Page 35 - Gifts of Hope Catalog 2023

GIFTS OF HOPE MARKET
online: december 2 & 3, 2023 /35
In-person: december 3, 2023

MICRO-LOANS AND PROGRAMS

FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN

MADAGASCAR AND CAMEROON

ELCA Global Mission and ELCA World
Hunger

8765 West Higgins Road
Chicago, IL 80631

800.638.3522
https://ELCA.ORG/HUNGER

Available at Gifts of Hope In-Person Market only on december 3!

Handmade Items from Madagascar and Cameroon!

First Lutheran Church member Betty Wilken grew up across the globe from Madagascar,
but her local Lutheran congregation planted seeds that nurtured her dream to serve
overseas. Betty’s years teaching in graduate seminary in Madagascar and K-8 English in
Cameroon were life-giving, life-changing. These magnificent countries, one an island off

the southeast coast of Africa, the other on the west coast of central Africa, are places
where natural beauty and great poverty co-exist. Rev. Daniel Rift, Director for the ELCA
World Hunger and Disaster Appeal, stated, ‘These are some of the most dramatic cases of
food poverty in the world. The combination of extreme drought and post-Covid economic
challenges made an already-dire situation worse. In Madagascar, the Lutheran church is
also the largest healthcare provider beyond the government.”

Betty’s continuing commitment to Madagascar and Cameroon will be on full display on
December 3, from 8:30 AM.-12:45 PM, at the Gifs of Hope Market. 100% of the proceeds of

purchases from her collection of raw silk scarves and wraps, handmade paper, art,
carvings and basketry will be directed to ELCA-connected micro-loans and programs that
focus on helping women and children move from poverty to promise.