Imagine A World Where Every Little Girl Owns A New Dress

I mentioned in one of my first posts that when I first heard about trafficking I didn't know where or how to get involved.  One of the things that God layed on my heart to get involved in was sewing dresses into pillowcases for Dress A Girl Around The World.   At the time, I didn't know how this would work, how I would get the materials or even how I would get the volunteers.  But God knew.

Each summer, our church has a summer camp for kids up to 5th grade.  Last summer they wanted the kids in summer camp to have a serving project built into a portion of their day at camp.  They heard about what I was wanting to do with the sewing project and asked if we could partner together.  From that partnership God provided enough pillowcases and trim materials to make over 175 dresses!  We are still using the kits those little hands put together for us last summer.  Along with God providing the dresses he also provided an opportunity for over 175 kids to hear about little girls in Africa who don't own even 1 dress.

We have been doing the sewing circle monthly.  Everyone brings their sewing machine and supplies and we have a time of fellowship, devotion and sewing.  There's a soft hum of machines if you walk by our room on a Tuesday night.  My passion for this ministry is still strong, but the number of people attending each month has slowly been dwindling.  I was starting to get discouraged and began to wonder if  maybe this was not where the Lord wanted me to be serving.  After our sewing group last month I prayed once again for God to use me how he wanted. 

God continues to show himself in amazing ways!  This week I received an email that our pastor was going to be mentioning our ministry at one of the weekend services.  Another person, not knowing this, inquired about me dropping off some of the dresses that have already been made to have on display during our Celebration of Hope. 

This is such an encouragement to me and a renewed sense of faith.  God is opening doors for more people to hear about our ministry.   I pray that more volunteers will be inspired to join our sewing circle and that more dresses can be sent to those sweet little girls in Africa. 

What if every little girl in the world owned at least one dress? 

What if that dress was sewn by you?

Pillowcase Dress Event



A few weeks back we hosted our first Pillowcase Dress Event through my Moms group.  Six wonderful ladies got together one afternoon to make dresses out of pillowcases that would be given to little girls in Africa.  The idea of making these dresses is what first got my attention about human trafficking.  You can read more about that in my very first post Awakening. 

 

It was a small group and we completed a dozen dresses and had about 6 more just needing trim.  We had a lot of laughs, but we also talked about the purpose for the dresses.  There is something significant about using your hands to create something for a greater purpose.  We may never see the effect these dresses will have on the little girls that receive them, but I can imagine the smile on their face when they are given what may be the only dress they own.  It was a simple dress and easy to make, but the impact it could possibly have is tremendous.  It could very well change that girls life and save her from a life of sexual slavery.  I hope they feel loved when they receive their dresses because each and every one was definitely sewn with love.

 

 

To learn more about Dress a Girl Around the World go here.


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Striving to be More Like Abraham

I mentioned in my very first post that my reason for creating this blog was to raise awareness around the issue of human trafficking.  I have had several promptings to sew dresses out of pillowcases.  And while I have followed the promptings, I must admit that I have been slow in responding to them.  Sadly, I have been more like Moses than Abraham.  Look at his response when God appeared to him in the burning bush and calls Moses to deliver the Israelites out of Egypt:

• Moses gives God excuses why he isn't the one for the job. "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh?"   (Ex 3:11)
• He questions in fear "What if they will not believe me or listen to what I say?"  (Ex 4:1)
• Moses doubts his abilities and pleads with God  "Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent..."   (Ex 4:10)

I too questioned my abilities. I struggled with wondering if another cause might be more beneficial.  Something that would be more direct in helping the girls.  But the reality is that if even one girl avoids being sold then my effort will be worth it.  If it comforts just one girl that has already been victimized then my effort will be worth it. 

So I told my husband that I was just going to set a date for the first event because if I didn't then it might never happen.  I would be letting fear hold me back from serving God. I am trying to follow Abrahams lead and step out in faith.  When God called Abraham in Gen 12:1, he asked Abraham to leave his country, his people and his father's household.  His only instructions for where Abraham was to go were "to the land I will show you."  Abrahams response in Gen 12:4 was to follow God's call wholeheartedly. No questions asked.  Scripture tells us that Abraham packed up ALL his possessions.  He was fully committed to following God and had no intentions of returning.  I am striving to be more like Abraham. 

So the date for the first event is set.  January 12th.  I am trusting God to bring the people, provide enough sewing machines and to make the event a success which will ultimately be for His glory.  I am nervous.  As I mentioned in my first post, I do not sew.  But I am trusting God and am clinging to this verse:

Romans 10:11  "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame."

Awakening

I first heard about Human Trafficking about 4 years ago at my church.  They showed a short clip of young girls being rescued in India.  These girls could not have been more than 7 or 8 years old.  It broke my heart.  The living conditions they were pulling these girls from was horrific.  These girls should have been playing with dolls, but instead they were being held like slaves in dark, dingy, dirty places and being forced to do unthinkable things.  It stirred something in me, but I thought I am in another country what can I do?  I have small kids and I can't pick up and travel to a 3rd world country.  So, I am sad to say I did nothing. 

Then about 2 years ago, our church was highlighting various people who have made an impact in different parts of the world.  One of the organizations was Dress a Girl Around The World.  This organization sews dresses out of pillowcases and sends them to girls in Uganda and many other countries to combat Human Trafficking.  They said that a girl was less likely to be raped if she was wearing a dress.  I was stirred once again.  This was something I could DO! If what I heard was true, then this was a tangible way I could get involved.  I contacted the organization and this is the response I received from them:

Here is what we have been told by village pastors in Uganda:

1)That the fact a girl is wearing a new dress shows she is being cared for and can discourage would-be predators. This made sense to us because we are always taught to act confident in public and not "look like a victim" as this is thought to deter would-be predators here.

2) We put our "hope 4 Women" label on each dress--on the outside--either on the pocket or on the outside hem of the dress. This is, we've been told, to let would be predators know that this girl is not only being cared for because she's wearing a nice dress--AND also sends the signal that she is also being looked after by an organization.

We have no stats to back this up--but it makes sense and we believe if it saves ONE girl from becoming a victim--it is worth the extra expense and time of putting on our label.

Since then I have slowly been collecting pillowcases and materials along with names of people who are willing to help me host an event for Dress a Girl.  The funny thing about this is that I don't sew!  Yes, you got that right.  I don't sew and yet I want to hold an event to sew dresses out of pillowcases.  God is really stretching me out of my comfort zone.  Over the summer, I had a dear friend and neighbor help me and together we made one of the dresses.  It was actually pretty simple.  I am hoping to hold the first event sometime in January.  If you feel moved by this issue and would like to help in any way please let me know. You can learn more about the organization at their website...

Dress a Girl Around the World

 I have been doing a lot of research on the area of Human Trafficking.  It is my hope and prayer that I can raise awareness around this issue.  I am working with my local church to hold quarterly forums where we bring in a speaker to talk about this issue.  I would like to alternate these talks between what is happening globally and what is happening right here in our own back yards.  I would like to do the same thing with this blog.  I'll be sharing current news, local happenings, book reviews, movie suggestions and all things related to ending this horrific practice.  If I can raise awareness and move just one person to action it will be worth it.