Alexander's Bungee

Talu fought back the tears as she saw him struggling to approach the triage desk.  Alexander's drop foot prevented him from being able to walk normally due to muscle or nerve damage.  To compensate for his disability, Alexander invented a contraption consisting of a sling around his neck to which he fastened a bungee cord which went down and attached to the toe of his shoe.  To take a step, he grabbed the bungee with his hand and dragged his leg forward while leaning on a cane. It was difficult to watch him labor with every step, yet here was another example of Ukrainian ingenuity; making do with what he had.


Alexander's bungee

 Jill, our Wheels for the World leader, was available and cordially invited Alexander into her station. Jill is a redheaded, fireball, full of compassion and grace.  She lovingly cared for Alexander and pondered how to solve this precious man's dilemma.  In His providence, God sent a plantar fascitis splint and a cast shoe among our supplies so Jill could make a brace to prevent the foot drop when Alexander walked.  Alexander also received a wheel chair to give him extra support for times when he was too exhausted to walk.  This was just one of many God moments we experienced during the week. 
Alexander left with the ability to walk without his bungee, however, he did take it with him and I'm quite sure, as he happily walked away, was thinking of yet another use for it!  Alexander experienced the tremendous love and provision of our wonderful, creative God.



Another view of the bungee invention



Jill fitting Alexander with the splint & cast shoe

Seated on the right side of this picture is Sergi,our Ukrainian seating specialist.  Sergi had his own team and of course could work without an interpreter.  This was his second trip with GAiN and Wheels.

Later in the week we had a family who brought their Babushka (grandma) in another home made contraption.  Some very clever person in the family constructed a wheel chair from bicycle wheels and combine parts of various objects so their beloved Babushka could be mobile.  The chair was very functional and even had a reclining back!  Its frame was welded together and had a small wheel in the back for balance.  The arm rests were fashioned from old chair legs and the foot supports were perfectly fitted for Grandma's legs. Everyone on our team was amazed at the craftsmanship and imaginative design. There was no seat cushion but they had a lovely oriental style rug draped over the back and seat to provide a more comfortable ride for Grandma.

Terri, our Occupational Therapist, fitted Grandma with a new, folding, wheel chair with a nice padded seat cushion, for which the family was sincerely grateful.  However, as they took the new chair and left, Grandma preferred to ride away in her beloved, hand crafted, chair.


The creative, home made wheel chair



Dwelling in the Shelter...

As predicted, a light rain fell on Sumy on and off all day, Tuesday.  As we prayed, we asked God to protect all the families who had appointments and to hold back any barriers that would hinder them from coming to the clinic. With a few new strategies in place, our clinic opened on time.  The doors to the wheel chair storage room were now locked and we had a new system which allowed only 2 family members to come into the clinic while the patient was being fitted.  These two changes made a big difference in the flow of our work.

Vladik, learning how to drive

Vladik and his mother, Sveta, live in a one room apartment on the 5th floor of their building.  Vladik is 15 years old and has CP, like most of the other children we served.  He was a sweet young man and his mother said Vladik's father left them when he found out the child was disabled.  Up until today, Vladik never owned a wheel chair.  He could walk, slowly, by holding on to his mother's hand.  When he leaves the apartment building, he has to pull himself up the stairs to the fifth floor to return home. Sveta left her job to care for Vladik and to home school him; they live off of government assistance.  We saw them at the rehab center a couple of times after he was given a wheel chair because he comes there a couple of times a week for therapy.  Once Cindy and Ura got the chair ready, Vladik could hardly wait to get in and start wheeling himself around.  He grinned from ear to ear with excitement as he pushed the wheels and made circles, turned corners and went forward and back.  Mobility is a very special gift for someone who has never had it before.  The exuberant joy on Vladik's face was priceless. I have to hand it to his mom, Vladik was impeccably clean, polite and happy.  I encouraged her in her role as caretaker and single mother.  Her whole life is dedicated to caring for this child.  Sveta gets an A+ in my book for good parenting.   Vladik got a denim bag for his chair to match his denim jacket; which he thought was pretty cool.

