Last Thursday I had a get-together for the leaders of the 5 ladies groups. All ten of the ladies invited were able to attend. A miracle in itself. We began at 9 a.m. and finished around 3 in the afternoon. Everyone gathered in my kitchen and we worked together to make our lunch. It was somewhat crowded (11 in the kitchen), but it was a lot of fun, and despite the old adage that too many cooks spoil the broth it all was very edible. The onion chopping was the most competitive activity. Who could chop the most onions and cry the lest!! We made Cheese Pudding (an Irish recipe) and a big pot of spicy Enchilada Soup (a Central America recipe), as well as Oatmeal Cake (a Scottish recipe) for dessert - a very international meal. While lunch baked and simmered we headed for the living room to fellowship and have our devotional.
We went around the room, briefly introducing ourselves as this was the first time all 5 groups had been together. Afterwards, Rebecca Guzman (Ochomogo group) brought the devotional. Her devotional was about the wise men and their gifts to the Christ child. Each of those gifts represent a way in which we as Christians should present ourselves and our talents as gifts to our Lord and Saviour. We should be light and health and goodness in our communities; a walking, talking, breathing reflection of Jesus Christ.
After the devotional we sang a few praise choruses, Carmen (Paraiso group) lead us in prayer, and we spent the next 40 minutes or so enjoying the fruits of our labor in the kitchen. Everyone was amazingly quiet. I commented on the silence. Maria Elena (Nazaret group) laughed and said everyone was too busy enjoying the international cuisine to talk. There were, by the way, NO leftovers! It's a marvel at how fast 10 women can get a kitchen cleaned up and ready for the next part of their day out.
Many of these ladies had never done anything creative in their lives until they joined one of the ladies groups, and they all love using their imagination. For our Day Out project I wanted to do something fun. Eden, one of my daughters, suggested altered CDs. I checked out the idea on-line and really liked it. I spent three days going through my boxes of treasures (Samuel, my husband, calls it junk! Imagine that!). I found all sorts of wonderful things. Beads, bows, colorful paper, bits of lace, cute buttons, old greeting cards, etc. I never throw anything away (a trait I apparently got from my granny). I had been saving CDs for months. Old ones that are scratched or skip or didn't copy right. I dumped my collection of treasures out on the work table, gave everyone two CDs, passed out the scissors and glue, and plugged in the glue gun. Then I got out of the way. I have never seen women have so much fun with junk before in my life. (Check out altered CDs on-line). Around 2:30, everyone began helping with clean-up and headed home. It had been a fun and exciting day for them, and a precious blessing for me.
Pray for the ladies groups. I have 5 presently. I could have that many more tomorrow if funding would allow. There is so much need here.
Blessings,
Kathie
Monday, December 11, 2006
Monday, November 13, 2006
Changed Lives
The purpose of LOM (Ladies Outreach Ministry) is to change lives, and I want to share with you two lives that have been changed.
As the daughter of a prostitute, Kattia has spent her life trying to rise above the shadow of her past. She is now nearly 40, a single mother of 4, and lives in extreme poverty struggling to provide for her children. At first Kattia´s attendance of the LOM meetings was sporadic at best, but with each meeting she learned a new craft. Being quite creative, she would return home with her new knowledge and put it to use. Now, after nearly a year, Kattia rarely misses a meeting although she must walk several miles round trip to attend. She is excited and eager to learn. Through the crafts taught she regularly makes things to sell and the home situation is slowly beginning to show signs of change for the better. Helping people like Kattia is what this ministry is all about.
Rosa is another example of change. Rosa not only lives in poverty, but under the heavy hand of an abusive, drunken husband. She began attending the meetings in secret, knowing she would be beaten if her husband found out she had left the house and talked with other people. Her initial reason for taking the risk was because she wanted to learn a skill so she could improve the living conditions of her family. However, after a few meetings it was more than knowledge that kept her coming back. Rosa had found a group of women who cared about her and her situation. Women who were not only willing to pray for her, but to act when it proved necessary. Rosa realized she was not alone. Her husband came to one of the meetings with a machete to take her home and teach her a lesson. He seemed to lose all his bluster when 13 women met him out in the street to defend Rosa. Since then Rosa´s home situation has not been perfect, but is has been better. She now freely attends the meetings and is making some extra money by selling items she has learned to make.
Kattia and Rosa are only 2 of the nearly 50 women who are being reached through this ministy of crafts and Bible studies. The amount of poverty and abuse here is unbelievable. There are so many that need help. I ask for your prayers and plead for your help. Funding is in short supply and the needs are great. So many lives here are waiting to be touched and changed.
