Teej

On August 31st, the women of the advanced sewing class invited me to their colorful Hindu festival known as Teej. Our women worship in a collection of rented rooms inside a professional building in Clarkston. Bhutanese Hinduism has added Buddha as one of the many gods.Teej combines lavish feasts, strict fasting, and worship. A primary item worshiped during Teej is the Lingam, the phallic symbol of their god Shiva.

During the worship time, our women pray to the Lingam and their other gods for marital happiness, the well being of their husbands and children, and purification of their bodies and souls. Hinduism is a works-based religion, and Teej is one of the duties women must perform if they are to hope for a good afterlife. Here a priest blesses one of the women with a "tika" or dot on her forehead.One of the most obvious highlights of the event is when the women arrive wearing their finest saris and gold. Red is an auspicious color in Hinduism, and Teej is the day for wearing red!
Our beloved Jasoda, whose husband was badly injured in a van accident (you may have prayed for them), has an adorable new daughter-in-law. Tiny Sabitra giggles almost all the time! Isn't she lovely?
Images the women worship are set up in a lavish display at the front of the room. The priest, left, talks to the women and reads from their Hindu holy books.Priests also oversee the huge outpouring of sacrifices brought before the deities.
Here's a closeup of the primary god, Shiva, at this service. Notice that incense, fruit, and money are gifts sacrificed before these images. This brass image of Shiva has been dressed in miniature clothing and wears a lei of marigolds.
Women gather into groups to prepare their personal sacrifices. Here Jasoda is opening a box of cookies while her daughter-in-law prays.At the main altar, you can see all kinds of gifts placed before the images.
Prayers are offered by women young and old. Though the worship time was continuing, another activity quickly usurped everyone's attention. Taking photos! Of me! Again and again, I was asked to pose with women who are current or former students in the Refugee Sewing Society.

Here I am with Durga and Devi in red on my far left (currently in advanced sewing) and Ruk (in bead group) on my right.
Rhadika is a loyal member of Amy's bead class.
Leela was one of our first sewing students. She now works two jobs. I miss her so much and was really happy to see her at the festival.
And of course, pretty Sabitra!
I did some photographing, too. Here are Durga (current student) and Tulasa. She was in my sewing class until she had to go to work in a chicken factory.
This our sweet Chhali Maya, a faithful member of bead group.
The woman on the left is a new student in bead group. She speaks very good English and helps Amy communicate instructions.
After the worship came the dancing! This is an old traditional dance. Radhika (beads), Chhali Maya (beads) and Jasoda (sewing) display their talents.
Here the women dance in a circle. Jasoda loves to dance and sing.
Please pray for our women as we show them the Light of life. Now there's a real reason to dance!

What can I do, Miss Cathy?

People often ask how they can help the Refugee Sewing Society. Answering that call, many wonderful teams and individuals give time, talents, and treasures to the RSS. We love them all!

Here are a few of our volunteers and what they did for the refugee women.

This wonderful group from North Carolina spent several days with us. On the last day, they helped our women improve basic skills -- cutting, coloring, manipulating paper, and bending pipe cleaners. Americans learn these skills in kindergarten, but most of our refugees have never set foot inside a classroom.

This NC team taught how to make crepe paper flowers.


Others in their team helped the women use crayons and markers. Notice the concentration!
First Baptist Church Covington, GA, comes to see us once a month. So does First Baptist Church Mud Cree. Now that's commitment! These teams sort yarn, fabric, sewing notions -- anything we need.They also help Tom, our administration leader, pack Missions in a Box orders or check inventory numbers.Not all our visitors are teams. We have a lot of individuals who come to help us. Juanita sorted lace and helped organize yarn products. Tiffany worked on our website and helped us "brand" ourselves in the world of social media. Joann comes faithfully each Wednesday. She has organized patterns, taught sewing techniques, tested machines, and many other things.
If you want to pay the RSS a visit, just email us at refugeesewingsociety@gmail.com. There's always something to do!

Hair today

One day some of the Bhutanese women had taken down their hair and were rewinding it. I was stunned at the beauty and asked if I could take a picture. They shyly agreed. What an amazing variety of styles our women sport! The Bhutanese have very long hair. Most have never cut it. Take a look at Gopi's fancy up-do and accessories.
I admire these natural wraps, too.
And of course, Tika's pretty braid.

Our Muslim Africans are covered, but some of our Africans don't mind showing their hair. Aren't Godeliva's soft glossy curls pretty?Miriam sports a straight style.
One day Jesus was teaching his followers about how much God loves them. He pointed out that God cares for the needs of the tiniest sparrow. In Luke 12:6-7, Jesus asked: What is the price of five sparrows--two copper coins? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. He went on to say: The very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.

Spinning a yarn

We call our knitting/crocheting ladies the "Yarn Group." Stroll past the RSS yarn classroom each week, and you'll see a scene much like this:The RSS yarn group is led by the talented Anne. She loves her ladies and has spent a lot of time learning the Nepali language. She also teaches students the English they need to know to succeed in creating beautiful products.
Most of Anne's students came with a basic knowledge of how to knit and crochet. Anne is teaching them how to read a pattern and how to knit items they've never seen.

Dil and her daughter come faithfully to class each week. Dil not only knits and crochets, she also knows how to weave. She often takes yarn home to her loom, where she turns it into bookmarks and bags.

Like the other women in class, Harka was unaccustomed to the array of different yarns to be found in America. Anne struggled to help them overcome their reluctance to try something new. Now Harka is making a gorgeous summer scarf out of a lightweight "eyelash" yarn.

Bhagirati works on her summer scarf while seated on the floor -- a comfortable place most of the women prefer. Thanks to our supporters' generous donation of reading glasses, most of the women in the yarn group now sport brand new spectacles!

A few of the women try to perch on the sofas. "New Dil" as we call this recent attendee is an excellent knitter, but she'd probably prefer the floor!

Godeliva, from Congo, is a faithful member of the yarn group. Though disabled, she is a determined and dedicated group member. Her sister suffered severe injuries in a recent van accident, and Godeliva spent weeks caring for her. But as soon as her sister was able to fend for herself, Godeliva hurried back to class.

The RSS is grateful to our business partner, PureFUN!, for providing consistent orders of doll blanket/beanie sets made by our women. Learn more about PureFUN! on our "Partners" page. PureFUN! sells the blanket/beanie sets to their customers at cost.
Anne keeps track of the three sizes of sets her ladies make. Her quality control is rigorous.

One of many benefits the ladies receive in yarn group is the opportunity to chat with friends in a safe comfortable setting.

Friendships are treasured, but new knowledge is also eagerly sought. Most of the women in our classes have no clue about the symbolic significance Americans place on colors. Blue and pink for babies? Browns for autumn? Red and green for Christmas? Why?

Anne tried to teach the ladies that yellow and blue mixed together make green. The women flatly rejected that bit of information. So Anne held a watercolor painting day.

Well, what do you know? Blue and yellow DO make green!

The dedication with which Anne prepares for class and teaches her students, assures them that they are loved. We all love them deeply. And so does our God.