Behind Vladik you can see our reception area where we offered hospitality to the patients and families.  It was chilly outside so hot tea and coffee were available along with cookies and other simple snacks.

Vladik, his Mama & our team

Igor, & Ura adjust the chair for Ilya

Our next patient was an adorable, freckle faced boy named Ilya.  His papa, Igor, brought him to be fitted for a wheel chair.  Igor was very talkative and was the only parent who asked me questions about myself.  When he found out I was from Kansas, he wanted to know all about tornadoes, if I had ever seen one, if I had been in one...etc. Then he asked about Toto (the dog from Wizard of Oz)! In Ukraine, Toto is known as Tatochka.  We had a delightful conversation as Cindy and Ura were fitting Ilya for a wheel chair.  Igor told us he made a riding toy for Ilya by combining a stroller and a bicycle.  I was amazed at his creativity.  Igor took a great interest in helping Ura prepare the chair for Ilya. Igor asked if we were Christians to which our interpreter replied, yes.  I was not aware of this part of the conversation but was told later by our interpreter, Sasha.  Igor was quite surprised that "believers" would dress in "hip" clothing.He must have been referring to the way our interpreters were dressed because our team was dressed for comfort, not style! Ilya didn't have heavy enough clothes on so we got him a hand knit stocking cap from the gift pile and put it on him. He seemed very pleased with his new hat.  After lifting the foot rests and adding a chest harness to the chair, Ilya was ready to roll.  Just before leaving, Igor handed a business card to Sasha, our interpreter for the day.  Now his questions and curiosity made more sense, Igor was in the TV and radio broadcast business!

Ilya with his custom fit chair, his papa, Igor and Sasha our interpreter

It Looks Like Rain

Monday afternoon flew by as we served five more families by fitting their loved one with a wheel chair.

Sveta

There were two adults who came through our station in the afternoon.  The first was Sveta, a woman who had taken a fall two years previously and was confined to a wheel chair.  While Cindy and Ura were looking for a chair, Angela and I visited with Sveta and she told us her story.  Sveta was a psychologist who lost her job when she became disabled.  "I'm useless to anyone" she said.  Even in her dismal circumstances she was hopeful that she would walk again because feeling was starting to come back in her legs.  I shared pictures of my family with her which included photos of my friends who adopted 3 children from Ukraine.  Sveta was so moved by their big hearts to take in 3 brothers, one of whom has CP, she went and bought chocolate bars and brought them back later asking me to send them to the boys.  Sveta also mentioned her 10 year old daughter wanted a sibling so she and her husband are considering having another baby when she recovers from this injury.  Once again, Sveta was not wallowing in her circumstances but looking forward to the future.  She smiled a lot and said she loves the way Americans smile!

Alexander with his matching bag & seat cushion

Alexander was our last patient of the day.  He struggled painfully to walk with a cane across the parking lot.  His hips were so tightly locked he could barely sit in a chair.  Cindy suggested a walker but he really wanted a wheel chair so he could go to the store by himself.  She  fitted him with a wheel chair for which he was extremely grateful. Being able to go to the store, alone, would give Alexander independence and a sense of value. Alexander had been an accountant until he started having problems with his legs, then he was let go by his employer because of his disability.  Although his wife and family were very supportive, he struggled with the why questions.  He asked me why God punishes good people.  That lead into a deep theological discussion and Angela and I did our best to answer him with Biblical references.  He said every person he asks these questions to says the same thing and they all quote the Bible.  I explained that the Bible is our way of knowing God's heart and that He speaks to us through His Word.  My parting words to Alexander were that God doesn't promise life will be easy but He does promise to be there with us through the good times and the difficult times.  Please pray that God would become very real to Alexander and that he would come to know the incomprehensible love of his Creator. 


Clouds were forming by the time our last patients were leaving.  There was rain in the forecast for Tuesday and I wondered how the clinic was going to function in the rain.  God was already at work and as we were leaving a big military truck pulled up to the parking lot with several soldiers and a huge tent!  When we arrived the next morning, the three sided tent was up and we worked in its shelter for the rest of the week.


