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I am Lola. I have fibromyalgia and am 56 years old. My active and vibrant life has decreased due to pain and limited abilities. What could I possibly be good for?
Teaching Women in Guatemala to Sew, that's what!
Recently I went to an event that themed 'Women for Women' and good health. One of the booths was "Wells Of Hope". This is an organization that has been around for over 20 years and I have heard amazing things about it. My husband and I had always wanted to help dig wells. That dream was dashed for me with poor health and finally with fibromyalgia.
So, I go up to speak to the gentlemen at the booth and ask how I can help the organization. They smile and say 'buy something on the table'. So, I buy some coffee, and my friend Ann buys a beautiful bracelet. Then I ask how I can help out more... that I can't dig wells because of my fibromyalgia, but I want to help. Ted Van der Zalm, founder of the organization tells me that they don't actually dig the wells by hand, they have a digger machine. He asks me, "Well, what can you do?" I shrug, and tell him, "I can sew!" My friend Ann says, Yeah, she can sew anything!" Ted tilts his head and says, "We are looking for women to go to Guatemala and teach the women there to sew." WOW! I look him in the eye and say "I'm in! Tell me more!" Sewing gives the women a skill.... a tradable skill that could help mothers feed and clothe and house their families.
I went to see my doctor later that week, got a new medication for my fibro, and asked him if he thought I would be able to go to Guatemala for a mission. We discussed my health issues and he said he didn't see any reason I couldn't go. Yeah!
My husband has serious problems with heat and with skin cancer, so he isn't going. I asked another friend of mine, Kathie, if she would like to go with me. She works in a hospital setting and can help out that way.
Next, my husband and I go to Ted and Miriam's house and learn more about Wells for Hope and they answered dozens of my questions about teaching the women of Guatemala about sewing. Sewing machines are still needed, notions, fabric, patterns too. (Kathie would have gone, but it was Friday the 13th, so she hopped on her motorcycle and went to Port Dover, lol)
Kathie and I need to have our tetnus shots up to date and I need to get the Twinrix shots. (Kathie has already had them) It looks like the beginning of April 2014 will be the time we will be going. That timeframe might change, but we will be flexible. So many things to plan, prepare, pack, send before we go. I need to get my passport updated.
$3000 will cover our meals, housing, ground travel and Kathie's flight. My flight has already been donated by a very dear and Christian friend (a very special thank you to her and her husband!) This will be the base learning time for me. I will get to know the village, surroundings, people, language, customs, needs, what is there and what needs to be there. I can better plan for the next year and I hope to stay for a month then.
My biggest challenge before going will be learning Spanish. Kathie says she'll "get right on that". I will not hold my breath. There some free lessons online, I have a little Spanish/English translator book, but the best advantage I have, is that the Baptist church in my neighbourhood has a second service that is in Spanish. I hope to visit the church this week and let them know my plans and hope that they will take me under their wing and teach me to speak and understand Spanish AND I get to hear God's Word at the same time.
Please, donate what you can afford. We will put it to very good use. Even though this is women helping women, we welcome donations from men too! We greatly appreciate every dollar given. I will post pictures and blogs of our mission so that everyone can see what they contributed to: Teaching women, oppressed, beaten, abused, surviving women, how to make clothes, aprons, pillow cases, curtains, capes, purses, whatever they want to make...
For me.... this is an answer to a repeated prayer.... God, what can I do for You?
P.S. Carrie C. If you see this, remember the song you taught us, "Please don't send me to Africa!"? Well, apparently... it's Guatemala!!!! LOL
BLESSINGS,
LOLA & KATHIE
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