One of our greatest desires is to see families provided the resources to be financially independent. To that end, we work with the women we serve to determine their God-given interests and skills and match that to work opportunities that will be successful within their cultures and individual communities. This is such an important piece of helping families succeed and one that we hope to provide on a much larger scale as funding allows.
Tomasa's Children
One of the families we have worked with extensively is the orphaned children of one of our first women. Their father died in an accident in 2004 and their mother, Tomasa, died of cancer in March 2008. Tomasa left six children orphaned. In partnership with Shield of Faith Ministry our goal is to help these children maintain their family unity and the small piece of land they inherited. 
Carmen, at age 14 and as the oldest daughter, began caring for her mother in her illness and for all of the children. Now, at age 15, Carmen is raising the four younger children in their small highland village. The family's only income is from the loom Emmanuel's Heart was able to purchase for Carmen in December 2007. On it she can work at home, caring for her siblings, and earning an income weaving cortes, the colorful Mayan skirts worn by indigenous women throughout much of Guatemala. The income is not great but it is the best income available to women in rural villages.
In July 2008 one of our teams financed and built a chicken coop and purchased fryers and layers for the family. This provides Carmen and the children with eggs and occasional meat, as well as the ability to
earn a little additional income.
Eunice Uses Her Passion To Earn a Living
Eunice's love of baking was encouraged during her weeks at our El Refugio shelter for abused women. When she left the shelter she was experienced in preparing and selling her baked goods and had earned a little money to help her start a small business selling baked croissant sandwiches.