Soldiers unloading the tent

When we arrived back at the hotel there was much rejoicing because the 7 lost suitcases had been found and brought to Sumy! Yea God!  Now everyone had their clothes and the much needed tools and supplies to custom make the remaining wheel chairs.

After being on my feet most of the day, running back and forth to the building, I was exhausted!  The delicious evening meal was truly savored and we sat at the table sipping tea afterwards reflecting on all the wonderful experiences of the day.  Yes, there were some challenges, one being the room where the bulk of the wheel chairs were kept was in the same hallway as the bathroom the waiting families used.  As they walked by the open doors, some were tempted to go in and pick out what they wanted.  This was difficult because the therapist has the final say in which chair is most appropriate for the patient.  By God's grace, there were two sets of doors to the room so we were able to lock the set that opened to the public side of the hallway and that solved the problem for the remainder of the week.

Our "covered" clinic

Sound sleep came easily after a hot shower. When my head hit the pillow, I knew nothing until right before the alarm went off on Tuesday morning.  The predictions of rain were correct, it was cloudy, rainy and cold but our hearts were warm and we couldn't wait to see what God had in store for us.  I was reminded of Psalm 91:1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.  The tent was a reminder that we were dwelling in the shelter of the Most High, being His hands and feet; bringing the Light of Christ to those in need.

Masha

As we completed one patient, Talu and Ira were right there with the next one in line.  Some of these precious families traveled many hours to get to the clinic in a variety of ways. Many came by public bus, some by car and others by special vans the rehab center sent out into the oblast going from village to village picking up patients.It was an entire day's effort for these families and many of the parents took off work to bring their children to the clinic.

One of the transport vans that brought families from afar

Masha was one of the patients that really stood out.  Talu had been visiting with Masha, her Mama and Grandma in the waiting area and eagerly brought her to our station.  Upon first glance, we knew Masha was special.  Her light brown hair was carefully braided and fastened in loops around her head. She was very bright and to our great surprise spoke English quite well.  Masha was 11 and never owned a wheel chair. The only means of transportation she had was a stroller which was too small but like all Ukrainians, the family made do with what they had.

Let's stop here for a minute and talk about what I call the Ukrainian "can do" spirit.  Not once this week did I meet any "victims" of circumstances. The families and individuals we helped had a spark of ingenuity and a strong sense of dignity. When they came to the clinic they wore their best clothes which were clean and neat.  The children, although some were acutely disabled, were extremely well cared for, had on fresh clothes and we never smelled a poopy diaper!  When a child has not been cared for but has been "cleaned up" for a special occasion, it's obvious.  I am a detail person and I notice the smallest things.  These precious children had immaculate, well trimmed fingernails, spotless ears and tidy hair. Many of the children we served drooled constantly but not one of them had chapped lips, cheeks or sores on their faces from drooling.  The children were adored and given them the best possible care. It was inspiring for all of us to see such dedicated parents and grandparents whose complete energy and attention was given to attending the disabled child.

Back to Masha's story.  Cindy asked many questions about Masha's condition, which I believe was Cerebral Palsy, and Masha answered many of the questions herself, in English.  English was one of her favorite subjects in school and she conversed with us easily. 

Cindy and Ura quickly bonded and Ura's incredible sense of

Masha waiting patiently to "try on" a chair

what a person might need in a wheel chair proved to be invaluable.  It was no time at all on the first day that Cindy announced she no longer needed Angela to go back to the storage room because she and Ura were "on the same page" and didn't need translation.  Now is that a God thing or what?

Fitting Masha with just the right chair proved to be challenging but after three attempts, Cindy and Ura came up with the perfect seating for her. Cindy tried to fit her with a walker as well but Masha's legs would just fold up when she put any weight on them.  The fitted chair gave Masha a new sense of freedom because she could wheel herself around.  A pair of fingerless gloves was given to her to help with traction on the wheels and keep her little hands clean.

