Do you remember when you learned to use scissors?

This blog post is borrowed from my friend and neighbor, Amy Shultz. It is about a new initiative she started here in Chambrun to train women to make paper bead jewelry. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 19 women come to work on a new skill that may just provide a living for their family. The classes are lead by Amy, and two of our Haitian staff Jolina and Illiana. That might be the most exciting aspect to me... that Amy has trained and empowered two women to further train and empower their peers. Yesterday I went into the tent where they hold the clinics and the women were beyond excited to show me their work. They were so filled with pride because of what they created with their new skill.

Many of you have donated paper, beads, and supplies for this endeavor and we want to say THANK YOU! And if you are interested in donating supplies- let me know!

Yesterday we held day two of our Paper Bead Clinic. Nineteen women came to work with their hands and to try to learn a new skill...to provide for their families. You would think that sitting down under a tent cutting and pasting cardboard might be relaxing. But, for many of these women, it's a morning of frustrations. Some of them can't find their bag of supplies because they can't recognize their name on it. Many of these women do not know how to use scissors....they are trying to learn how to cut along a line to make neatly cut triangles. (And most of our scissors are child-sized, which are not ideal.) Most of them have never used a ruler to measure with, so we resorted to creating triangle templates for them to trace...but even holding a pen to trace these triangles is a new and frustrating thing to learn. Once they get some triangles cut, they must learn how to roll these triangles around a toothpick with glue. There were many scrunched, scowling foreheads and tongues licking at lips.

Oh, the skills and education we take for granted.

After a frustrating morning, these ladies wanted to take their supply bags home with them so they could work at home until our next clinic on Monday. When I think about the lengths they are going to do seize this opportunity, I am humbled. They walk to get here. Many of them must find childcare. And many of them are intimidated by scissors and pens and rulers and this white American who makes it look so easy. They were definitely out of their comfort zone.

How often to do put myself out of my comfort zone or go out of my way to learn a new skill or even use the talents and gifts God has given me? So often it's so easy to sit back and not tackle a project because it would tax me a little. God is definitely trying to make a point. It would be easy to think that just because I'm sitting here in Haiti that I've already done my duty to get out of my comfort zone. Or that because this paper bead jewelry initiative is launching, that I've used my talents enough. But, God keeps pushing and encouraging me to not sit back and check out. I'm not necessarily saying I need to do more... but that I need to be obedient when I am prompted - and not bury my head under the covers or in a book. I see so many places where I drag my feet and make myself unavailable to Him. Imagine that. I make myself unavailable to my Lord and Savior...as if my life is really MY life.

And so what if I don't cut straight or can't find my name or that when I try something new that my forehead gets all scrunched up and I look dorky with my tongue swishing around my lips.... God just wants me to honor him with the work of my hands and to be faithful with what He has given me.