Project Lydia @ProjectLydiaNW Products Bring Joy!

Source: ProjectLydia.org

Robina Naigaga
Children: 9
Children in school: 5 (Ages 14, 16, 18, 20, and 22) Widow/co-wife: yes/yes

After the death of her husband, Robina Naigaga struggled to support herself and the nine children he left behind. Though her four oldest children have since then matured and now live on their own, Robina uses all of the money she earns in Project Lydia to feed her five remaining children, pay for their school fees, and buy basic necessities for their home. Robina hopes to someday save enough money to purchase iron sheets to repair her home.

Project Lydia @ProjectLydiaNW Products Bring Joy! http://t.co/IGJbRbXo7Q
— Boise Idaho News (@boisenews) October 16, 2013

Project Lydia Products Bring Joy
PROJECT LYDIA began in 2009 by missionaries, Cliff and Julie Pash and is an expansion of Advancing the Kingdom Ministries which serves Uganda, East Africa.

The project helps local widows and abandoned women overcome adversity and thrive in every area of their lives. PROJECT LYDIA teaches skills, provides a spiritual support system, and opens doors for the women to support their families. The women meet weekly to work on projects together which are sold around the world.

Projects include: recycled paper bead necklaces, baskets, and authentic Ugandan dolls with a story of a local woman of courage who also overcame adversity.

Many women lives have been transformed through PROJECT LYDIA as they gain resources to buy seed for their gardens, send their children to school, purchase medical care, and improve their housing.

PROJECT LYDIA addresses a critical need of many women around the world. Unfortunately, in developing countries many women are treated as possessions and children and wives are often left destitute and betrayed when the husband finds a new, younger wife. The Pash’s heart broke for the women and thus began PROJECT LYDIA.

Cliff and Julie Pash never had dreams of becoming missionaries or of going to Africa. The Pash’s owned a thriving business and enjoyed great success.

Life took quite a turn for the Pash’s and at the age of fifty, they answered a call God put in our hearts to serve in Uganda. The Pash’s gave away much of their earthly possessions and set out for a journey in East Africa to serve a network of Muslim villages with no electricity or running tap water.
The Pash’s were transformed as they saw the almighty God, creator of the universe at work, using them to change hearts and lives for His purposes. Thank you for being a part of PROJECT LYDIA.
Authentic Ugandan Dolls, Beaded Necklaces and Handmade Baskets are produced by the Ladies of Nawansega, most of whom are widows and abandoned wives.

Each Monday, these ladies gather to encourage each other, share with each other, pray for each other. They spend their day producing these products, some of which is sold in the United States through ATK International, Inc.

The small incomes alleviate the worst of the poverty and helps assist with school fees, clothing and food.

“Our God will give you the ability to create wealth, and by doing so, affirms His covenant!”

@ProjectLydiaNW highlights a deserving woman and family they helped in Uganda! http://t.co/LnNFlJTcPF #africa #charity #idaho #boise
— Michael Strickland (@MichaelStrickla) October 16, 2013

Record Shows Tom Dale Did Not Vote To Establish Nampa's Mercy Hospital Urban Renewal District

The story regarding formation of an urban renewal district around Nampa’s old Mercy Hospital has been filled with emotion and accusations.

Here is a deeper look at the record.

The Idaho Press Tribune published a questionnaire with Nampa Mayoral Candidate Bob Henry, on Friday, Oct 4. 2013. It included this exchange:

IPT:  SHOULD THE CITY HAVE MOVED FORWARD WITH THE OLD MERCY HOSPITAL PROJECT? HOW DID YOU VOTE OR HOW WOULD YOU HAVE VOTED ON THE MATTER?

Henry:  No. My vote was to not support the Old Mercy Hospital project. I stand by that decision.

Did Henry vote No? Did Nampa Mayor Tom Dale ever support an urban renewal district?

Further analysis is needed on this issue. On the vote which established the Mercy URD, Bob Henry voted YES to support establishment of the district. While it is true that Henry did vote NO in two earlier procedural votes to keep the ordinance alive and moving forward; on the critical vote which actually established the district, he changed his mind and voted YES.

The mayor's role in this process was to vote yes two times in order to keep the process moving forward. The first vote was to authorize the city attorney to draft the ordinance. After the second reading of the ordinance, the third reading was postponed until a second public hearing could be held.

After that public hearing on May 6, a vote was taken to move forward with the third reading of the ordinance. The Mayor voted yes - do the third reading. By Idaho State law, an ordinance doesn't become law until after the vote of city council following the third reading. After the third reading, Bob Henry changed his mind and voted YES to support establishment of the District. Voting in favor, Pam White, Martin Thorne, and Bob Henry. Opposed, Stephen Kren.

Mayor Dale did not have the opportunity to vote on establishing the district.

This information is all a matter of public record and can be found in Nampa City Council minutes.