Masha had the Ukrainian "can do" spirit and she was not about to let her disability stop her from doing what she wanted. I don't know who was happier when Masha left the clinic; Masha and her family or our team of four.  She was an enormous encouragement to us all.

Masha with her gloves & bag

Masha ready to roll with her new wheels!

                

The Clinic is Open!

Every morning started with worship, prayer and devotions at 7 am, which set the tone for the rest of the day.  It was a time we could gather as a team, share our hearts and commune the One who brought us there for His purpose and glory.  Sparks of excitement filled the air as we sang and petitioned the Father for the day's needs.  A hearty breakfast would carry us through the hectic morning and some of us through the entire day.

Left side stations



Right side stations


On this beautiful, sunny Monday, we arrived an hour before the clinic was to open and there were already patients waiting for us!  Our clinic was set up outside in the parking lot of the rehab center.  The team launched into high gear as we assembled the areas: the gatekeeper's table, for appointment check in, was at the entrance along with a waiting area.  7 stations with teams of 4 spread across the center of the parking lot.  Each team consisted of a physical or occupational therapist, mechanic, support person and an interpreter. 

The waiting area

A line of tables near the building held all the supplies the mechanics would need to custom make the chairs for each recipient.  Gifts occupied an area on the porch of the center  and off to the side was the upholstery shop where seat cushions, head rests, chest harnesses etc. were constructed as needed.  After the patient received a wheel chair, they were escorted to the safety training area where two young Ukrainian men, Kostya and Oleg, demonstrated safety techniques and gave them written instructions.  From there they went to the evangelism station and finally to the registration desk where they signed for the wheel chair which included a promise not to sell it.

Our team: Ura, Cindy, Angela and me

Our therapists were the team leaders and  I was the support person for our team; Ura (who only spoke Russian) the mechanic, Cindy our pediatric, physical therapist  and Angela, our interpreter. 

I was concerned about having Ura on our team only because he would need an interpreter to communicate with Cindy.  Ura has been part of the GAiN ministry for 11 years and is a real joy to be around.  I wondered how it would work out when Cindy, Ura and Anglea went in the building to find a suitable wheel chair and I was left with the family.  My ability to speak Russian is limited however I did bring along a Russian dictionary for support in an emergency.

After a short team prayer, we alerted Talu and her interpreter, Ira, that we were ready for our first patient!  Ira escorted in a delightful young man named Kostya who struggled to walk with a pair of wooden crutches which were too tall for him, gouging his underarms.  He was 31 years old and had never had a wheel chair.  The effort it took for him to walk quickly drained his energy and a wheel chair would give him the freedom to go long distances.  Cindy examined Kostya and asked questions about living conditions and daily activities. After each examination, we prayed with the patient and their family asking God to help Cindy and Ura find just the right chair that would help make their lives better. While Cindy and Ura were choosing the chair, I would greet the patient and their family, get to know them and give them encouragement.  Thankfully we had floating interpreters who stepped in when Angela accompanied Cindy and Ura into the building. In a few minutes, Cindy and Ura came back and  fitted Kostya with a new pair of crutches (the correct height & padded tops) to use at home, a walker and a wheel chair.

While Ura was adjusting the chair, walker and crutches, Cindy instructed Kostya how to use them, and I filled a wheel chair bag with the gifts we brought from the States. At the end of the process, Kostya was presented with the gift bag and we took a final photo.   Kostya's face beamed with joy upon receiving these precious gifts.

Kostya with his new crutches, walker & wheel chair

And so the format continued for each patient we saw.  Every chair was altered to fit the specific needs of the person which could include making a seat cushion, head rest, chest harness and lots of other adjustments.  Our little team fitted 6 people with wheel chairs the first day. 

For our patients, receiving a wheel chair for the first time was exciting and sometimes emotional but most of all, life changing.  The best way to describe how families viewed the wheel chair was with deep gratitude for the freedom the recipient now had.  In some cases, the chair represented more freedom and flexibility for the caregivers.

