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    • General Donations
    • Atelier Angels
    • 3 Esthers Farm
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    • Building Fund
    • Financial Accountability And Trust
  • About Us
    • Leadership
    • Our Story
    • The Big Mission Behind Our Little Purse
    • Blog
    • Contact Us
  • 3 Esthers Farm
    • Farm Blog
  • Purse Project
    • Get Beginner Purse Pattern
    • Get Intermediate Purse Pattern
    • Purse Sew Along Training Video
    • Packing Slip for Purses/Notecards
    • Where To Send Purses
    • Notecard Tutorials
    • Purse Program Overview and Details
    • Why Reusable Pads Are The Right Answer
    • Watch Our Unboxing Parties
    • Is There A Period Gap?
    • The Power Of A Beautiful Gift
    • Delivering Purposeful Products In Zambia
    • Donating 15,000 Days Of School
    • Sew Powerful University Challenge!
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Zambia Trip
    • 2019 Unboxing Party
  • Resources
    • Event Resources
    • We Are Sew Powerful Book
    • Podcasts
    • Book Companion Pictures
    • Flyers
    • Videos
    • Packing Slip for Purses/Notecards
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I Couldn’t Stop Crying

I Couldn’t Stop Crying

By Dawn Carroll—Texas

I started sewing in 9th grade when my elderly neighbor, who had no children of her own, eagerly taught me everything she knew about sewing. I loved sewing! I loved the creativity and the challenge of problem solving when something did not work with either the sewing machine or pattern. I carried that skill that she passed on to me during my high school years by making my own clothes and mending other people’s clothes.

In 1986, a month after our honeymoon, my husband and I went on an eight-week mission trip to Togo, West Africa. Our team leader asked me, since I knew how to sew, to come up with a craft that the African ladies could make to sell at their local market. I was delighted to be able to use my sewing skills in this way to honor the Lord. By the time our eight-week mission trip was over, my husband and I had fallen in love with the Togo people and did not want to go home. We hoped to return later as missionaries ourselves.

After returning back to America, I still had a burden for the Togolese people; but due to circumstances, my husband and I did not return to Africa like we had planned as missionaries. Through the years, I always had the desire to go back one day to Togo to serve, but did not know how or when that would be possible. I continued to use my sewing skills in various ways to bless other people from mending garments for people, to sewing gifts, sewing curtains and decorative items, to making costumes for a Shakespeare play and even teaching a beginner’s sewing class. But I still had a longing to combine Africa and my sewing again.

Fast forward to 2015, and I had begun to seriously pray that somehow God would enable me to minister again to Africa with my sewing skills. I did not know how God was going to do it, because at the time I did not know any ministries connected to Africa. I decided I would have to
just pray and wait on the Lord!

In September our family went to a business conference in Kentucky. I had no idea that the Lord was about to answer my prayers. When Jason and Cinnamon Miles presented their ministry with Sew Powerful, I knew the Lord had miraculously connected my sewing skills again with Africa! I could not stop crying. I was so overjoyed! I could not believe that the Lord had miraculously answered my prayer. Who would have ever dreamed that it was going to be through a business meeting that the Lord would answer?

When our family got home from the business trip, my daughter and I immediately began to get the details about making the purses for Sew Powerful. It is through Sew Powerful that I am so excited to be able to use my sewing skills to serve the Lord and Africa again! One day, I hope the Lord will miraculously answer my prayer to be able to go back to visit those African people that I realized the Lord had given me a love for back in 1986 on our mission trip; but until then, I will gladly support Sew Powerful!

 

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About Us

We exist to educate, employ, and empower people to pursue life in all its fullness. We do that by creating purposeful products that change communities. Things like school uniforms, soap, feminine hygiene pads, and farm fresh food.

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Sew Powerful Purse Program

Our annual Sew Powerful Purse program enables girls to stay in school. Purses are made and sent to Zambia as gifts. The local seamstresses in Zambia make re-usable hygiene pads and together they are provided to girls as part of health (MHM) training. Get Involved

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