This past weekend we ventured off to our ministry’s orphanage in west Thailand where I spent a few days loving on the children and teaching sewing classes to the children and women in the village.
The only two words I can use to describe this is ‘Life Altering’… Get it. I taught sewing classes. ha.ha.
Before we arrived to Thailand, our contacts made us fill out online forms that explained our ins-and-outs. I told them how I graduated with a fashion design degree and continued to work in the industry after. For this, they set me up teaching three classes in the village this weekend, two for the children and one for the women.
Two children’s classes on the first day:
I started out teaching them what a pattern was, how to pin fabric, construct a coaster and a 2-pocket wallet and to sew on buttons/snaps.
There were about 20 boys and girls that attended the class. It was beautiful to see how intrigued these children were just to simply learn. As I was teaching, they were leaning over the table to watch closer with what it was I was showing. The children were so attentive and just wanted to practice new and exciting skills.
Later that night, as I was walking to my room, I saw one of the young girls from my class sitting alone, still practicing what she had learned earlier. As I looked down at her, she glanced up at me with the biggest smile on her face, just so happy to be getting better at her new trait. It was so evident how willing these children are to grow and change.
I loved how the entire weekend, all of the children would run to us saying, “Teacher! Teacher!”. They were so excited to just be around us and be playful. I never wanted to leave their sides.
Women’s class on the second day:
The next night after the rice festival, I was able to work with the women in the village. If you have read any of my earlier blogs, you know the Lord has placed women in Asia on my heart in the strongest of ways. I love these women and want to empower them, to let them know how worthy and important they are in a society where men are put above all.
Here I am, in a remote village in Thailand, teaching women how to use a sewing machine with a smile so large on my face I can’t seem to contain my excitement. Someone had donated them a Juke sewing machine and surger a while back, but the ladies were all too afraid to even turn it on.
These women have never used a sewing machine before. They are used to doing everything by hand, so when I turned and ask if any of them would like to give it a try they were terrified! Of course, none of them spoke English, so I had the translator tell them that they would be fine and just to give it a try. As the first woman sat down and threaded the machine and sewed a seam on her own, you could see the excitement in her eyes and everyone else screamed and cheered for her! They’ve never seen anything like this before, so for her to be a part of changing the entire culture of her village, was HUGE!
James 1:17: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”
I began to think of it in a broader aspect, not only was I asked to teach three women to sew, but this will be a skill that will continue to trickle down to each new generation that enters this village. God is using my talents and my skills to benefit the women of the village. My heart is overflowing with excitement to be a part of such an awesome opportunity.
In that moment, as I saw the sparkle in this woman’s eyes, I knew exactly why I had been called to this place.
To this village.
To this task.
To these particular women.
Please continue to pray for the beautiful, strong, empowering women of Asia.
