC. We are also grateful for the hard work of Arnila Santoso who has been volunteering to help us recruit volunteers for Eastern Market and other DC market opportunities. Countless other volunteers have helped us tremendously this year, especially with Sankofa, and I am thrilled for us to have a space to all share together now.

I want to thank you for your prayers both for me and for Amani in the US. The fact that AmaniDC is opening next month is a true testimony of the Lord’s provision and answer to prayer.

Ben and I pray you have a wonderful Christmas and New Year. Thank you for your tireless support and prayers. You have walked with me along this long road, and I give thanks for you.

With a full and grateful heart,
Rachel

New AmaniDC shop!

2008-12-10T13:10:00.000-08:00

Friends- I'm thrilled to say that we have finally opened up our first storefront, and its here in DC! We are combining the existing US office, with warehouse, as well as a storefront. On Monday we will be moving the warehouse from NC to DC, and begin setting up the new place.

I hope you can come visit us soon! Our new location is 3166 Mt. Pleasant St, NW Washington, DC 20010. Directions are available on or blog, along with more information about the new location. AmaniDC blog.

On the 18th we are having a REALLY informal open house. We'll be going through all the product and setting up, so please come by and see us! There will be a bargain bin, so its perfect for some last minute Christmas gifts.

We are also accepting donations for items we need for the office, warehouse, and shop. Please check out the list on our blog and let us know if you have anything you would like to donate.

Its amazing to see the dreams for an Amani store become a reality. Hope to see you soon!

Sankofa group after the last DC show

2008-11-19T08:01:00.001-08:00

IMG_4497, originally uploaded by jillog.

Here we all are at the end of tour!

Photo courtesy of Jillian Pichocki photogrpahy, www.jillianpichocki.com.

Link to a video the of the Sankofa Fashion Narrative

2008-11-17T08:40:00.000-08:00

Forest Hill Church in Charlotte, NC was wonderful in providing us with a video of Sankofa. Check out the link below! http://foresthill.lightcastmedia.com/console.php?u=3037&c=697757024

After the feast...

2008-10-24T07:11:00.000-07:00

"We were like men who dreamed
Our mouths were filled with laughter
Our tongues with songs of joy
Then it was said among the nations,
'The Lord has done great things for them.'

The Lord has done great things for us.

For those who sow in tears
will reap with songs of joy
He who goes out weeping
carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of Joy
carrying sheaves with him." Psalm 126

Mary Maina shared these words with Amani staff and the Sankofa team as an expression of PRAISE to the Lord for the great things He has done.

As we traveled through Orlando, Dallas, Charlotte, and the DC area, we saw first hand the work of the Lord. Each stop, each speaking engagement, each show, and each host home were filled with the Lord's provision and blessing. The entire trip far exceeded our plans and even vision for Sankofa, but the Lord used Sankofa to bring glory to Himself- "He has done great things for us."

The women of Amani shared their difficult stories with strength, boldness, and dignity. Their stories of pain and injustice also produced thanksgiving and joy in what the Lord has saved them from and given to them.

"The Lord has done great things for us.

For those who sow in tears
will reap with songs of joy
He who goes out weeping
carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of Joy
carrying sheaves with him."

As we prepared for the shows and were overwhelmed by logistics, we sat in awe as each show carried on, and produced a presentation that far excedeeded our expectations- full seats, involved audiences, wonderful lights and sound, and cast and crew enjoying themselves. "The Lord has done great things for us."

We set up the involved stage and boutique each stop, surrounded by boxes of products, hangers, hooks, hours later relieved to see it all set up- we worried about selling enough product or if we had enough of this or that- but at the end of each show we were in awe of the empty tables, cleared racks, and excited faces of our guests. As we packed back up we were thankful for the empty boxes that could be thrown away. And at the end of the tour we praise the Lord for the financial support each sale provided for the women of Amani that far exceeded our expectaions. "The Lord has done great things for us."

In the end we realize how much this was NOT about ourselves, not about how much work we put into it, how far our publicity went, or how high our sales got. This was entirely about how the Lord was going to use it for His own purposes, to bring glory to Himself. "The Lord has done great things for us."

I know that a countless number of lives were touched over the past three weeks- not only ours (the women of Amani ya Juu), but every person we came into contact with. I pray that the Lord reaps the seeds that were sown, and that we will be here to help guide more to know His eternal peace and gift of salvation.

As I come off this mountain, tired in mind and body, I find myself also envigorated by the Spirit. The Lord has great plans for Amani, as He does for each of us in the coming months. He asks that we give ourselves and everything over to Him. Sankofa is a testimony of His care and provision- one that I will carry with me as a reminder of what happens when we place our troubles and concerns at His feet.