First Things First

Six hours of sound sleep, a hot shower and a hearty breakfast helped kick-start the first day in Sumy. The first order of business was to meet our wonderful interpreters.  As we crowded in the conference room, each person introduced themselves and said a few sentences about their lives. It was about what you would expect until it was Tanya's turn.  Tanya is a beautiful and bright young woman, wife and mother.  She bravely declared that she had a degree in psychology and had never been around "religious" people before.  As the words dropped from her lips, I could sense her unease with the group and a look of "what have I gotten myself into" all over her face.  Remember this about Tanya as you read about our time in Sumy because God did something extraordinary throughout the week. 

Our wonderful team of interpreters

Several of the interpreters had incredible testimonies about how God worked in their lives and families, I'll work some of them into future stories.  Following introductions, our worship leader, Bob, got up and lead us in a few songs then we got down to the business of orientation.  Yours truly was asked to do the Gospel bead explanation and to put it mildly, I was quite nervous about it.  This was my first trip in two years and the thought of "preaching the Gospel" to my peers had my stomach in a knot!  However, when it was time, the Holy Spirit gave me the confidence and the words to present His Gospel message. I started with creation explaining the incredible value of human life and how every human being bears the image of God.  The mindset of abortion as birth control and treatment of those with disabilities in Eastern Europe is quite different than our views.  Then came the fall, separation from God, Christ's life, suffering, death and resurrection; the gift of forgiveness, the promise of the Holy Spirit , spiritual growth and of course the best part - our eternal destiny (heaven) and the restoration of justice. All I can say is God really came through for me!  Whew!


The morning flew by and after lunch we boarded the bus for the rehab center where our clinic would be held. 200 wheelchairs had been shipped from the States in a container, arriving in Ukraine only 2 weeks before we arrived.  Our wonderful "boys", Ruslan and Ura, transported them by truck from Kiev to Sumy and they were waiting in a shed to be processed for the distribution.  In a matter of minutes, the team started bringing them in to the large room which would be our warehouse for the week. The shrink wrap was cut off, seats measured and chairs were lined up by size and category. 


Talu sorting specialty chairs



Remember the seven missing suitcases?  Unfortunately some of the supplies we needed for labeling the chairs were in the lost luggage but God provided alternatives for us and with all hands on deck (including interpreters) the job was completed.  As the precious cargo was unwrapped, it became apparent we had a large number of pediatric chairs.  According to Jill, the Wheels for the World leader, this was quite unusual.  We wondered what God had up his sleeve!



Unwrapping the chairs




Sorted chairs waiting for new occupants

 All of the chairs would not fit in this room so some had to be taken up to the second floor and others were put in the shed. The wheel chairs are donated by American families from across the United States, refurbished by prisoners and shipped all over the world for distributions like this one.  This is a ministry of  Wheels For the World which is part of Joni Eareckson Tada's ministry.  http://www.joniandfriends.org/wheels-for-the-world/

Once the chairs were ready, we brought the suitcases ladened with gifts each trip participant brought to distribute with the chairs.  The support staff patiently sorted and organized all of the wonderful goodies our patients would receive as part of the process.  Everyone oohed and ahhed over the beautiful wheel chair bags and blankets from the fantastic volunteers in Kansas City! 


By the time we got everything prepared for the clinic to start on Monday, it was dark and we were ready for dinner and a good night's rest.  Anticipation was high as we prayed over the wheel chairs and asked God's blessing on the activities of the week.  What would tomorrow bring?

And Away We Go!

September 3rd dawned and it was finally time to go.  All my plans of getting a long list of "to dos" completed had gone completely out the window as the pre-departure hours flew by. It's funny how the "to do" list becomes a "wish list" as a deadline looms.  Sigh....I suppose it is just pride to want the house in perfect order in case the plane drops in the ocean and someone has to organize a meal at my house for surviving family members and friends.


