Sewing class

When Carla asked me to come work at English camp, I understood that it was like a Bible school set up without the Bible since it's partially sponsored by the city. When I (finally) said yes, I said "I really don't want to chase small kids around." So Carla gave me the job of hanging out with parents who wanted to wait for their children during the camp. With the help of my mom and donations of fabric from Rachelle, I took supplies to teach them how to quilt. They call it patchwork (though it sounds more like "pash-welk" when they say it).
We started with 2 parents, a couple. The dad is an American named Charlie who has lived in Spain for some 30 years. They have a young daughter who was born with serious health issues. They told me that the doctor said not to be surprised on any given morning if they wake up to find her dead! I'm not sure of all the health problems but I know she has a hole in her heart, some brain issues, and doesn't walk well. Charlie has been out of work for four years and struggles with depression as a result, understandably. He told Carla that quilting in English camp has given him a reason to get up in the mornings! He's really good at it too! Now he's trying to figure out how he can start some kind of business around this new hobby. Others who have become regular attenders are Maria Jesús, the pastor's wife, and her mother, my hostess Susanna and her daughter, Elizabeth's host father, Felo, who is currently out of work, and 2 or 3 others who drop in periodically.
I took patterns for Grandmother's Flower Garden and Cathedral Windows quilt projects. The people here are strong willed and creative, though, and after being taught the basics, they have created their own unique patterns and projects.
As I have taught them the basics of quilting, they have taught me the vocabulary of sewing--words like needle, pins, stitch and baste are new to me. They seem to take pleasure in teaching me and often take the time to write down new words and repeat them until I can say it to their satisfaction.
The mornings are so easy and relaxing for me that I feel I'm not really contributing to the camp. But then I remember that our purpose here is to build relationships and to share God's love. If not for the hours spent quilting, would I have ever known about Charlie's little girl, whom they said would not live more than 5 years but is now 6? Would I know that one of my new friends is a recent widow who has had to move to Alcoy because she couldn't stay alone in the bigger city and that she misses her husband dearly? Would I know that Elizabeth's host family can't even bear to think of this month ending because they love her so much? Just because I'm having a blast doesn't mean the Lord's purposes aren't being accomplished. Psalm 37:4
Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.