Sankofa October 17th

2008-09-05T07:15:00.000-07:00

In less than a month I will be traveling to Orlando, Florida to work alongside the Sankofa team of 10 Amani women traveling from Nairobi to present Sankofa. Sankofa is a fashion narrative that uses the beauty of Amani's fashion and textile to present a three chapter story of Separation, Transformation, and Celebration. The narrative is presented with music, readings, dance, and vibrant costumes depicting the corporate story of finding peace and wholeness through Amani ya Juu.

Sankofa has been put together by the Amani women, and lead by Lynn Windmeyer and Rachael Segrest who have served as missionaries at Amani for the past few years.

I am so excited to see the show first hand as I was not able to go last year to the first Sankofa in Nairobi. I believe the stories and beautiful presentation by the Amani women is a testimony to the Lord's amazing grace and saving power as He transforms us. It will be a powerful experience for all who attend the shows in Orlando, Charlotte, and DC.

I will be traveling with the tour to each state to help represent Amani's ministry programs in the US as well as just helping out where I can. I will be leaving on Oct 3rd, and returning to DC on Oct. 11th, in time for the team to arrive and prepare for the DC show that Friday.

I hope you can join me at the DC Sankofa on Oct 17th. It will start at 8pm at the The Waterford: 6715 Commerce Street, Springfield, VA 22150 32801. You can purchase tickets through the Amani webstore, and please also feel free to call me is you have any questions about it.

Praying that the Lord's peace is embracing each of you!

IBC Coffee, Tea, and Chai!

2008-07-15T12:40:00.000-07:00

Being a part of the IBC Coffee, Tea, and Chai was a true blessing! The fellowship was great, the food was AMAZING, and the messages from Ammani, Patricia, and Bethany were so encouraging. I had a great time with everyone who volunteered to run the Amani marketplace and it looked fabulous. I think the best set up so far!

Thank you to everyone who prayed for the event, and who prayed for me as I prepared to speak. The Lord brought a spirit of calm when it came time for me to speak, and I truly appreciated the opportunity to share about what He has been doing in my life through Amani and relationships with women in my life. I hope it was an encouragement to others!

2008 Reunion in DC

2008-05-13T08:14:00.000-07:00

Photos from our Amani DC meeting a few weeks ago! We had a great time with the Chinchen's and a last minute visit with Amani board members Cathie Burke and Judi Hammer.

April update!

2008-04-16T10:54:00.001-07:00

Dear friends,

It is hard to believe it is already April of '08! Where has the time gone?

Some news on the DC Amani front is that we are now actively planning for the Amani Center in DC! This is a huge step, for a dream that was birthed in 2005. After years of praying, planning, and PRAYING the Lord has begun to give us the first steps and open doors.

You are probably wondering what a DC Center will look like. The desire is to see a boutique and cafe that functions as a sustainable business in the city, and a training program for marginalized women in the district to have a constructive and safe environment to gain life skills in resume building, office, cafe, and boutique work. It will function as a stepping stone for women who have been struggling, and to be given a second chance, and to ultimately bring the Lord's peace to women and families in our own city who need Him, as well as we do. That is the brief synopsis...

In about two weeks Becky Chinchen and her husband will be traveling from Liberia, and we will have the pleasure of meeting with them over the DC plans. It is rare that our offices can meet in person. So we are very excited about this time together.

You'll notice I am saying "we" in reference to the DC office. I have the pleasure of introducing both Debbie as well as Brittany as new Amani staff. Debbie has been working as our Amani US Volunteer Coordinator, and has been doing a fabulous job at scheduling and communicating with the vast amount of Amani volunteers throughout the country who are conducting Amani gatherings and sales in their homes. It is such fun working with Debbie, and seeing her gifts in communication and heart for ministry impact the women she is in consistent communication with.

And Brittany, this has been a long time coming, but Brittany has decided to come on as a full time missionary to help lay the foundation for the DC Amani Center. Once at a full time capacity, Brittany will be involved with a location search for the Center and planning for our ministry program. Please pray for Brittany as she begins this new phase of life as a missionary, both emotionally, spiritually and physically as she begins to raise support.

I will be working alongside both Debbie and Brittany, as well as working in a broader capacity as the US Country Director. It is wonderful to see our US office grow and to be able to work alongside such wonderful women!

A few highlights coming up this year that I ask your prayers for, are the Immanuel Bible Church Women's Tea that I will be speaking at. Amani will also have a market place set up which Debbie is taking charge of, but this time I have been asked to share my story of the Lord's work in my life these past few years with Amani. This is definitely a stretching and challenging request, as I am not crazy about public speaking, but the Lord has used this opportunity as well as the planning meetings with Patricia Croll, Bethany Drum, and Ammani Nagesh to be true moments of spiritual encouragement and growth. The support from Patricia and Bethany, and the collaboration with Ammani, who has a wonderful testimony of the Lord's redemptive work in her life, has been a true blessing. The Tea is on May 18th. Please pray for personal peace the day of, and that the event will be a blessing to the Immanuel community. If you are interested in going to the tea, please contact Immanuel Bible Church's Women's ministry, www.immanuelbible.net/family/women/coffee.php. The tickets are on sale now.

