06/11/13:    This morning Olive and I traveled to market by tricycle to purchase material for the curtains for the Pre-K school & Golud Church of Upper Javier (TUMC).   "Ginjee" material was purchased for 20 Pesos/yard at 45" width.  This is very reasonable considering 42 Pesos = $1 USD.    White lace panels were also purcahsed for the 2 church windows, plus 4 cotton floor rugs for the entry doors at 25 Pesos per rug.  

We visited Upper Javier in the afternoon with the team of teenagers & Pastor that arrived from Bellaire UMC.   They conducted the children’s extension program with the group of Deaconess students from Harris Memorial College as interpreters.   I spent time with Ka-Ricah practicing  English with her, building relationship, & discussing sewing the curtains for the Pre-K school & church.   After showing Ka-Ricah the floor rugs we purchased earlier at market, another light bulb lit up & I began inquiring if the women would be intersted in learning to sew the floor rugs.  A commitment with Dr Angie, Harris Memorial College, was agreed to that the Upper Javier women  could learn and begin sewing floor rugs to sell to Harris’ faculty and students.  This gives them several items to be able to sew and sell.   The sewers can use the material not appropriate to use  for clothing in the tropics, & make floor rugs.   Also there will be ample scraps that can be used for “mug-mug” (stuffing).   I shared with Ka-Ricah that she & the sewers can sew the floor rugs easily without a pattern and their skill level continues to improve.  The women can ask 25 Pesos per floor rug which is the current competitive rate.  I was & still am very excited that we stumbled on to this.  God is definitely keeping his finger on the pulse of the women's sewing livelihood program.