Almost a year ago we received an anonymous donation designated for our Threads of Promise Sewing Program. Little did we know that while this donation was being mailed our partners in Guatemala were asking God for a way to start Threads of Promise in the community of Gerona. (read the story here) What has taken place since then is beautiful!
Let me explain the community of Gerona. Tin houses with dirt floors and no indoor plumbing. Very few have running water and those that do use a common sink for cooking, bathing, washing clothes This video shows what Gerona is like.
and dishes. Several families own their property but most rent and are often forced to move because their landlord just decides he wants to do something different with the land. Most adults don't have an education and so finding work is difficult. The kids can go to public school for free but often can't afford the supplies and school uniform. Neighbors steal from one another, creating an environment of distrust. Two years ago there was very little unity amongst the families that attended the Sunday afternoon church services.
When our partner church, Iglesia Adonai was asked to plant a church in this area the vision that God women's Bible study is now being held every Sunday afternoon, led by the women of Iglesia Adonai. The women not only learned how to sew but they learned of their worth and value and began sharing this truth with others in their community.
gave them included job skills training. In early 2015 classes began with a handful of women who really didn't know one another. Our friend, Oneida traveled to Gerona each Thursday and poured into these women. They studied God's word and shared and prayed together. Months later Oneida told us that it was these women who were starting to encourage other women to come and bring their kids to the church service. It was at their request that a
In June each of the ladies from Threads of Promise attended our women's retreat and the only one of them who had never asked Jesus into her heart did so that weekend! In August when we hosted the first Quinceañera for the girls in Gerona, one of the ladies offered to alter the dresses at a discount and then she used the funds earned with her new machine to make her first offering to the church.
A year ago our partners had a dream of starting Threads of Promise in Gerona.
At the same time God led an anonymous donor to give to the sewing ministry.
A year later 5 women have a skill and a sewing machine that will help them provide for their families.
A year later those women are giving back to their community and to the church.
So what's next?
We want to take this process a step farther by offering a week long business training for every lady in Gerona and the area around Iglesia Adonai who have completed the Threads of Promise program. That anonymous donation provided a way for one of our board members to receive the training needed to offer our first Business Training Conference in January of 2016.
This is the Body of Christ and we are blessed to be a part!
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| Learning about sewing and Jesus:) |
and dishes. Several families own their property but most rent and are often forced to move because their landlord just decides he wants to do something different with the land. Most adults don't have an education and so finding work is difficult. The kids can go to public school for free but often can't afford the supplies and school uniform. Neighbors steal from one another, creating an environment of distrust. Two years ago there was very little unity amongst the families that attended the Sunday afternoon church services.
When our partner church, Iglesia Adonai was asked to plant a church in this area the vision that God women's Bible study is now being held every Sunday afternoon, led by the women of Iglesia Adonai. The women not only learned how to sew but they learned of their worth and value and began sharing this truth with others in their community.
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| Women's Bible Study - Gerona |
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| Dresses altered by "Ana" with her new machine |
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| "Ana" donating her first offering |
A year ago our partners had a dream of starting Threads of Promise in Gerona.
At the same time God led an anonymous donor to give to the sewing ministry.
A year later 5 women have a skill and a sewing machine that will help them provide for their families.
A year later those women are giving back to their community and to the church.
So what's next?
We want to take this process a step farther by offering a week long business training for every lady in Gerona and the area around Iglesia Adonai who have completed the Threads of Promise program. That anonymous donation provided a way for one of our board members to receive the training needed to offer our first Business Training Conference in January of 2016.
This is the Body of Christ and we are blessed to be a part!