Then this Fall, Sankofa is coming to the US!! Sankofa is the fashion show outreach which happened last year in Nairobi. It was such a success, and the clothes in such demand, that Amani has decided to bring it to the US and tour through 4 states, including DC. The event will be Nov 1st in DC! Details to come!

I pray each of you are well. Thank you for your support and encouragement. It is amazing to see where the Lord has taken us, together, these past few years.

In His service,
Rachel

Elections in Kenya

2008-01-09T08:39:00.000-08:00

As I'm sure you have heard on the news, Kenya has been in turmoil since the presidential elections. There was such a sudden and unexpected explosion of violence, which has taken the country by surprise. Amani was closed for a few days, and is just now getting back on its feet. We are praying that peace will continue so that Kenyans may begin to rebuild and heal from this crisis.

The Amani women have been affected, and many live in the areas where violence was most prevalent. Please be praying for them, their families, and continued safety.

Amani was able to put together a Food Distribution Fund for the Amani women and their families, and we are continuing to distribute food and supplies until they are able to get back on their feet.

We have been overwhelmed by the support shown to the Amani women by friends from around the globe! It is truly a beautiful portrayal of our family of faith.

You can read more about Amani's repsonse to the violence in Kenya and the progress of the Food Distribution Fund at http://amaniyajuu-news.blogspot.com/.

World Magazine!

2007-12-07T07:18:00.000-08:00

Amani made it in World Magazine this week! Check out the link below and feel free to pass it along to friends.

http://www.worldmag.com/articles/article.cfm?eid=AFCF4B84-ED87-101B-166F5CA7F13E7C0D.

We have had a wonderful response to our website, and sales boomed! Praise the Lord for such interest and especially in the funds raised.

November 2007 Newsletter

2007-11-28T10:54:00.000-08:00

Rachel’s Amani Ministry Update
November 22, 2007

It has been some time since I last wrote to you, so I pulled some photos together for this little-longer-than-usual letter! I want to share with you highlights from our missions trip to Nairobi, as well as a brief update of what I’m doing this Christmas!

The DC Amani Safari to Nairobi
We flew into Nairobi, Kenya on July 16th, and hit the road running the next morning!

As the first Amani Mission’s trip, our group was the first to have a schedule that focused solely on learning, experiencing, and growing together with the Amani ya Juu ministry. We entered the Amani Center on Riverside Road Nairobi, and were greeted with hugs and smiles from our friends at Amani who had been greatly anticipating our arrival!

We started off the day, as we would every day at the Center, with group prayers, thanksgiving, and worship as we welcomed the Lord into the midst of all our activities at the Center. As always- the singing was a most joyous and welcomed sound. Even when I don’t understand all of the Swahili lyrics, the posture of worship and adoration to the Lord always moves my heart and soul- to me the sound of my Nairobi home at Amani!

Learning about the Ministry...
We soon met with Mary Maina, Deputy Director at Amani ya Juu, who explained the ministry of Amani and how she focuses on bringing the ministry to every program of Amani. From devotions, to cafe, to stitching room, to shop, to export, the Amani family is constantly ministering to one another.

This started us off with a comprehensive understanding of the multi-faceted aspects of the ministry. We had many more “meetings” throughout the 2 weeks which focused on ministry programs, outreach, mission and vision, US ministry, and African Cultural Knowledge.

Ministry Partners
I think the most favored activity was time with our Amani ministry partners. Each team-member was paired with an Amani woman who shared similar interests. We wished we had more time with our partners, as this was one of the most personal and fun aspects of the trip.

Debbie Noetzel was paired with Elicah to work on a quilting and sewing project, Sharon was with Josephine planning art projects for the next Amani Watoto chil-dren’s camp, Lou Ann
worked with Simprosa on product costing and with other women on learning to type on a computer. Miriam worked with Rose in Export, Jessie was with the Tie and Dye department and bonded quickly with Anne. Betty helped with typing as well as taught a parenting seminar with the Amani momas. Brittany rotated to develop writing of stories from Amani women for the website. In addition to this we all split up to visit our Amani host’s home, as well as attend church with our new friends on Sunday. Everyone came away with wonderful friendships!

End of the trip...
You can see we packed everything in, but the time with our hosts and visiting homes, although tiring, was so impacting.

Through these personal relationships I think our group came to understand the ministry to the fullest. Amani is often difficult to explain, as it has so many facets. It is primarily a relational ministry, so experiencing relationships within the community really ends up being the best way to understand! I think we all walked away in awe of the Lord’s healing power and peace that the Amani community is a testimony of!

