Love in Action: The Quilting B, Part 2
TV News Coverage:
http://www.wgrz.com/video/default.aspx?mid=880653512
TV News Coverage:
http://www.wgrz.com/video/default.aspx?mid=880653512
Last year Live in Love introduced Betty Miller who makes quilts for vulnerable children including 100 quilts for orphans in Kenya (check out the blog post). This year has been no exception.Along with her regular quilting projects, Betty once again joyfully accepted a special quilting mission: the children of Swaziland. Betty’s hands are skilled to make the quilts, but her heart is as much, if not more, a part of the process. She is not satisfied to simply make a bunch of quilts. Oh, no, Betty thoughtfully selects the material. With the children in mind she chooses beautiful colors and patterns, some for boys and some for girls. Each quilt Betty handmakes is unique in color and design. Betty crafts each quilt with gentleness, kindness, and love.
When Syndy arrived in Swaziland her bags were heavy and packed full with Betty’s quilts. One bag was ready to bust at the seams! It was so important for the quilts to get to the children that many other items were left in the states, including items requested by missionaries, most of Syndy’s clothes, and all of her shoes. (Thankfully, Syndy and Lori where the same size.) With some sleep, a shower, and a meal, 12 hours after Syndy’s arrival Live in Love hit the road and headed for the pediatric ward at Good Shepherd Hospital in Siteki near the Mozambique border. The percentage of children at Good Shepherd who are HIV+ is staggering. It never drops below 70% and the majority of the time it is 90%. In addition to HIV, many of the children have burns, are severely malnourished, and some are abandoned.
The quilts were received with an abundance of smiles, thank you’s, and disbelief that the quilts now belonged to the children, that the quilts were for the children to keep. One young girl spent the rest of the morning strolling around the ward, clasping her new quilt around her shoulders like the elegant cape of a princess. There was no doubt how special she felt.
On a personal note, I can not express fully how honored I was to carry the quilts into the ward on Betty’s behalf. I wanted her to be there to personally select a quilt for each child. I imagine her gently laying a quilt upon a sleeping baby then wrapping a quilt around another child, covering them with her warmth and love.
Betty reaches across the miles, sewing love in the hearts of children. I am thankful to know her and to be a tiny part of her ministry to children in need. Thank you, Betty, for all you do.
If you are interested in donating quilting supplies to Betty's Love in Action Quilting Project, please contact us for additional information at LILBlog@aol.com. The average cost of supplies per quilt is approximately $10 if everything is purchased on sale. Each quilt requires 2 yards of print fabric, 2 yards of matching solid fabric and 2 yards of batting plus the necessary thread, yarn and ribbon for completion. Betty does not accept cash donations for her quilting project but she gladly accepts donations of cotton fabric, thread, batting and gift cards for Joanne Fabrics. Fabric donations must be cotton or poly-cotton blends that are child appropriate. Please NO patriotic patterns or symbolism.
When Syndy arrived in Swaziland her bags were heavy and packed full with Betty’s quilts. One bag was ready to bust at the seams! It was so important for the quilts to get to the children that many other items were left in the states, including items requested by missionaries, most of Syndy’s clothes, and all of her shoes. (Thankfully, Syndy and Lori where the same size.) With some sleep, a shower, and a meal, 12 hours after Syndy’s arrival Live in Love hit the road and headed for the pediatric ward at Good Shepherd Hospital in Siteki near the Mozambique border. The percentage of children at Good Shepherd who are HIV+ is staggering. It never drops below 70% and the majority of the time it is 90%. In addition to HIV, many of the children have burns, are severely malnourished, and some are abandoned.
The quilts were received with an abundance of smiles, thank you’s, and disbelief that the quilts now belonged to the children, that the quilts were for the children to keep. One young girl spent the rest of the morning strolling around the ward, clasping her new quilt around her shoulders like the elegant cape of a princess. There was no doubt how special she felt. 
On a personal note, I can not express fully how honored I was to carry the quilts into the ward on Betty’s behalf. I wanted her to be there to personally select a quilt for each child. I imagine her gently laying a quilt upon a sleeping baby then wrapping a quilt around another child, covering them with her warmth and love.
Betty reaches across the miles, sewing love in the hearts of children. I am thankful to know her and to be a tiny part of her ministry to children in need. Thank you, Betty, for all you do.
If you are interested in donating quilting supplies to Betty's Love in Action Quilting Project, please contact us for additional information at LILBlog@aol.com. The average cost of supplies per quilt is approximately $10 if everything is purchased on sale. Each quilt requires 2 yards of print fabric, 2 yards of matching solid fabric and 2 yards of batting plus the necessary thread, yarn and ribbon for completion. Betty does not accept cash donations for her quilting project but she gladly accepts donations of cotton fabric, thread, batting and gift cards for Joanne Fabrics. Fabric donations must be cotton or poly-cotton blends that are child appropriate. Please NO patriotic patterns or symbolism.
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