As the daughter of a prostitute, Kattia has spent her life trying to rise above the shadow of her past. She is now nearly 40, a single mother of 4, and lives in extreme poverty struggling to provide for her children. At first Kattia´s attendance of the LOM meetings was sporadic at best, but with each meeting she learned a new craft. Being quite creative, she would return home with her new knowledge and put it to use. Now, after nearly a year, Kattia rarely misses a meeting although she must walk several miles round trip to attend. She is excited and eager to learn. Through the crafts taught she regularly makes things to sell and the home situation is slowly beginning to show signs of change for the better. Helping people like Kattia is what this ministry is all about.
Rosa is another example of change. Rosa not only lives in poverty, but under the heavy hand of an abusive, drunken husband. She began attending the meetings in secret, knowing she would be beaten if her husband found out she had left the house and talked with other people. Her initial reason for taking the risk was because she wanted to learn a skill so she could improve the living conditions of her family. However, after a few meetings it was more than knowledge that kept her coming back. Rosa had found a group of women who cared about her and her situation. Women who were not only willing to pray for her, but to act when it proved necessary. Rosa realized she was not alone. Her husband came to one of the meetings with a machete to take her home and teach her a lesson. He seemed to lose all his bluster when 13 women met him out in the street to defend Rosa. Since then Rosa´s home situation has not been perfect, but is has been better. She now freely attends the meetings and is making some extra money by selling items she has learned to make.
Kattia and Rosa are only 2 of the nearly 50 women who are being reached through this ministy of crafts and Bible studies. The amount of poverty and abuse here is unbelievable. There are so many that need help. I ask for your prayers and plead for your help. Funding is in short supply and the needs are great. So many lives here are waiting to be touched and changed.
Monday, October 23, 2006
A View of Costa Rica
Costa Rica is a lovely, mountainous little country, and although it is only 10 degrees north of the equator, the central valley has a very pleasant climate due to the altitude. The first photo is of the Orosi Valley, a favorite place to take a Sunday afternoon drive. The photo was taken from the Mirador (overlook) at the head of the valley ( a favorite picnic spot). The second photo was taken near the stream where we baptize, high in the cloud forest above Orosi Valley. Hope you enjoy the views.
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
Introduction to Crafts4Christ
Welcome to Crafts4Christ. This site is dedicated to women in need. The purpose of this site is three-fold. First, to share with you how the Ladies Outreach Ministry and Crafts4Christ came to be and what our goals are. Secondly, to share news about our ministry and our family with you. And, thirdly, to keep you updated on how God is blessing our efforts to reach the women here in Costa Rica. Your questions, comments, and help are all sought and greatly appreciated. We love hearing from you and value your input.
Blogging is a new experience for me, and will definitely be a learn-as-I-go project. I hope to get out a new update at least once a month. Including photos of the ministry, of the family, and of Costa Rica is also planned. Your prayers will be greatly appreciated as I learn.
Again, welcome to Crafts4Christ.
Blogging is a new experience for me, and will definitely be a learn-as-I-go project. I hope to get out a new update at least once a month. Including photos of the ministry, of the family, and of Costa Rica is also planned. Your prayers will be greatly appreciated as I learn.
Again, welcome to Crafts4Christ.
Purpose and History of the Ladies Outreach Ministry (LOM)
How LOM came to be:
For most of the nearly 21 years that we've been on the mission field, I have been extremely busy with homeschool. Being a home schooling mother with 5 children in 5 different grades at the same time can keep you very occupied! BUT children grow up and I was slowly working myself out of a job. A few years ago when 3 of the 5 had left home I began to pray that God would give me a ministry. Not that I wasn't doing anything. I was. I was (and still am) teaching children's Sunday School. I was (and still am) the music director during church services. However, I felt that there was something special out there just for me. Something in which I could use my talents.
One Sunday morning after church I realized just how common in-home abuse is here in Costa Rica and immediately felt that God was bringing the problem to my attention. Then, a few weeks later, while talking with a Coasta Rican friend, she found out I knew all about crafts. Her immediate reaction was: "Teach us!"
"Who is us?" I asked.
"Me. My neighbors. You can use my house." The LOM was born in the house of Maria Elena Leiton in Barrio Nazaret in Cartago. There are now 4 groups in 4 different communities, and there is a possibility for a fifth group.
Purpose of LOM:
The purpose of LOM is to provide support, to teach a marketable skill, to improve living conditions, and to offer salvation and hope through the devotionals/Bibles studies.
