Hello again everyone—
Yesterday
was a Dominican holiday so we took advantage of it and went to the beach with
my brother-in-law, nephew, niece and our dog. Amos loves the water and had a
wonderful time and it was so nice to be able to relax and spend time together
as a family. We finished the day with a pastors meeting which, while that was
going on, Amos, Tesla and I fell asleep. It was accidental but it was nice to
go to bed earlier than usual! The beach just wears out little man!
Anyway,
onto the topic of this post. Tomorrow is the last crochet class for this year.
We are going to take the rest of the year to plan a new class starting in
January, with a different focus, and prepare to start the program at 2 other
churches. We are also going to collect some more supplies in order to start
again as our yarn supply is now gone and we need more starter hooks. We have
decided to have people start with the plastic hooks (they often get lost) and
as the progress, give them the metal hooks. This way we can have as many people
working as possible since the plastic hooks are supposed to be returned when
they receive a metal hook.
Anyway,
as I am wrapping up this class and planning another (actually several different
ones for different locations) I realized something. I never acknowledged the
woman who taught me to crochet in the first place.
We
have a family friend who I am still in contact with. Okay, she is Mom’s friend
but I claim her too! Her kids and my brothers and I grew up together. She is an
avid crocheter and as a favor to my Mom, agreed to teach a class of girls (I think
for 4-H) how to crochet. My Mom also got a lesson because she wanted to learn
and I still remember the pattern used to teach us how to crochet a washcloth. I
then crocheted off and on throughout the years using YouTube to teach myself
the stitches I did not know once we moved away from the area. However, the very
basics of holding the yarn, chaining, single crochet and how to turn your work
were all taught to me by Mrs. K.
Now,
here I am, a 29 year old woman living in the Caribbean and the seeds planted
over 20 years ago as a favor to my Mom have born fruit. The obnoxious, hyper,
bouncy, 7-year-old girl with pig tails and a gap in her teeth has grown up and
used the skill that was so patiently taught to me. Her patience is now giving women
who would be, to be real for a moment, at risk for prostitution and sex trafficking,
an alternative way to help support their families. The area is very poor with
many making less than minimum wage, having several mouths to feed and constant
pressures of unreliable water and power and poor sanitation. These women now
see hope and a chance to be and do something to better themselves and their
families. All because of a one patient lady who spent an afternoon teaching
girls to crochet.
As
an English teacher I find the English language lacking here. “Thank you” seems
so trivial. You truly do not know how much your selfless act means to me and
the community of women we are serving. I know there are jewels in your crown
already, but I think there will be an extra diamond for this as well.
It
took a long time to see the fruit, but it is showing itself now. So, as
inadequate as it is. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart and the hearts of
the women benefiting from this skill. Thank you Mrs. K.
