Hope

In Whom Do You Trust?

Faith, Freedom, Hope

I heard this question on a television show and it sparked my interest. In whom do I trust? Do I trust in God or am I trusting in self? Am I trusting in doctors and medicine or trusting God for my healing?

I haven’t posted much since starting here on WordPress. And I surely have not posted much in the past several months.

First of all, I ran out of beautiful stories from Freeset who made Gods Its Not About Me into tangible pieces to share with others.

The other reason was when I began this space to share about Jesus and all He has done in beautiful peoples lives as well as my own, I was diagnosed with Lyme disease, stage three if you want to stage it, the kind that is chronic and had made its way into my brain.

I knew nothing of this nasty life sucker til October 2018.

It had found its way into my brain and buried itself deep within. It has seemed to take away so much in this short span of time but God has also given so much.

I resigned from my position as a Registered Nurse on thanksgiving 2018. Gratitude was not on my lips, interestingly since I knew my calling was not at this particular place.

I wanted to be a stay at home mom but on my terms. I didn’t want my career taken from me, in dramatic form -that is how I looked at this situation at first.

My career doesn’t define me. My health doesn’t define me. Jesus defines me.

I also looked at this time and place as one where God was changing me inside out once again.

I am still out of work but looking to return to my calling – Hospice Nursing. I am also still in treatment for this Lyme thing.

I have found what rest truly is. That healing prayer is amazing and that we do in fact have the power that raised Jesus from the grave living within us. That He did say that we would do greater works than these that He did and we have the power to claim that and pursue it!

I have reengaged in writing a book that God put on my heart in 2012 right around the time that He gave me this visual of Its Not About Me! And I have committed to Him that I will obey and do what He has called me to do – be in His loving presence and to run the race that He has set before me. Before me! No one else!

It’s Not About Me, all this is not about me! All this is about Him, the way His breath and His voice and song speaks through each and everyone of my days and moments.

I’m praying these words direct you to your first love… Jesus, and our loving Papa God, while speaking continuously to Holy Spirit through out each day and most importantly… listening and being still.

May God bless you and keep you, may His face shine upon you and be gracious to you, may Papa God turn his face towards you and give you peace. Numbers 6:24-26

🦋Amanda

Soma’s Story

Faith, Freedom, Hope, Stories

Living transformed, this is Soma’s story….

“I’m 31-years old and have one daughter who is growing up with my mother in the village. After years of working in the trade, I made the choice to join Freeset in hope of building a different future for us.

Before, I was short tempered and would abuse people for small reasons.

It was time to leave it all behind. I wanted to live a respectful and dignified life. Freeset supported me in finding the way to freedom.

Now, I don’t pick up fights and I try to understand other people’s perspective before reacting on impulse. I feel transformed and more included in a good society.”

– Soma, Freeset Kolkata employee

Balika’s Story

Freedom, Hope, Stories

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Balika grew up in rural Murshidabad in a village not far from Freeset Sherpur. Her father was a farm laborer and her mother looked after the family.

Balika’s family arranged for her to get married when she was just 13 years old. Her husband was a farm laborer twice her age. Because his work was seasonal, his income was sporadic.

As a young bride, Balika didn’t know what to expect from her husband, so she endured it when she found out that he was an alcoholic. He did not treat her well, and often beat her.

She gave birth to a son when she was 15, and a daughter three years later.

With her husband’s irregular income, preference for alcohol, and lack of care for his family, Balika and her children often went hungry, sharing just one meal a day.

Two years ago, Balika’s husband climbed a tree near their house to pick coconuts in a drunken stupor. He fell out of the tree and died from his injuries.

When Balika told us of that day she said, “There was no peace when my husband was alive, but after his death, our future seemed even more desperate.”

A glimmer of hope unexpectedly appeared a few days later as Balika talked with Kundola, a friend from her village who worked for Freeset in Kolkata.

Kundola shared that there might be an opportunity for a fresh start for Balika at Freeset Sherpur, a Freeset business in rural Murshidabad, just down the road. A week later, Balika started at Freeset Sherpur.

She was thrilled to start her new job. Freeset Sherpur offered her a training stipend and a consistent income above the national minimum. Her children would no longer have to go hungry!

When she first started at Freeset Sherpur, Balika wasn’t confident that she’d have what it takes to learn to weave. She thought she might end up spinning or finishing instead.

Even the Freeset Sherpur team thought she might have a hard time weaving because she was small-framed and not very tall.

During training, Balika set her sights on becoming a weaver. She put all of her energy and concentration into learning and practicing her weaving skills.

Now Balika is one of Freeset Fabric’s best weavers!

She enjoys coming to work to weave and she loves the community-oriented atmosphere at Freeset Sherpur. Between working, chai breaks, and getting lunch with the other women, Balika describes Freeset Sherpur as a family.

When asked about her hopes for the future, Balika didn’t hesitate for a moment. Her biggest dream is for Freeset to grow so that more women from surrounding villages can be given the same opportunity that she had. She wants these women to see their lives, families, and communities flourish. Balika send a special message to people who are friends and supporters of Freeset.

“Now that I work for Freeset Sherpur, there is a better future for me and my family. I was lonely and sad before, but life looks very different now. Thank you!”

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