If the only prayer you ever said in your whole life was ‘thank you’, that would suffice. ~Meister Eckhart
The Sewing Machine Project is such an amazing thing. I’m struck so often by the beauty and intensity of it and also its mystery. It is a Sunday afternoon and I’m recording donations and saying thank you to donors and to this beautiful energy that makes this all work. I am in awe.
Not too long ago it seemed like things had slowed down a bit. I struggle with these times and find myself feeling like I need to push, to make things happen. Not the first time this has happened and certainly not the last, but each time I go through the same struggle…wondering why things aren’t moving more and trying to push them to move.
It’s when I let go that things happen. It’s when I rest in the fact that things aren’t always visible to me but I need to trust that all is as it should be. So I let go and it was as if that was the key to burst the flood gates wide open. Goodness is pouring in. Our local programs are growing and we’ll add a new center this summer here in Madison. I needed to find a group just a little further away to work on piloting this program and the group emerged–a wonderful organization helping Somali refugees find their feet in Northern Wisconsin. And as I wondered how we’d make this available to groups in other states I heard from a tiny community college in rural Mississippi in an area where most people don’t have the means to take a course in basic sewing–they were contacting me with the dream of offering basic lessons at no charge and could we help them? Yes, I was able to confidently say, we can help you and how about if the participants not only learn to sew but get to keep the machines?
Our recent shipments to other countries have taught us that we have a lot to learn about navigating customs and also that we don’t have the budget for these expensive shipments. And now I’m hearing from groups that have their shipping in place or are ready to hand carry the machines to Uganda, to Nicaragua, to Honduras…
I am sitting here writing this and saying so many grateful prayers. I feel so lucky to be able to share this good news and even luckier to guide The Sewing Machine Project.
I have goose bumps all over my body from ‘feel good’ feelings and tears of happiness for you and your project, and all the love and support you give, and how many lives you are changing.
Hugs to you my FRIEND!
love,
Michelle
Just as it is all meant to be Margaret……no need to engineer cirmcumstances….just be part of the flow.
Thank you, Mary….you are absolutely right.
I was looking to find if there are any restrictions on taking sewing machines to Guatemala and saw your website. I currently have 8 machines donated to go with us on our mission trip and will likely have more! Our TSA here is OK with us carrying them on and I bought rolling duffle bags at Ulta last week for $5.99 each, which we can bring back and use on the next trip. The machines fit well with bubble wrap around them, and we are getting fabric donations also that we may use instead of the bubble wrap. Our mission is with the people of Los Dorales, near Jalapa, Guatemala, and to the people who live in the city dump next to Los Dorales. So far 20 people are expected to attend our basic sewing classes. A little over a year ago I noticed people were randomly giving me sewing machines. I started a free sewing class as an outreach at our new church plant at The Gathering Community Church in Fuquay Varina, NC and began to pray about how I was to use the class and the machines. Now we have 5 from the class going on the trip with very basic knowledge of sewing, but so excited to share what they know with others who have no knowledge and no machines. I don’t know what more we are to do with this ministry beyond teaching the people to sew, but God does! Any suggested lesson plans you have from your classes would be appreciated. I’m flying blind here and will be working with interpreters, as well. But it’s so exciting to see the whole thing come to fruition. God bless you for your work! Sew on!