After Easter, we travelled up to Minneapolis to visit Albion Evangelical Free Church, our supporting church there. We very much enjoyed our time with them, seeing friends and family. I (Andrew) was able to attend their weekly men's Bible study and Yolanda was a part of the women's group that took place at the same time. She was also blessed with being given lots of time in Sunday's main service to speak. After a wonderful response from many individuals, we were told that we could "raid" their missionary cupboard that contained various donated items that were given by people in the church. They were very generous! We enjoyed many meals, conversations, and visits with people from the church throughout the week. We left feeling blessed and loved. Everyone was warm, friendly, and made us feel at home.
 | Last week, we took a few days to go to Michigan to visit my sister. We didn't anticipate the couple inches of snow there would be in April, but we really enjoyed being able to spend time with her. Then we drove an hour from her to visit my grandpa and great aunt. My grandpa's 94th birthday took place while we were there and we were thankful that we could help him celebrate it with him and his sister (96 years old). Spending time with them is precious and we were very glad for those few days together. |
Blanket Auction
If we have visited you in the last month, then you have heard us speak about putting this blanket up for auction. We are auctioning it on our Facebook site now. In our last blog, we shared about this blanket and how the ladies made it in just two weeks after learning how to crochet for the first time. Each of the twelve ladies was given one ball of yarn and crocheted individual squares. Yolanda had previously brought up the question with them about how might they be able sell items they make. How much would you sell it for and why? How much would materials cost? Who would you sell it to? What would you do with the money you make; purchase more material? She led a brainstorming session with them and got them thinking. So when the ladies showed her the squares they made, they asked if she could bring them to America and show the people here what they have done. She replied by saying that we were flying in two days, but if they were able to get together with each other on their own time and crochet them together, then she would take it to America. The result was a completed blanket! After learning to crochet for the first time only two weeks prior, this is what they were able to accomplish.
These 12 women are able to attend the crochet group each week because they don't have jobs. How much more would they rather have a job to go to. However, they are learning skills here that will eventually help them be able to earn an income. They didn't know one another before this group began, but they are learning together, working together, and coming alongside each other in order to help one another do as well as possible. We have seen very little selfishness and lots of encouragement. Relationships are being built. Many positive things are coming out of these interactions, such as one of the ladies inviting other ones to her church, so they would be able to go together and hear from God's Word.
The auction for the blanket can be found on our Facebook page by clicking here . All of the money raised will be used to directly benefit these ladies, some to purchase more materials and the rest to go straight to those who made this. Some of them are widows and others have husbands who are out of work. A couple have husbands who have work at times, but all live on about $1 per day.
In order to bid, just click on the link in the previous paragraph and reply to the thread with an amount you wish to bid. The opening bid must be at least $20. The auction will end at noon (Central Time) on May 20. Whoever has the highest bid at that point will win it and we will contact him or her to give payment details and how we will mail the blanket. Below are pictures of some of the ladies, working on their squares. Check out the JM2Z Facebook page and make a bid today!
The auction for the blanket can be found on our Facebook page by clicking here . All of the money raised will be used to directly benefit these ladies, some to purchase more materials and the rest to go straight to those who made this. Some of them are widows and others have husbands who are out of work. A couple have husbands who have work at times, but all live on about $1 per day.
In order to bid, just click on the link in the previous paragraph and reply to the thread with an amount you wish to bid. The opening bid must be at least $20. The auction will end at noon (Central Time) on May 20. Whoever has the highest bid at that point will win it and we will contact him or her to give payment details and how we will mail the blanket. Below are pictures of some of the ladies, working on their squares. Check out the JM2Z Facebook page and make a bid today!
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