Updated January 2021
Hi everyone,
I just wanted to let you know that I will be in Zambia, Africa, for the next two weeks!
Last summer, as many of you helped raise money to buy the mamas there each a sewing machine, God was impressing on my heart that I should be the one to go and teach them how to sew.
And sew (so!), that’s where I am headed!
I am getting excited!
I’ve gotten all my shots and the bags are packed.
A friend of mine challenged me to help her sew dresses and skirts for each of the orphan girls. We had so much fun that we ended up making 62 when we only needed 42!
Most of them are tiered skirts, but we made a few dresses like these:
I’m sure we’ll find plenty of extra girls to give them to.
My friend even started making boy’s pajamas as well.
The ladies in my Bible study donated so many things for the kids: toys of all kinds and personal items. I was really touched by their generosity:
What I am really excited about is that I get to help my daughter and son-in-law in the ministry called Every Orphan’s Hope!
This ministry is doing amazing things to help the orphans and widows in the country of Zambia.
And if your heart is moved, go ahead and sponsor one of the orphan’s!
It only takes $37 per month to sponsor one of these kids who have lost their parents to the AIDS/HIV crisis.
Several of the children have tested positive as well.
But your money goes to give them food, water, medicine, clothing and an education and the ability to live in a home with 7 other children and a mama who loves on them with extra special love. Most of the mamas are widows.
I can’t wait to meet them all!
And teach them how to sew.
There is another lady joining me on this adventure, whom I will meet in Zambia, who is willing to help me teach them.
I’m so grateful for her.
We hope to make great progress with these mamas so that they can learn to make purses or bags and sell them as a small business for themselves.
If bags are not your bag, there are other ways of helping the ministry, like buying real live chicks for the orphans and mamas to raise. You can also sponsor an orphan for only $37 per month.
Check out the Every Orphan website.
I can’t wait to come back home and share all kinds of incredible stories with you!
Until then, I won’t be able to respond to your questions daily like usual.
Internet will be spotty there.
But, I’ll respond as fast as I can.
In the meantime, if you have a question about something, type the subject (like hems or side seams or wedding dress) into the search box on any page of my website and find articles and other seamstresses comments that will guide you through your sewing dilemma. Remember that there may be several pages of posts with the answer!
I would appreciate your prayers as I embark on several long flights and for good health and that I might be helpful and show the love of Jesus wherever I go.
Thank you soooo much.
I’ll be back soon!
The Sewing Garden 
What a wonderful adventure! Sending prayers your way as you take on this great cause. I’m sure you will have the best time ever and it will be a great success. They are lucky to have such a talented person sharing her knowledge. Best of luck to you on your journey! Be safe!
Oh, and I forgot to mention… I LOVE the dresses! They are so pretty!
There is a local chapter that puts all the different fabrics and notions together so they look coordinated. It makes it even more fun to sew them. Glad you like them!
Thanks so much, Sharon! I appreciate all the prayers! Take care and I’ll write when I get back.
What a grand adventure! Have a wonderful time 🙂
Thank you so much!!! I think you’re correct in calling it an adventure!!!
EEK! I’m so excited to hear about your new adventure! Huge prayers for your safety and that you, the women and girls learn a ton from each other. ❤
Thanks soooo much, Theresa. I sure appreciate your prayers and good wishes. I shall learn alot!!! Hugs..
Hi, I have been involved both directly and indirectly with Immanuel Christian School for the Deaf in Ringa, Kenya for over 5 years now and I have wanted to encourage them to start a sewing plan with their students as vocational training. (Often the country’s handicapped children are left to beg for anything and everything there. We want to be sure they can produce their own income and are teaching them bread making/sales and farming/husbandry as well as marketing to break such a cycle with new graduates.)
What lessons would you teach and in what order? I have sent over basic sewing boos to teach some handsewing techniques, but is there a website for these skill sets?
Right now, they just recently got a generator so a treadle sewing machine might be in the future. However, over there such a machine costs around $500.00 USD from the Nakumat (thier version of Walmart). Anyway, any ideas you could give? Thanks!
Sheri
Hi Sheri,
I’ll let you know some of those answers after I’ve had a chance to help, but I imagine that each country in Africa is different, at least that’s what I’m learning from our daughter and mother-in-law. In fact, the sewing machines in Kenya sound about 5 times more expensive than Zambia. That’s a big difference.
I think it’s great what you’re doing over there! As far as a website, I haven’t found just one. I have found different things for different purposes by Googling.
Do you still need supplies for sewing to send to the ladies in Africa?
One of my neighbors decided that she is to old to sew and has some things she would like to drop off to me.
thanks
Judy Hayes
Yes! Wow, that is very generous and thoughtful. The mamas will appreciate these items very much. Thank you so much! Please send the sewing supplies to: Every Orphan’s Hope, 3245 W. Main St. Suite 235/332, Frisco, TX 75034
Thanks for the reply. I also had skeins of eyelash yarn donated. Could the ladies use that too, when I send the box of sewing supplies??
thanks Judy Hayes
Thank you for your offer, but I don’t think they’d use the eyelash yarn.
Thanks so much for your advice, I will send the sewing supplies out this week.
Judy H
Thank you so much, Judy. What a blessing you are to the mamas!