Job opening at Heart for Africa

This 13 piece handmade Noah's Ark set from Khutsala Artisans is a wonderful Christmas gift.

As some of you know, I used to be a marketing executive, and some people may say that I still am.  I was thrilled to have 25% of the people who read my blog last week complete the survey monkey for my book title. Wow, that’s a good response rate!  And I have now a title, but I’m not going to share it with you just yet 😁.

I was also very happy to have so many people suggest names for our four new Khutsala dragons, and I CAN share those with you. The winners of the naming competition are Jackie Shores (with TWO names chosen), Rebecca Siebert and our very own Lisa Borders. Our dragons are now named Fireball, Dewey, Piper and Gus and you can order them by clicking here . Thank you, Spencer Maxwell and Maggie Lian, for choosing the winning names. 

 

In fact, we have a whole Kids Collection now filled with dinosaurs, bugs and dragons. Lots of fun items to decorate a child's room.  You can check them out at https://khutsala.com/pages/for-kids.

 

It’s fun for me to know that both Spencer and Chloe have followed in our marketing footsteps.  Both of them have differing degrees in marketing, and both are working in the field of marketing. Chloe is working in a biotech company in Canada who makes Covid-19 testing kits (among many other products), and Spencer is working at Heart for Africa. We are so very proud of them both. Spencer stepped in to the Marketing Manager position on an interim basis as his consulting job at EY in Chicago doesn’t start until January. We are thrilled to have him on the team, but now need to find his replacement so the he can bring them up to speed before his departure.

If you or someone you know might be interested in joining the Heart for Africa family in the Marketing Manager position, please send your resume to spencer@heartforafrica.org.  As per our website; “we are looking for an experienced person to develop and manage marketing programs in specific channels; specifically working to expand our reach, engagement and conversion with our customers and donors. This position must foster customer retention and amplify the organization’s values, including our purpose of bringing HOPE to Eswatini. Overall, the Marketing Manager must advance the brand strategy to resonate with customers and donors and build long-term relationships. For more information, please click here.”

Ian and I are tired. The border between Eswatini and South Africa opened for local travel, so we ran away to our favorite Indian ocean town of Umhlanga Rocks (near Durban) for a week of R&R. The sound of the ocean brings me joy, and being able to order in pizza or walk to a grocery store is such a treat. Long walks on the beach, a couple of naps a day and staring aimlessly at the ocean is what we really needed. We didn’t realize how much being isolated in a tiny country, on a mountain top for seven months, had weighed on us. We welcome this break and are thankful for the opportunity to take a break.

As we enjoy the view, we are also praying for our friends all over the world, especially our friends in the US who are dealing with Covid-19, power outages in Georgia and a national election. We pray that everyone keeps their eyes on Jesus, knowing that He is never surprised, and He is securely on the throne.

Live from the Indian ocean … getting some rest.

Janine

What should my third book be titled?

New dragons have arrived at www.Khutsala.com.  Now they  just need names!

This has been a very intense week. We had our annual Celebrate HOPE Gala in Georgia, where we typically have 200+ friends and family gather to enjoy a nice meal, a grand silent auction and a message of hope through what God is doing at Heart for Africa. Ian and I are always in attendance, but this year we are still in Eswatini, watching the live streaming event from bed in the middle of the night. The event included a virtual tour of Project Canaan and live segments with music and updates, all resulting in $70,000 being raised to help us continue the work here in Eswatini. The very next day was our Annual General US Board meeting, where we look at the year 2020 in review, then discuss and approve operating and capital budgets for 2021.  It’s a very intense and exhaustive process, but we had a great meeting and we are so very thankful for our US Board of Directors and our US staff, under the leadership of David Bryant.

 

The borders from Eswatini to South Africa have reopened, with certain Covid-19 restrictions, so Ian and I have decided to take a week’s holiday in Durban to rest, restore and get renewed next week.  I also really want to get my third book finished and published.  The manuscript is written and it is back from my editor. Now I just need to add the final touches, some photos, front and back cover, and… a title.  That is where I am really stuck. This book gives a short recap of where Ian and I started life, marriage, former lives-turned-missionaries, and then the rest is the story of Project Canaan. I attempt to give in-depth details of how the project developed, the highs, the lows, and the challenges in-between.  While it’s not a manual or “how to” book, it does give a lot of instruction or suggestions for other people doing similar ministry around the world, all wrapped in stories of joy, sorrow, miracles and wonders, with the golden thread of hope through the whole thing.

 

Today I am asking you to do me a quick favor. Please click on this short survey link

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5JRY5X8  and answer SIX easy questions, including what to title this new book. I know it may be hard to name a book without having read it, but I have given you some suggestions and I’d like to know what book title would you be most likely to buy, read or share?  Please, please take that short survey today, and maybe I can get this book published in November.

 

I do have one more favor to ask.  With all the heaviness that is weighing on the world by a global pandemic and a national upcoming election, we thought we would try to bring a little levity by producing some fun, new product at Khutsala for this Christmas season. We have designed four really cute little dragons, complete with handmade SwaziMUD eyes, that have arrived in the US warehouse, and just like my book, they need names!  Please feel free to email me at janine@heartforafrica.org and give me a name for the RED, GREEN, PINK and YELLOW dragon OR comment on Facebook with your suggestions. We will give them all winning names this weekend and they will be ready for sale next week! Thanks for playing.

 

The RED dragon should be named  ____________.

This GREEN dragon should be named ___________.

 

This PINK dragon should be named ______________.

This YELLOW (and green) dragon should be named ___________.

Lastly, we shipped 200+ blood wood charcuterie boards, and some beautiful blood wood coasters this past week to our office in Georgia (well, actually it’s Pete and Julie Wilkerson’s house – thanks friends!!), and they will arrive by mid-week. Half of them have been pre-ordered and will be shipped out or ready for pick up. The other half are ready for you to order them for your Christmas gift giving.  Please support our Khutsala and Kufundza artisans by shopping at www.khutsala.com today. 

 

Live from Eswatini … it’s a glorious Saturday morning.

 

Janine