After months of long distance planning through emails, as administrators we were all thrilled with the outcome of this inaugural Amani Safari “Trip of Peace.” The women of Amani Nairobi so appreciated the time the team spent with them.

We learned that in Africa you come to know a person by knowing their face, by feeling their hands, and exexperiencing time in their presence. We women of global Amani came to “know” each other well through this trip! Each team member has an open invitation to come home to Nairobi, where their Amani family will be thrilled to embrace them once again.
I have been told by a friend in Amani Nairobi, that Africa and especially Amani, has a way of bringing healing and rest to our souls. My prayer is that we all received this gift from the Lord this summer.

Right now... I am in the midst of planning for Christmas country wide volunteer sales and outreaches. It is incredible to see our calendar filled to the max with volunteers hosting events to share about the Amani ministry. It will keep me busy until the new year! I am thrilled to now be working with Debbie Noetzel, who came on after the Amani DC Safari to help coordinate our many Amani volunteers.

This year I will be bringing Amani to the “Peace Bazaar” at Church of the Resurrection in Washington DC, and McLean Bible Church’s “Evening in December.” We are thrilled to be involved in both of these ministry outreaches to individuals in the DC area.

Please join me in praying that through the dozens of outreaches where Amani is present this Christmas season that the truth of the Gospel will be shared with those who need Him. This is the best gift we can offer to anyone this year!

In His true peace,

Rachel Kistner

Back Home!

2007-04-27T11:49:00.000-07:00

Dear friends,

I have returned back home from Africa, and I wanted to send out a quick thank you for all of your prayers, and also let you know about some of the highlights of the trip.

Pamoja House:
The first week was spent in Nairobi, and it was a wonderful reunion with the women of Amani!  I very much felt like I was coming home!  The new Pamoja House facility has been completed, and is an absolutely beautiful center.  Everyone loves coming to work to such a peaceful and serene environment.  I have attached a photo of the new center.

Amani Kazi:
We had a strategic planning meeting where I shared about Amani US, our goals and vision, and it was a true blessing to have the feedback and excitement from other leaders of Amani as we began to plan for the next year. In addition, we welcomed the new Amani Kazi group, which is a ministry to husbands and men of Amani.  This group of men presented their vision for spreading peace and stability to other men in their communities through a discipleship and woodworking project.   I have attached a photo of Amani Kazi members as well.  The pride and excitement which these men have for the project is incredible.

Rwanda:
I then traveled to the Rwanda center with a small team from Nairobi.  We were thrilled to finally see their new center!  The women of Amani Rwanda have been able to save enough to buy their first house.  Incredible!  I have also attached a photo of this house and the women.  They are doing so well, and again, it felt like coming home.  We worked hard on a new line of products, new pastors stoles, interviewing new women to join the center, and talking about thier vision and mission.  As the younger sister center, Amani Rwanda has been growing tremendously, and this past year marked a true step of maturity both in physical stability and also personal vision.  I was truly blessed to hear the women of Rwanda describe their vision for Amani to continue beyond them, to bring a community and refuge of peace to women for years to come!

Family:
I stayed with friends over the three weeks, and it was a wonderful opportunity to renew the relationships and friendships we have as a global ministry.  Amani has become large, but the sense of family and sisterhood still remains strong.

Prayer Requests:
I would like to close by also sharing a few prayer requests.  Amani exists because there is a need for peace in this world.  As beautiful, peaceful, and wonderful as Amani is, it exists because it provides healing from a broken world.

This became very tangible during my last two weeks at Amani.  Please remember our following Amani sisters during their time of mourning and need.

Rose from Rwanda- Her husband died from malaria leaving her with 4 small children.  Please pray for her strength and also for continued provision for her family of 5.  Rose's husband was a respected Pastor, and Rose desires to continue to serve the Lord as her husband exemplified for her family.

Fidelia from Kenya-  After getting married last year, Fidelia lost her 6 week old child to sickness, and last month her husband also passed away from a Kidney infection.  Pray for her comfort, and for the Amani family to be a strong support to her during this loss.

Elizabeth and Rahab- They have lived in a slum for many years in Nairobi, and have provided for a large family of immediate and extended relatives through their involvement with Amani.  They have been evicted from their home as the government plans to bulldoze the slum.  Pray that a home will become available to them soon.

As these hardships came up, we were reminded as a family of believers, that we are called to lift one another up in times of need.  We are also called to worship the Lord and trust in His sovereignty, even in the most difficult and truly painful of circumstances.  I cannot imagine going through such loss, but I think God provides through communities and families like Amani to help to rebuild what breaks.

I am thankful to be back home, while at the same time knowing a piece of me has also has a home at Amani.

Thank you for all of your prayers, and I hope you are experiencing the peace of the Lord in your life!

Barikiwa (be blessed),
Rachel