When IMB missionary Donna Maust relocated to a new town, she entered a strawberry cheese pie into a cooking contest as a way to get to know people. She won second place. A government leader asked her to start cooking classes in his house. The classes were a success and led to the start of a Bible study in the home, which is now a healthy church.

Maust recognized gospel-sharing opportunities, so she kept her eyes open for more outlets. She learned to make soap using local ingredients like aloe vera, milk, oats and honey, and started soap-making classes in five communities. In one rural area, the class led to a Bible study group of 15-20 adults. In other areas, people made decisions to follow Christ or deepened their commitment to Him.

The classes were so successful that the learners formed a co-op and developed a soap brand—Nectar. They received an order from a hotel for five hundred soaps and plan to start selling in supermarkets. The young woman who serves as president of the co-op was recently accepted in the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs, a program of the U.S. Embassy that was offered to 30 women in the Maust’s province.

Maust writes of Nectar’s president, “She attended weekly classes in business practices and marketing for three months. At the end of the three months, the US Embassy representatives chose one business to provide more help and support. The soap project won!”

Nectar will receive further training and contacts for marketing and distribution. Maust shares that the business now includes 12 women.

The members of the Nectar business co-op have recently moved to a new facility for soap-making. Their project was chosen by the US Embassy to receive further business training which will include contacts in marketing and distribution. (photo courtesy of Donna Maust)

The classes surpassed Maust’s expectations both economically and spiritually. Communities now see that she and her husband are “not just standing on street corners preaching … We actually care about the people and are doing what we can to help,” she says.

And it all started with a strawberry pie.

Johnny and Donna Maust have served with the IMB in Ecuador for almost 21 years. (photo courtesy of Donna Maust)

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