Lynne's Story

I hadn’t used a sewing machine in 15 years. But it would be like riding a bike, right? Once you learn it, you’ll remember the basics…hopefully. Before setting out for South Africa, Bridges of Hope staff asked if a couple of us would teach a group women from Sweet Home how to sew as they were starting a micro-business with hopes of selling their wares to others in the town.

What a day! Two of the six ladies knew how to sew and brought their machines, and arrived carrying them on their heads of course!

We even had an iron, ironing board and electricity! The new sewing machine of course broke down within the first hour, but the old Singer that you had to hand-crank stitched tirelessly. At the end of the day we had made jumpers and aprons and everyone left with something they could wear and use. Plus each woman could replicate what they had made to start the business. I taught some of the ladies how to make aprons.

They had never sewed before and couldn’t speak English too well. But we managed, and their smiles of pride as they wore what they had made was worth the trip for me!

-- Lynne