Business Reopens thanks to CBN Partners

Indonesia

Santi (pronounced San’-tea) never imagined how the Covid pandemic would crush her small business in Indonesia where she lives with her family.  

“I had opened my own food stall before the pandemic,” she told CBN. “From it I earned about $12 dollars a day. Then people stopped buying food from me because they were afraid of the virus.”

She said her income dropped to a dollar a day. Santi’s husband, who worked as a motorcycle mechanic, also lost his job.  

“I was really afraid I would not be able to feed my daughter,” she said, her eyes filled with tears. “I was getting so desperate. There were moments when I thought might be better if I died.” 

Seven-year-old Angel saw the stress on her mom’s face. “I was sad because I knew she worked very hard,” she said. 

When CBN’s Orphan’s Promise met Santi, we learned that she could also sew. So we provided cloth, thread and a pattern so she could start making face masks, which were in short supply in her town.  

“From making masks, I was able to earn a large profit,” said a beaming Santi.  

As the economy started to reopen in the town where Santi lives, she took the profits from the masks and reopened her food business. “Now I also sell food through Facebook or WhatsApp,” she said. 

Santi reports her food business has started to rebound and that her husband has also found a new job repairing motorcycles. 

“I am grateful to God because now I am earning $8-10 dollars a day selling food! I want to thank the people who support Orphan’s Promise. May God continue to use you to help people—like you helped us! God bless you,” she said with a smile.