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A Job that pays more than cash

I am Eunice Atieno Oduor, 29, and I work for TEMAK as a tutor in tailoring and dressmaking. I joined TEMAK in 1999, a year after training in tailoring. Accepting Jesus Christ has been my most precious achievement since then, while continuing to experience the challenges of handling all kinds of young people.

When I joined, I had eight students, no furniture and very few machines. I got discouragement from some people not to join the centre citing various reasons. They claimed that the workload at TEMAK was heavy and the pay, uncertain. They also wondered why I thought TEMAK could offer sustained employment.

In spite of what they said, I was not moved and even when things became tough on my side I was still not shaken. Now we are enjoying the blessings of God. If He is on your side, you'll have patience to hold on, no matter what circumstances come on your way, and you'll be victorious.

Right now, the centre is full with everything in place: from one department to four departments and even more coming up. From no furniture to fully equipped offices and classrooms. From eight students to over 100 students every year. From few machines to different types of machines for each and every department and use. From a staff to many staffs. I have grown from no experience to the most experienced tutor.

When I came from college, I had no skills in handling youth, especially girls, but now after learning in a physical and practical way, I can handle all kinds of characters I come across during training or counseling and while teaching the word of God. Counseling my students takes time because the girls are all from different backgrounds. Some of the girls take advice willingly, others leave TEMAK the same way they came in, but we can be sure that they have acquired some useful advice. God is able to make something out of nothing. Glory and honor be to Him.

If you can forget everything I have said, please don't forget this one; the MOST precious thing that I have achieved and that I will not let go is JESUS. He is the only person that I can boast of having achieved during the time that I have been here. Try Him and you'll never remain the same again.

I got saved in 2001 at the age of 26 when I felt the time was right for this step. There was quite a lot of resentment from my family arising from this decision; even my husband expressed his opposition. It has been tough for them to accept my salvation. Last year, 2003, my husband also got saved.

Finding Jesus has brought a peace into my life that I never knew, something I try to share with my two girls, aged 11 and 8. At their ages, I cannot discuss with them the details of religion, but we do take them along with us to church each Sunday.

At our family home near Kisumu town (Kenya), we live with two teenage boys who lost their parents. They are relatives and both in high school. Other members of our extended family assist with their school fees. Its not easy raising orphans as they are accustomed to what their late parents taught them, and conflicts often arise because of this. You have to understand them just as much as they must adapt to changed circumstances and their new guardians.

GOD BLESS YOU.

Eunice, Tailoring tutor.

Carolyne Atieno finds ".. beautiful home."

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