Our next Ladies Sewing Night will be next Thursday, Jan. 17 4-7 pm Shandon Baptist Church room C121. We are sewing, cutting, and assembling feminine hygiene kits which include 6 washable-reusable sanitary pads, washcloths, and underwear. These kits are shared with youth and women in places where access to disposables are not available. Working with Christian ministry partners in foreign countries, we are reaching out to meet a real need and opening the door for gospel conversations--opportunities for our partners to share the love of Jesus and disciple believers in local churches.
I'm pleased to announce that I'll be going to Uganda the first week of February 2019 to partner with Veronica--wife of pastor Sosthen Amin Lati, to set up sewing centers in the Rhino refugee camp (South Sudanese civil war refugees). We set up a sewing center in Veronica's camp in Kiryandongo last January. We'll be purchasing foot-pedaled machines and providing materials for getting started such as thread, needles, scissors, seam rippers, snaps, snapping tools, and template material to make the pads.
Most of the women in the camps are without their husbands--who are either in South Sudan or deceased. There is no running water or electricity. The camps are located miles from civilization, so the women can't go to work each day at a business. Having the sewing machines will allow them to work, create, and sell products for income to provide food, medicine, and other basic needs. They can send the products they make (uniforms, clothes, pads, etc.) outside the camps to be sold for income. The women are astounded at the love shown by the American ladies who care enough to reach out to them and send their love via these basic supplies. It gives hope and encouragement, and is a God-hug.
If you would like to come join us next Thursday night to help cut materials, assemble bag supplies, or sew with your machine, I'd love to see you!
If you'd like to donate supplies, I'll be taking in my bags scissors, thread, needles, seam rippers, little brushes for lint for the machines, and our on-going pad-making group here in Columbia can use flannel and towels (used are fine!), new washcloths, new underwear (size small--this is one of our greatest needs, honestly), quart-size ziplock baggies.
If you'd like to make a financial contribution, we have a 501c3 status for our group: Educational Development in Emerging Nations (EDEN) and can provide receipts for taxes. EDEN 1110 Blakely Ct. West Columbia 29170. (This is the same group as the work Jim is doing with the agricultural training.)
God is at work doing mighty things! I'm so glad to get to be a part of it! Won't you join me? 🙂
Jan 25 Update:
God just keeps on surprising me with so much support, enthusiasm, and gifts for our ministry. I'm humbled and excited and wondering what He's gonna surprise me with today. Every day. Same chorus. I feel like I'm getting drenched in a shower of blessings.
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