Although everything was packed days in advance, Danny and I got a bit of a late start to the airport (I'm sure all of you are quite surprised) so he had to make up time by speeding like a mad man to get me there in time to check the extra bags all the way to Kiev, Ukraine.  As we darted in and out of traffic I was composing a mercy plea, in my head, for the police officer who would surely  pull us over.  By God's grace we made it without any incident, bags were checked and paid for leaving just enough time for a last stop at the ladies room before security.


Thankfully, Delta was on time because my room mate and a couple from Dallas were waiting for me in Detroit so we could fly to JFK together.  It's been a while since I've passed through JFK and now I remember why.  Talk about mass confusion, crowds, traffic and an overall sense of  "If I get separated from the group, I'll never find my way out of here!".  We managed to locate the correct terminal and find our team leader sitting under a fake tree by the Aeroflot check in desk. With hand luggage in tow, we entered the world of Aeroflot, Russia's famous airline.


After an excruciating wait in a line reminiscent of the Soviet Union, we approached the "agent"  for a simple issuing of boarding passes to Moscow and Kiev.  Silly me for assuming anything with this airline would be simple!  Although our bags had been checked all the way through, the Aeroflot representative wanted our paid receipts from the originating airport.  Unfortunately my luggage claim ticket had been plastered on the back of the receipt and I was on the verge of an anxiety attack at the thought of letting it go.  Horrific memories of a 2 week trip to Siberia with only a backpack and one change of clothes flooded my mind. (That lost luggage took 4 months to be returned to me.)


While conversing with the agent, my room mate and several others were informed they had to leave the line, go around the corner and get in another line to obtain a paid receipt then come back for their boarding passes.  I was able to negotiate with the agent, keep my luggage tag and obtain boarding passes so I stood with the carry on luggage while they went through the "other" line.  Eventually, everyone got  boarding passes and made it through security downing the last few drops of the $3 bottles of water before the scan.

Waiting for the overseas flight @ JFK

At the gate we easily spotted the rest of the team dressed in their blue shirts. There was a young man who was on his way to a closed country to partake in a business exchange for a year.  When the team gathered to pray, we included him and prayed for his venture as a businessman-missionary.  It was one of those God moments.

Upon boarding, I was delighted to find one of our new participants as my seat mate.  However I could not sleep and probably kept her awake most of the night.  Water was only offered before and after the two meals which were served.  The almost 10 hour flight was miserable, sleepless and I arrived, dehydrated, at the Moscow airport.  Rushing through passport check, the transfer desk and security I hurried to find a nice refreshing bottle of water.  Vendor after vendor refused to take anything but Rubles, my heart was pounding as I searched in vain for a currency exchange.  Finally my room mate produced 15 Rubles she had saved from a past trip and we purchased bottles of water.  With shaking hands I opened the cap only to find thousands of bubbles rushing to the top......yes, it was water with "gas"! At that point, it didn't matter so I downed the whole bottle burping up bubbles after each swallow.

 The connecting flight to Kiev was short and they had plenty of "still" water, bigger, more comfortable seats and I slept like a baby for about 45 minutes waking up just before landing at Boryspil airport in Kiev. Tears filled my eyes as we landed in beloved Ukraine as thoughts of relationships and experiences of the past 11 years flooded my heart.  At last, I was home!

Greeted by the Oksanas at Boryspil in Kiev

Upon retrieving most of the team luggage (7 pieces didn't make it) we were herded to a waiting tour bus for the final leg of the long journey.  The weather was noticeably cooler here and the lower humidity made it a welcome relief from the exceptionally hot weather back in the States.  It was a 5 hour adventure from Kiev eastward to Sumy on roads which were "under construction".  I never did see any signs of road work in the dark but we felt every bump, pothole and broken pavement along the way. 


The "auto grill" indoor and outdoor dining



After an hour of bumping along the road, the bus stopped at a quaint Ukrainian folk restaurant. We enjoyed typical Ukrainian food and folk art as we sat in the covered, outside, dining room.

The much needed break and restroom stop ended all too soon as we hurried back on the bus for the remaining 4 hour journey through the countryside.


