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!