When Cherril Holcombe saw the video of Nancy's story (see below) and listened to Marilyn Skinner describe the widespread facial mutilation many north Ugandan women suffer when they try to escape their soldier captors, she was moved to tears. As Women by Design (CLA, Langley, B.C.) president, she knew taking an offering was a way to help. But she wanted to do more.
Jasmine Wiebe (President of Women's Ministries at CLA) was at the same Life Women's Conference (May 2010). Skinner's presentation drove her to her knees.
As Jasmine prayed, Cherril and her husband Grant came up with the idea of donating their lavender crop to Women By Design (WBD). With volunteer labour, Cherril figured they could make $10,000.
The actual work began on harvest day mid-August when about 32 people joined Cherril in the first step of the WBD Lavender Project. Here's how she describes that day:
"We worked to cut bunches and tie them with elastics. Then we loaded them onto a truck, drove it to the barn and lifted the bunches into the hayloft where wires were strung and waiting. Four people hooked the lavender onto the drying wires. It took us 4 1/2 hours to cut and hang over 1000 bunches. Then a large fan was left running 24/7 for two weeks to keep the air moving to dry the lavender bunches."
With the coming of September and the beginning of the WBD fall session, Cherril had lots of womanpower at her disposal. Through September and October work bees of ladies went to the barn three nights a week to shuck and sift the lavender.
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| Shucking the lavender |
When that was done, Rebecca Straforelli was given enough to make 400 bars of lavender soap and the remainder was put into pre-made sachet bags.
Selling the soap and sachets got underway at the WBD's Christmas event. There, after Cherril shared Nancy's story and explained the project, interest was high and sales were brisk. In fact, events took a turn Cherril never anticipated. In her own words:
"Not only did we sell lots of product, but the donations started coming in — far more than we ever hoped for. A few Sundays later the story of the lavender was told again, God moved on the hearts of the congregation, and over $13,000 was donated....We were not asking for any donations, we only asked that people help out by buying our lavender."
Sales continued into March when Marilyn Skinner was a guest at CLA's missions conference. This gave CLA's women a chance to hear directly from her about the needs of African women and catch her passion. Cherril was also able to personally present her with a ceremonial cheque in anticipation of the total monies earned. The actual money was sent to Africa in April.
When asked what impact this project has had on her, Cherril talks of being encouraged in many ways:
- To step out in faith when God gives direction.
- To know God will be with us each step of the way.
- To have faith that He will step in when we can't do any more.
- To keep encouraging the women attending WBD to "step out of their box and be creative and trust God to try different things."
And — hang onto your hats ladies — there's more! Another lavender project is in the works for 2011-2012. Here's how Cherril describes it:
"We are going to do the Lavender for Living Hope Again with some new products. We will be selling:
- Lavender Body Sugar Scrub
- Lavender Herbal Foot Soak
- Lavender Silky Milk Bath
- Lavender Bags (not yet named)
- as well as the Lavender Sachets and Lavender Soaps.
So, all Women By Designers — prepare for a fragrant fall!
Story and photos © 2011 by Violet Nesdoly