While Ukraine is developing nicely after 70 years of oppression by the Soviets, there are still a few things which have not caught up with the times.  There is no such thing as a "rest stop" with restrooms when one is out in the rural areas.  When our bladders were screaming for relief, the bus driver simply pulled over on the side of the dark road and we filed out - guys to the left, girls to the right and were instructed to find a tree.  With wet wipes in hand, I stumbled around trying to find something suitable, all the while hoping not to disturb any living creature that might be lurking in the dark.  The chilly night air was quite shocking on warm, bare bottoms as we struggled to squat and keep our clothing dry in the pitch black of the night.  All was well until someone decided to turn on a flash light so they could see better!  Shrieks from half naked women quickly changed the offenders mind and the light was extinguished.


The rest of the ride was nothing but a blur as I slumbered peacefully in spite of the rugged roads passing beneath the wheels of the bus.  It was shortly after midnight on Sept 5th when we rolled into the Shafron Hotel parking lot in Sumy, Ukraine.  As soon as the keys were handed out and luggage was delivered to the rooms, I drank in a hot shower and for the first time since Thursday night, got in a horizontal position....ah the simple things in life are always the best!

God is sew good!

OK so I've explained how God provided all the money for the trip but He was just getting started!
An email was sent to each team member with a 3 page, spreadsheet list of items needed to make the mission a success.  I gasped a little when first viewing the attachment with the monstrous list.  Feeling a little overwhelmed, I looked carefully to see which items I could possibly help with.

My heart warmed when I saw there were items which could be sewn from fabric.  Never before have I been able to use my sewing talents on one of the GAiN trips other than making Gospel aprons.  There was a great need for seat cushion covers, backpacks to hang on the back of the chairs and lap blankets.

Back packs cut and ready to sew.

Robin hosted a sew-a-thon for Ukraine.

Having the entrepreneur spirit, I jumped in with both feet and committed to making 50 seat cushion covers and 100 back packs and/or drawstring bags. Since God had given me a firm confirmation about going on the trip, I felt confident He would provide everything needed to make the goal.

After gathering a few pieces of suitable fabric from my sewing room, I sent out an email to friends asking for fabric donations and volunteers to sew.  Within a few days, stacks of fabric had been donated and one sack of fabric even showed up on my driveway (left by an anonymous person who I would discover later was my sister.)

My friend, Shelley, at one of the sew-a-thons.

The first of many sewing marathons was scheduled and I got to work cutting out items we could assemble. Each time we gathered to sew, more volunteers would appear.  Some of the ladies wanted pieces so they could work at home so I gladly farmed out the items.  We even had the mother of a friend who lives in Arkansas make 10 backpacks and 10 drawstring bags!  Our youngest volunteers were 10, 12 & 13 years old.

Over 20 ladies (some of which I had never met) volunteered their time and talent to make 51 seat cushion covers, 71 back packs, 34 drawstring bags and 11 lap blankets!  Not only did we reach our goal, we exceeded it!  God likes to show His power and He did it in a big way!  My friend, Janet,was dubbed "Iron woman Seamstress" after making 19 seat cushion covers and 20 backpacks!  Janet is a marathon competitor and a triathlete so she knows the power of finishing strong!

All of the wonderful items which were made for the mission.

All throughout the two month project I was blown
away by God's faithfulness to bring more and more volunteers to get the job completed.  I cut out all the items which were made and finished the seams with a serging machine to make it easier for the seamstresses.  As I came to the last piece of donated fabric, and cut the remaining items we needed, there was only a few inches of fabric left over at the end of the yardage.  Only God could do that kind of math!

Sasha and I working on the serger.

Not only did God provide all the fabric and the volunteers, He also provided and extra suitcase which was needed to carry the gifts to Ukraine.  My dear friend, Carol, found the perfect bag at a garage sale and was able to negotiate a phenomenal price after she told the lady the bag was going to Ukraine on a mission trip!  Jehovah Jirah does indeed provide everything we need! He gets all the glory for this outstanding accomplishment!