THE NEWS GETS BETTER AND BETTER

I am so happy to report that my goal of 90 quilts is about to be realized. And the best news of all is that I have finally received names and phone numbers of the managers of the girls and boys orphanages in Sulay. A wonderful person at the American University of Iraq in Sulaymaniyah has been instrumental in getting me names and phone numbers. Joe and I can now make plans to travel to Kurdistan in September (when the weather is cooler!).

UPDATE --- ALMOST THERE!!!!

It's getting more exciting as the days roll by. I have done yet another count of the pile of quilts in my guest room. With these and the partially finished ones that several of my friends are working on, I am about 9 quilts shy of my goal of 90 quilts! It has been a long process and patience has been required, but I am now seeing light at the end of the tunnel. My prayer is that I will have 90 quilts and be able to deliver them by summer's end or early fall (which might be a more appropriate time to be gifting quilts to the children!) I can't tell you how excited I am (and challenged by impatience) about getting these quilts to the orphans. I visualize that day all the time and wish that it would come quickly! Communication with the people in Kurdistan who operate the orphange continues to be a challenge but my friend Emad at the Chamber of Commerce in Kuwait has agreed to help me with the communication issues and act as one of my liasons. Please keep checking the blog and pass it along to anyone you know who might like to donate a quilt! This, of course, won't be the only orphange this ministry helps out. Just the first!!! Remember --- LOVE CAN BUILD A BRIDGE - ONE QUILT AT A TIME!!

ALMOST THERE!

The total number of quilts is getting closer to the goal! On Sunday I am teaching a 'quilt as you go" class free of charge ... well, not quite free of charge! The charge is that once the ladies have their quilts complete, they will leave them behind to add to the pile for the kids in Sulaymaniyah! Everyone is happy to do this and it will be a wonderful day of quilters fellowship and joyful sewing!

A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS GIFT

A few days ago I received an email from a lady in Great Britain. She had been googling Kurdish Orphans and my blog popped up. Now then, this is my Christmas gift for this year~ Her husband grew up just 3 hours south of Sulaymaniyah and speaks the dialect of the area. They have offered to help in any way which is so wonderful. One of the greatest challenges in the past several months has been finding a way to communicate with the people who operate the orphanage. I will be able to have that now with this wonderful couple in Britain. Thank you so much for your offer of help! You are going to be the ones who are my greatest liason!! This was definitely a "God thing"!!!

Where Have I Been ??

Hello to all of you who keep up with this blog. In July I travelled to Houston to be with, and help care for, my best friend who was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. She went to be with God on November 16. I chose to take a sabatical from the quilt ministry during my time in Houston but since returning to Kuwait this week, I am back in the full swing of things. The sewing machine is working overtime. Joe and I are trying to catch up on emails and communication with the orphanage itself. This is the most difficult task but we are doing due diligence with regard to this communication effort. We are still short about 15 quilts and won't make the trip until there are a total of 95. We only need 85 in total but want that extra 10 for matching age appropriate quilts with the kids. Please spread the word around about our quilt ministry and let's make this happen soon!

Some of the girls

Here are some of the girls who will receive one of your lovely quilts. They are standing with my husband Joe during his visit and tour.

The Younger Children

Here is a picture of the little darlings who are going to be receiving their very own quilt! And what a treasure it will be.