John and Jacinta live and work in Arusha, Tanzania. Several years ago they began hosting a Christmas dinner for widows in their community to celebrate the birth of Christ. It began with about 40 widows in the first year. However, they realised that although the widows enjoyed the event, this format didn’t include their families. After some thought, John instead began to hand out baskets of Christmas staples such as sugar, oil, flour, salt, and tea. They named the ministry “Hand Prints,” and asked local pastors to identify those in their community who could use this gift.
When we were in Tanzania last year, John shared the story of one of these women with us. She arrived at church one Sunday with no idea about the Hand Prints gifts. She was given a parcel and was floored. She shared how she had just returned from fetching her sick daughter in Nairobi, having spent all her money on medicine, doctors and travel. She, her daughter and grandchildren had nothing left, but she asked God to provide for them to celebrate Christmas, and went to church to worship him. She excitedly testified how God had answered her prayers.

“Since then, this ministry has moved and touched lives of thousands of vulnerable women and children,” John shared. “In our Dec. 2016 project, we were able to give out food gifts to over 1,000 widows and build simple/ livable homes for 6 homeless families. We remain optimistic that the celebrations will be a comfort and encouragement to many widows and orphans. ”
This year John and Jacinta will be handing out baskets again and with them, providing hope. They are letting these vulnerable women and their families know that they are not forgotten, that they are valuable and cared for by their entire community.