Friday's banner making

Simon said this morning, as we walked to devotions at 6 a.m., “That sky itself makes it worth getting up this early!”  There were the wonderful pre-dawn colours in the sky, a thin, crescent moon, so thin that we were able to see the whole outline of the moon and Venus shining brightly. I did not have a camera with me to capture it for you all, so you will have to use your imaginations.  (and yes, we have seen the Southern Cross at night, amongst the wonderful display of stars). 

Today's banner making was a great success.  We had a few more men join us too. At the end the women sang us a song about the Samaritan woman at the well.  Neither Patsy nor I knew there was such a song, and certainly not one in English.  It was wonderful to have chosen to make a banner that was of such a familiar story to these people.  

Other highlights:  

• Matthew sitting and cuddling the babies, and teaching a couple of toddlers to say "hello"! 
• An older man sitting and stuffing white cotton soccer balls with the waste backing paper.  The balls were made with the scrap fabric from the white crosses, with soccer ball designs drawn on by black Sharpie. 
• The young girls designing their own small purses and making them from scrap blue fabric.
• The scouts turning up with small pieces of blue and red fabric to get a neckerchief made
• The joyous celebrations every time a banner was finished! 
• The speed with which Zafy learned each part of the banner making, and his ability to teach the others.
• The woman sitting and drawing the banner into her notebook

• The excitement of the women as they examined the shirt I had made for Patsy

The most wonderful part of it all is the timing of Ann and Dick's arrival, so that she can now carry on the ministry of sewing with the local villagers on Tuesday and Friday mornings.  Neither of us knew each other beforehand or that we had a shared enjoyment in sewing.  She had come with a simple dress pattern, and now she has the  left over fabric, thread, scissors, needles, pins etc which she can use to teach the Malagasy people.  By the time she leaves in mid-September, they will be proficient and able to carry on for themselves. 

All in all a great success!

Sue