life skills - africa
Josephine's Dignity Restored
CBN's Operation Blessing - East Africa
CBN.com – KENYA, AFRICA– Twenty-three years ago, Josephine Katunge came into this world; on the very same day her father passed away. Her mother was suddenly single and raising seven daughters on a small farm in Matiku village, Kenya. They worked hard to survive. In 2004, at age 18, Josephine finished high school. She wanted to go to college, but they could not afford it.
Two years later, her sister and brother-in-law invited her to stay in their home and said they would pay for her to go to college. Excitement and hope filled her heart as she packed her things and moved to Emali town.
But things did not go as promised. A full year passed without any sign of Josephine going to college. Neither her sister nor her brother-in-law spoke about it, and Josephine became more of a housemaid to them.
Then something very disturbing happened. Her brother-in-law started to sexually abuse her. Josephine was traumatized. She told her sister what was going on and her sister got very angry – at Josephine! She blamed Josephine for the advances, saying she was seducing her brother-in-law and trying to break up their marriage. When their mother heard what was happening, she blamed Josephine too and called her cursed. She was kicked out of her sister’s home and no one in her family wanted anything to do with her. They labeled her immoral. She had nowhere to stay.
Feeling hopeless and confused, Josephine became friends with some girls in Emali who introduced her to prostitution. She became a prostitute to earn a living, but inside she felt broken and dirty. She hated herself.
It wasn’t long before she went to Kialu Visions Ministry, a local ministry that she’d heard about. She met with the director, Marcel and asked for help. She didn’t want to live that way anymore. This Christian ministry reached out to Josephine; she spent time learning the Bible and put her faith in Jesus Christ. Josephine’s hope was restored.
Soon, they sent her to a computer training class where she proved to be a quick learner. In just six weeks, she learned the computer programs and was ready to use those skills to support herself. CBN Operation Blessing donated $450 to buy Josephine a good used computer and pay three months of rent for an office room where she set up a computer services business.
She called her business “Trico Computer Services” and today she provides typesetting services and designs invitation cards for weddings, parties and harambee, etc. She started working officially on June 15, 2009, and the business looks very promising. Josephine says, “I now feel that I have a future; thank you all for your help and May God bless you, Operation Blessing”.
Through the love of Christ, Josephine has a respectful living and a bright future. Those who support CBN provide the funds necessary to do God’s will and help people like Josephine get a new start.
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