Camelia gets her sewing machine

Camelia  grinned from ear to ear when I brought HER sewing machine to her home this past week. She has been hand sewing bookmarks to sell with the goal to get enough money together to purchase a reconditioned sewing machine complete with carrying case (a must to protect the machine from dust). She is so excited even though her house (made of 4 wooden garage doors) doesn't have electricity. She has trouble shot that issue by talking with her sister and a friend from church about using their homes with power when I'm not in town. The above pic is at our home in SV where I gave Camelia her first lessons on her own machine. This week she'll be sewing aprons on her very own. I'm so proud of all Camelia's efforts.

Sina recently joined the micro enterprise part of my ministry in San Vicente. The funny part is that she was the first person I asked "Would you like to have me help you start your own business with your new sewing skills?" Well, that was three years ago. At that time Sina's answer was "No thanks. I just want to sew for my family." What could I say. Times change. The construction work that her husband does has slowed considerably over the past year. So, Sina approached me about joining the group of ladies who are focused on having their own small sewing businesses. She expressed that she would like to be able to help with the family's expenses. Sina and her husband have three children ages 3-9. They hope to build a home on property that they have purchased on the south end of the town of San Vicente, Mexico. It's exciting to have Sina join the group as she has some accounting experience and she is VERY particular about the quality of products that she sews. She is pictured here with the newest addition to her product line. See the next blog for a closeup and description. 

Sina's purse close up

Thought you might enjoy a close up of Sina's new purse design. The bags are lined, have three pockets inside, a zipper closure and a decorative zipper pull.

sewing pj pants by Lori

It was the perfect week for teaching the ladies how to sew pj pants. Even with the cold, wet weather 7-9 students attended each class where they whipped up fleece and flannel lounge pants for themselves as well as others in their families.

Straw Necklaces

There are lots of challenges that come along with teaching the on-going sewing classes that are open to the community of San Vicente. One of the largest is how to keep all the kids occupied who tag along with their moms or aunts. The box of Spanish children's books, coloring books and crayons keep them somewhat busy. But, each time it's important to be armed with a few extra treasures. This week I cut up colored plastic straws that the little girls to string to make necklaces. They're on their way to learning the first skills of sewing. Won't be long and they will join in on the classes.

Winter in San Vicente Feb 16

<>SO... our little San Vicente casa is getting thru the winter, but the owners cut the big (big!) mesquite tree in the front. PLUS, we now have multiple new neighbors... 6 new houses went up on the hillside... mostly block houses, but a few 'garage door' shacks...

<>Lori is getting ready to do a full week of sewing classes... check out the cool 'announcement' banner she can now put up to invite the community.
<>Only down side with all the construction in our neighborhood is that we are seeing alot of scorpions... daily... probably had their nests all disturbed...

Onward!!
Chris

Insanity Dec 2012-Jan 2013

Happy New Year, y'all!

Well, happy blog-followers, it's been a very insane and interesting time mid-Dec to mid-Jan:

<>holidays,
<>a construction project that has dragged WAY past plans,
<>travel to see (ailing) parents in Michigan
<>travel to see grandkids (well, Chris did, to Texas...)
<>end-of-year ministry book-keeping (you have NO IDEA how much book-keeping work we have to do...)
<>some health issues, and
<>some major storms...

well, not been able to get south to San Vicente.

We will have some stuff posted, more of the 'Annual Celebration Pages' with tons of pics...

Plz keep us in your prayers, many major transitions going on.

your bro, Chris