Meeting a Sister

Sounds like a strange title for a blog, but that's what I got to do this past weekend...meet my 'sister' Rachel.

I first found out about Rachel from my dear Sister-in-law Katherine who had been looking for a women's ministry to support (hope I've got this story right Kath ;). Anyway, Kath thought Rachel's mission was amazing and wanted to support it in any way she could. Rachel had started an art co-op for Haitian women where they could make jewellery and sell it to tourists or ship it to Canada to be sold. I was immediately attracted to this ministry because it was a tangible way that I could partner with other women a world away and actually make a difference in their lives by doing something that I enjoyed (selling gorgeous jewellery for amazing prices and sending every cent back to the women). I've been supporting LaTienda for a couple of years now I believe, but this past weekend I finally got to meet the beautiful young woman who started it all: Rachel.

I had e-mailed her letting her know that our church would be putting a Tienda booth in the Scarecrow Festival. A while later I received an e-mail from her telling me that she was going to be in Ontario that weekend and that she would love to come and meet me! I was so thrilled :) We talked out some details and decided that she and her boyfriend Gideon would join us at the festival Saturday, spend the afternoon with us there, then come back to our place for the night. Then the two of them stayed for church in our living room, which was awesome since our church has helped Rachel out financially in the past and we often pray for her on Sunday mornings (and beyond ;).

It was rather surreal for both of us to finally meet. For her it was strange to walk up to our booth that was full of familiar things to her and to be in a place where people she didn't recognize all 'knew her' and she would see us wearing the jewellery that she had seen being made. For me it was surreal to finally see her face to face after only having e-mail contact, seeing pictures of her and reading her blog for the past couple of years.

The greatest memory for me of the weekend was sitting with Rachel on Saturday night and hearing her stories from the Dominican. Learning more about the co-op, the women and what life is like for the children there. Joel & I both learned so much from both Rachel & Gideon as we talked about what kinds of support would be most helpful to them. It was such an incredible blessing.

Here's Rachel & her boyfriend Gideon...what an incredible couple that God has brought together (you guys rock, it was so great hanging out with you and hearing your stories)

Here they are bonding with the 6th member of our family. It took a whole 10 seconds for Rachel to warm up to Zipporah and then she was hooked and wanted to 'wear' her since she thought she Zippy made a beautiful accessory :)

Sunday was also great as the other members of the church learned more about Rachel and the Co-op and how we could further support it. It was just an amazing weekend. The booth did really well and we raised enough money through the sales to pay 5 women's salaries for a month which was great. We also made some great contacts and met a few women who were very interested in hosting parties or learning more about how they could support the co-op.

It was definitely a weekend I will never forget. I feel so honoured to be a part of such an amazing mission even all the way up here in Canada. Thanks for all that you do Rachel! God bless,

Your sister in Christ,
Mel