More from Kinshuko

Norma Hamilton again writes:

Who knew where Stitchin' Mission would go . . . now twenty sessions, the BSM (Beyond Stitchin' Mission) and our work here . . . our GOD is truly Awesome! Every day there is something new and wonderful that connects us in the community of Christ. A simple bible reading for the day turns into a link to the message from yesterday or to some happening that occurred.

We toured a Japanese Samaruri Museum yesterday - well part of it. Very interesting history. Several hours from camp. Yasushi Sato, the camp director accompanied us along with Taka and Tayori and young Itsuki. The other three children were in school. Hiroko Sato stayed at camp and made dinner as well as being here when children came home from school. Many of team went to Onsen - public hot springs last evening.

Today we're walking the Kinshuko land with Taka, and then will go to another hot springs, those who want to go. Others will just relax, doing R&R. Thursday is travel day back to Tokyo - eight hours by Janet's microbus. Friday we'll work on making wheel chair pads, do some touring/shopping; Saturday touring/shopping; Sunday worship at Janet's International Church and then to airport for flight home.

Emmaly Burklund has videotaped the happenings, including the conclusion of the camp, where the campers shared their thoughts, feelings of what they learned/experienced here. Great testimony to God's influence in their lives. Several are going to continue to work at getting quilting started in their own churches here! Yasushi Sato has given me one CD already, and we'll be bringing back more with pictures of the mission trip. We'll get all of our individual pix on CD's to share with each other and with the entire Mission Kinshuko group (and others) when we have our meeting in December.

Norma mentions "our meeting in December." Everyone is invited! If you would like to hear more about the mission team's experiences in Japan, see pictures and video, please attend a Mission Kinshuko presentation.

Tuesday, December 1, 6:30 p.m.

Lutheran Church of Hope, West Des Moines, Iowa

Room 214

A Message from Kinshuko

Norma Hamilton emails the following from C-on Kinshuko, (Iwate, Japan) where the mission team has been since last Thursday:

It's early on Tuesday morning, but I'm wide awake reflecting on the past few days.

We have had great weather, although being inside these past several days, hardly noticed. We'll be sightseeing today around the area, so will be able to enjoy the weather here. God has been so great with his plans for this mission! I cannot even begin to put into words. But we'll be sharing our pictures and stories when we get back. Suffice it to say we always need remember to trust in Him and His plans for us. We don't always know what they are - usually don't :-) - but it works out in the end.

Janet (Brown) led the service here at camp on Sunday, and when I looked at this week's Hope Bible Study - the same! Went back to last week's - again, the same! Not a coincidence - just God's way of keeping us together with our Hope family while we're so far away. Janet's theme was "God's Masterpiece". She began with Eph 2:8-9 - it's God's gift - nothing we can earn - comes to us thru Christ's death on the cross. Ended with Phil 1:6 - our masterpiece is not done - God is still working on us - all our lives until we meet Him. Then I opened up last week's Study Guide - the verse to memorize - Eph 2:8-9 and this week's - Phil 1:6

What a wonderful Father in Heaven!

Quilts in Japan

The boxes of quilts have been opened at C-on Kinshuko. Here's what Tayori Araki, one of the camp directors, emailed this morning:

"We opened the quilts and we were so moved! I can't explain my feeling but it's so amazing!"

Mission Kinshuko, Iwate, Japan

Between April 2006 and May 2007, 48 women from Des Moines area churches met at Lutheran Church of Hope to make 101 quilts for C-on Kinshuko, a Christian family camp in a north prefecture of Japan.

C-on Kinshuko

All the quilts - made 54" X 90" to fit the camp beds - were displayed at Hope during the month of October, 2008.

The "Leftovers" quilt pattern is an original design meant to use up donated fabrics. Each quilt included at least 72 "loaves" (3-inch by 6-inch rectangles) of scrap fabrics.

The quilt's center medallion, 18-inches square, was where each quilter could experiment. Techniques lessons were offered in bias and triangle sewing, Sashiko, machine- and hand-applique, and foundation paper-piecing, among others, during Beyond Stitchin' Mission lessons.

On Thursday, 11 people left Des Moines to deliver all the quilts to the camp. Missionaries are, left to right: Julie Siefken, Rowena Schweitzer, Karin Hamilton, Barb Hyler, Norma Hamilton, Brittany Burkund, Sharon Beerman, Brianna Klaawon, Kim Ogle, Emmaly Burklund, and Anne Regnier.

Quilts were packed in 10 boxes and check onto the plane as missionaries' second piece of luggage.

The boxes also contained 30 softcover Bibles, and pin cushions made by Hope Quilters from the group's fabric stash.

Saturday morning an email was received from Tayori, at C-on Kinshuko, letting us know of the team's safe arrival. Please continue to pray for them as they lead a quiltmaking camp, teach English, and share with 30 campers the everlasting love of Jesus Christ.

Follow their activities on this blog: www.MissionKinshuko.wordpress.com

Stitchin' Mission in the News

In the Tuesday, October 6 issue of The Des Moines Register is a feature article about Stitchin' Mission. Read it on-line here. Thank you, quilters who spoke with the reporter - and said such nice things! - and who posed for pictures. God truly blessed our efforts, just as the quilts will be a blessing to the children in Romania. Thank you JoAnn Christians and Jane Davis for organizing this Stitchin' Mission!

In a funny twist of irony, I shared with the class the preferred way to pose with a quilt. Then, the newspaper selected a picture that shows just the opposite - the "disembodied head" I mentioned to the class. We all learned a lesson there, didn't we?

More Stitchin' Mission Photos

Thanks to Susan Cerrillo, who is not only a cookie and cake baker/decorator par excellence, and a quiltmaker, she is a wonderful photographer! Here are individual photos of Stitchin' Mission #18 quiltmakers with their quilts.

SM #18 - Last Class

This evening was the last Stitchin' Mission #18 class at Johnston Evangelical Free Church. Quilters sewed labels to their quilts, posed for group and individual photos, received a brief label lesson, and then celebrated.

We thank Carole Reeves for making these machine embroidered labels in Romanian and English.

Look at all those smiling faces, and quilts!

And remember the cookie lady, Susan Cerrillo, from the first class? She was at it again. Goodness she's talented! Does this look exactly like the Stitchin' Mission logo or what!?

To everyone's delight, the cake tasted as fabulous as it looked. How thoughtful that Susan made it half chocolate and half white. It was a treat for all of us!

SMers who were unable to finish their quilts to turn in this evening still have two weeks to do so. By Friday, October 16 drop off your quilt at the church office to have it included in the church's quilt display on Sunday, October 18.

Everyone is invited to see the quilts.

Invite your family and friends, and come for worship at 8:00 a.m. or 10:30 a.m.

Johnston Evangelical Free Church

9901 NW 92nd Ave., Johnston

In the Tuesday, October 6 Des Moines Register, look for an article about Stitchin' Mission by Reporter Michael Morain and Photographer Bill Neibergall.

At this time, no other Stitchin' Mission is planned for the Des Moines area. If you would like to host a Stitchin' Mission at your church in January/February 2010, contact me.