Palmers on Mission!: Sewing with thanksgiving in our hearts

This rainy Monday morning of Thanksgiving week, my sewing class and I had lots to be thankful for.

I've been passing out big new umbrellas donated by Tim Yarbrough of the North American Mission Board and World Changers. I'm guessing if you, our blog readers, drive through Clarkston on a rainy day, you'll see LOTS of these great umbrellas walking around. Thanks, NAMB, or as we say in Swahili, "Asante sana!"

We're also thankful for the accomplishments of my sewing class students. Most were out on Monday, getting vaccines for their green card requirements. That gave Kelly and me a great opportunity to work closely with the women who were able to come.

You can see the pride and joy this lovely Bhutanese woman feels about the bag she made.

She doesn't have much to smile about these days. Few of the new Bhutanese families arriving in Atlanta are able to find jobs. She and her husband are very worried about paying their rent. In Nepal, where they lived in a refugee camp, they were both teachers. Please pray for them.

I'm grateful to God that sewing class lifts her spirits. She's a Hindu, but she and many of the Bhutanese have been attending an area church. My friend will have a new doll and handmade doll clothes to give some special little girl this Christmas.

Some of my students are nearly fluent in English, but some can hardly speak a word. This friend struggles to communicate. She is expecting her third child. Please pray for her.

We're also grateful for the used clothing that is part of our sewing class. We tear up the fabric and use it to make bags and other items. Ripping old dresses and shirts gets pretty silly sometimes!

I'm so grateful for the sewing machines and other supplies donated to my class. We need more fabric, as well as beads, yarn, knitting needles and crochet hooks, and other craft items. Why don't you raid your crafts drawer and see if there's something you might like to donate to refugee friends?