Dress A Girl

Recently I became aware of an organization called "Dress A Girl Around The World".

Labels to be sewn onto our dresses

Though "labeling" people is generally something we work against, labeling on a dress can give the impression of belonging to and perhaps being watched over by an organization. That little label just might keep a little girl from being targeted for trafficking. For that reason, we'll add one to each dress.

Since I enjoy sewing and being creative I was inspired by this organization to work on some dresses that can be sent for young girls across the world who may otherwise never have a dress to call their own. God had provided some fabrics for me to use at minimal cost and my good friend Cindy was coming for her annual visit in May. Over the years Cindy and I have worked on many crafting projects together, most recently it's been quilting, but this time we decided to focus on making dresses for missions. Good friends, fun, good food, catching up on life, creating pretty things to share with those in need, what more could we ask???

Keith was sweet enough to allow us to take over the whole house for a few days with all of our sewing paraphernalia! Sewing machines moved to the living room desk and to the kitchen table. Cutting mats and fabrics covered the kitchen island. Buttons and thread of all colors lay on ottoman and sofa. Bins of fabrics had to be stepped over when navigating the hallway. The ironing board stood in the middle of the entryway. But, no worries, no one was injured in the making of these dresses!

Me at the sewing machine in the living room

Cindy and me with the first four dresses we made

 ...and four more

11 of the 13 dresses we made (some are not quite finished in this photo)

In the end we were able to complete 13 dresses before Cindy had to head back to Pennsylvania. I had to "find" the house and catch up on all things forgotten for those few days. We had a great time!

Have YOU got some cute cotton fabrics laying around at YOUR house? Why not make them into some dresses to share with little girls around the world? Dress A Girl Around The World is one organization of many who would accept dresses. Their website gives good insights into how to go about making dresses that are suitable for giving.

Thank you for the privilege of serving in missions around the world in many different ways!

New Blog Look, New Bird Shots!

Yes, you've arrived at the correct blog! 

How do you like the new look?

Karen and I hope you find this version easier to read yet just as easy to enjoy. 

Here are a few bird shots to launch our redesigned page.

Goldfinch

Rose Breasted Grosbeak 

Indigo Bunting

White-Throated Sparrow 

 Northern Cardinal

Eastern Bluebird

Day 23/Keith & Karen Dodson: A Guest Blog by Sarah Boller

Day 23: Keith & Karen Dodson

APRIL 26, 2018 / SARAH BOLLER

This week my team of prayer warriors, encouragers, sharers, and financial partners are celebrating being 50% funded! Over the last 8 months I’ve been diligently pursuing God’s calling on my life to be a career missionary in Sierra Leone, West Africa. That includes a lot of fundraising, or as Keith would put it Partnership Development.

Keith and Karen are a part of the Global Outreach Mission team that keep me from crossing the ‘straight-jacket-crazy’ line. Specifically, they spend their days helping newly minted missionaries focus on fundraising now, so when they’re in the field, they can focus on the people God is leading them to serve.

It looks something like this:

You’ve been called to another country. Your heart is there. You are ready to do the work, to meet the people, to invest everything you have into this purpose God has given you. You are certain of God’s promise for your future.

But you have to wait.

You have to be fully funded. Something that is not in your control. I wasn’t kidding about that ‘straight-jacket-crazy’ line. I’m pretty sure I play jump rope with it. But Keith and Karen reel me back in. They encourage me to keep going, to step out of my comfort zone, to change my perspective. They’re missionaries too. They’ve raised their own support. They know exactly what we’re going through because they’re in the same boat. Yep, that’s them over there on the right, 3 rows from the front, taking pictures. Go ahead, give them a wave.

Pray for them today. Let the Spirit lead you as you pray over their life, their marriage, their ministry, and their adorable cocker spaniel , Tucker. Thank God for their tremendous role in His Kingdom.

YOU ARE Transforming Lives in Uganda!

Karen and I are called to walk beside, work with, and watch over Global's missionaries as they raise the funds necessary to continue effective ministry or to begin their new ministry.

And while we are blessed to do this...YOU make our service possible. YOUR gifts and prayers enable us to enable others to expand God's Kingdom around the world! YOU are the power, the push, behind our privilege to serve and the ability of many others to serve.

Consequently, as you support us in North Carolina you are also transforming lives in Uganda through Nixon & Chasity Katabira as we coach them to full financial support over the next few months. Please watch the video, meet Nixon & Chasity, see the lives YOU are touching, and learn how God is at work through this dear family in Africa and YOUR gifts for us.

Click here to partner with us in coaching 
the Katabira's to full support!