Society has done little or nothing for these emotionally and physically battered women. Their abusive husbands isolation them from friends and family, making them prisoners in their own homes. They have been made to believe they are ugly, stupid, and worthless. They have no hope in this life or in eternity. Through the group devotionals they learn of a loving God who gave His own Son to save them, and they are given the opportunity to take free independent Bible Study courses.
These women feels themselves as isolated and alone. Their outreach group meets in their community and offers support. Through the group they are able to develop friendships and come to realize they are not alone. Someone does care about them and about their situation.
The outreach group teaches crafts such as crocheting, embroidery, cross-stitch, doll making, and more. Through the learned skill and the increase of income the living conditions of the entire family is improved.
A Plea for Help:
The simple truth is that as a ministry grows so does the need for more funding.
Up until recently, the monthly average was well under $100, and there was nothing steady about the amount. Not having a steady amount makes planning crafts and projects difficult. The ladies of our home church in the USA recently took on the challenge of a set amount to give toward LOM each month. It has been a great blessing.
I would like to challenge you to such a committment. The funds coming in now are averaging around $300/month and I am most grateful as are the ladies in the groups. However, we need more. As each group grows and as the number of groups increase more funds are needed, and it is through God`s people that it must be provided.
Below is information you will need if you would like to help the LOM here in Costa Rica:
Checks need to be made out to: Kathie Nolasco
Funds need to be sent to our home church at this address:
Ladies Outreach Ministry
c/o Maranatha Baptist Church
1111 Outer West Broadway
Madisonville, Kentucky 42431
** Please be sure to include a note if you wish the funds to be used for anything specific such as material, yarn, paints, etc.
Thank you so much for your prayers and help. Would love to hear from you.
Blessings from Costa Rica,
Kathie
For most of the nearly 21 years that we've been on the mission field, I have been extremely busy with homeschool. Being a home schooling mother with 5 children in 5 different grades at the same time can keep you very occupied! BUT children grow up and I was slowly working myself out of a job. A few years ago when 3 of the 5 had left home I began to pray that God would give me a ministry. Not that I wasn't doing anything. I was. I was (and still am) teaching children's Sunday School. I was (and still am) the music director during church services. However, I felt that there was something special out there just for me. Something in which I could use my talents.
One Sunday morning after church I realized just how common in-home abuse is here in Costa Rica and immediately felt that God was bringing the problem to my attention. Then, a few weeks later, while talking with a Coasta Rican friend, she found out I knew all about crafts. Her immediate reaction was: "Teach us!"
"Who is us?" I asked.
"Me. My neighbors. You can use my house." The LOM was born in the house of Maria Elena Leiton in Barrio Nazaret in Cartago. There are now 4 groups in 4 different communities, and there is a possibility for a fifth group.
Purpose of LOM:
The purpose of LOM is to provide support, to teach a marketable skill, to improve living conditions, and to offer salvation and hope through the devotionals/Bibles studies.
Society has done little or nothing for these emotionally and physically battered women. Their abusive husbands isolation them from friends and family, making them prisoners in their own homes. They have been made to believe they are ugly, stupid, and worthless. They have no hope in this life or in eternity. Through the group devotionals they learn of a loving God who gave His own Son to save them, and they are given the opportunity to take free independent Bible Study courses.
These women feels themselves as isolated and alone. Their outreach group meets in their community and offers support. Through the group they are able to develop friendships and come to realize they are not alone. Someone does care about them and about their situation.
The outreach group teaches crafts such as crocheting, embroidery, cross-stitch, doll making, and more. Through the learned skill and the increase of income the living conditions of the entire family is improved.
A Plea for Help:
The simple truth is that as a ministry grows so does the need for more funding.
Up until recently, the monthly average was well under $100, and there was nothing steady about the amount. Not having a steady amount makes planning crafts and projects difficult. The ladies of our home church in the USA recently took on the challenge of a set amount to give toward LOM each month. It has been a great blessing.
I would like to challenge you to such a committment. The funds coming in now are averaging around $300/month and I am most grateful as are the ladies in the groups. However, we need more. As each group grows and as the number of groups increase more funds are needed, and it is through God`s people that it must be provided.
Below is information you will need if you would like to help the LOM here in Costa Rica:
Checks need to be made out to: Kathie Nolasco
Funds need to be sent to our home church at this address:
Ladies Outreach Ministry
c/o Maranatha Baptist Church
1111 Outer West Broadway
Madisonville, Kentucky 42431
** Please be sure to include a note if you wish the funds to be used for anything specific such as material, yarn, paints, etc.
Thank you so much for your prayers and help. Would love to hear from you.
Blessings from Costa Rica,
Kathie
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