Thanksgiving is a time to be with family, to heal hurts and to revel in the bounties God has given to us.
We will be missing our families this week as loved ones gather without us. But we have plenty of brothers and sisters here in Rwanda to love and be grateful for.
Generally, the Rwandans are open and eager to love and be loved. They think all our jokes are hilarious, (partly because they expect those with missionary badges to be serious all the time,) and we feel so appreciated for our efforts to help them, that it really makes it so that rewards in heaven are secondary to the immediate rewards of the gratitude already expressed. Frankly, it's truly humbling. Even our most diligent efforts feel somewhat paltry when seen in the light of how much the recipients seem to appreciate them. Look at all these beautiful people!
We had planned to get the Kinyinya branch Relief Society a couple of sewing machines. Next year, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is introducing a program of humanitarian work that is member focused. It will be administered through the mission rather than the local/native Church authorities. Part of that initiative will include teaching people tailoring. Our thought was that if those interested in learning to sew already knew how to operate a sewing machine, they would be that much ahead. In the meantime, they can use the machines to make and repair clothing, or even to learn to make sellable items like purses or bags.
For my birthday, one of our sons and daughters-in-law paid for two machines. I chose treadle machines since the power can be unreliable in the neighborhoods and some of the homes don't have electricity anyway. We added some of the heavy cotton fabric called Kitenge,(Kit-eng-ay) scissors, thread, and other notions.
My idea was that each lady would be able to make a small drawstring bag. The Thursday "Self-reliance " classes each usually have about 20 people and there are three classes.
About 40 women crowded eagerly around the machines, all excited and happy. (There were so many that some couldn't see at all and gave up and went back to their workshops. But don't worry, the Relief Society Presidency promised that everyone would have a chance.)
I fought the sensation of being in over my head and quickly revised my plan. We had trouble getting the belts for the treadle machines to fit properly, so they cut a strip of cloth, tied it to the wheel of the machine and spun it into a tight rope. They knotted it around the wheel and it worked reasonably well.
I decided that it would be impossible for more than two or three to finish their bags, so I just showed them how to cut it out and had one lady who was already knows how to sew on a treadle machine stitch the seams and casings. Luckily, I had chosen a simple style.
We got it all done and showed them the result. The ladies who had experience promised to help the others after we left so that everyone gets a chance to use the machine and learn to sew a straight seam.
Culturally, they love to have their pictures taken, so they happily complied when I asked them for a photo. Front and center is Fausten, who photobombed, since he's neither in Relief Society, nor the Kinyinya (Keen-yeen-ya) branch, (but he's a super cool young man with a lot on the ball, who has helped translate for us sometimes.)
When I did bunny ears behind his head, the ladies thought I was giving the peace symbol and imitated me.
Here is our first attempted photo. The sisters arranged the machines front and center. Here you can see the treadles on the sewing machines. Note the bold, colorful kitenge fabrics that several of the ladies are wearing.
As I mentioned in an earlier blog, sometimes poor women just wrap the fabric around themselves like a towel and tuck (maybe use a safety pin, too?) without any sewing or fitting. Kitenge costs about $15 dollars per 45" wide, 6 yard piece.
Note the woman standing closest to Jeff. She's wearing a bonnet that is styled like a baker's hat. They wear those to protect their braids when they're sleeping, but they sometimes wear them just as a head dress. The ladies often have a matching headdress (often quite elaborate) to their kitenge-fabric dresses. I've developed a hobby of watching for different prints of Kitenge.
For fun, zoom in on the faces of these sisters. Each has a story that would likely bring you to tears. But they are generally women of faith, hope and good cheer.
Next time you sing the hymn, "As Sisters in Zion," think of them.
(here are the lyrics, if you're not familiar:
1.As sisters in Zion, we’ll all work together;
The blessings of God on our labors we’ll seek.
We’ll build up his kingdom with earnest endeavor;
We’ll comfort the weary and strengthen the weak.
2.The errand of angels is given to women;
And this is a gift that, as sisters, we claim:
To do whatsoever is gentle and human,
To cheer and to bless in humanity’s name.
3.How vast is our purpose, how broad is our mission,
If we but fulfill it in spirit and deed.
Oh, naught but the Spirit’s divinest tuition
Can give us the wisdom to truly succeed.
Text: Emily H. Woodmansee, 1836–1906
Music: Janice Kapp Perry, b. 1938. © 1985 IRI
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