¤ ¤
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¤ I want to spend my
life mending broken people ¤
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¤ I want to spend
my life removing pain ¤
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¤ Lord let my words
heal a heart that hurts ¤
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¤ I want to spend my
life mending broken people ¤
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¤ ¤
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Hello and welcome to 3ABN today.
My name is Yvonne Shelton and
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we are so thankful that you've
chosen to join us as you do each
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and every day. Today is going to
be an inspiring program for you.
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We have It's My Very Own
International with us and so
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you're going to love this
program because you're going to
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see how this ministry is a
ministry that cares. James 1:27
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says: Pure and undefiled
religion before God and the
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Father is this: To visit orphans
and widows in their trouble and
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to keep oneself unspotted
from the world. This ministry is
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about taking care of the
children. So before we introduce
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our guests let's hear
some wonderful music from
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Scott Michael Bennett.
He's going to be singing
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Love Never Fails.
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¤ ¤
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¤ Love is not proud
Love does not boast ¤
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¤ Love after all
Matters the most ¤
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¤ Love does not run
Love does not hide ¤
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¤ Love does not
keep Locked inside ¤
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¤ Love is the river that flows
through, love never fails you ¤
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¤ Love will
sustain Love will provide ¤
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¤ Love will not
cease At the end of time ¤
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¤ And love will
protect Love always hopes ¤
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¤ And love still
believes When you don't ¤
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¤ Love is the arms that are
holding you Love never fails you
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When my heart won't make a sound
When I can't turn back around ¤
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¤ When the sky is falling down
Nothing is greater than this ¤
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¤ 'Cause love is
right here Love is alive ¤
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¤ Love is the way
The truth, the life ¤
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¤ Love is the river
that flows through ¤
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¤ Love is the arms
that are holding you ¤
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¤ And love is the place you will
fly to, Love never fails you ¤
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¤ No love never fails
No love never fails you ¤
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Thank you, Scott Michael
Bennett for that beautiful song.
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Love Never Fails. And
the love of Jesus never
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fails and the ministry that we
have with us today, It's My Very
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Own International demonstrates
the love of Jesus every day so
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Thank you so much for being with
us. We have Susan Schnell who is
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the director of It's My Very
Own International. Eda Stoll the
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coordinator of the Greater
Bangor, Maine chapter, Bill and
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Gail Hicks the co-directors
of the Central Florida and North
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chapters. So welcome. Yay! We're
so happy that you're with us and
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we need to know more about this
ministry. I just found out about
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you and it's an amazing ministry
Tell us Susan about It's My Very
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Own. What is it
and how did it start?
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Yes so this ministry was started
in 2005 by Barbara Nehar and her
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husband Jack and Teresa her
daughter. She had seen a news
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program that emphasized how
the methamphetamine problem in
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America had just caused so many
problems for children and that
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children had to be taken out of
their home because you know it's
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just so dangerous with
methamphetamine. And so they
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have to be taken out of their
home and they would come out of
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their home with nothing. A trash
bag maybe with a few things or
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even nothing because with
methamphetamine you have to
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you know detox everything. So
they had to be taken out of the
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home and Barbara saw this
and she was so impressed by it
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that...Because she had a lot of
fabric in her home and she was
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like I can do something
about this. And actually, God
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impressed her that this is
something that she could do with
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her fabric. So she started
making bags, bags like this. And
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as you can see this bag we have
a little Panda bear in here. And
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the Panda bear we try if we can
to match some of the things and
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the Panda bear matches the
pocket here. So in these bags we
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put a homemade quilt like
this. So it's homemade and it's
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personal to the child. Because
you know you could buy a blanket
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or whatever but this just says,
love. This says that someone
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took the time to make this quilt
and it's their very own. No one
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has one like it. So we put a
homemade quilt, we put books and
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toys and personal care products.
In the pocket you can see we
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have some of the personal care
products. This particular bag is
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for a girl, infant girl to three
years So in an infant bag, we
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also put a bottle and a sippy
cup and things like that. So we
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try and match it to what the
child's needs would be at that
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age group And we also have a
little tag on the bag that says
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This Bag Belongs To: And then
when they're removed from the
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home the case worker or you know
the foster parent can then put
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their name on it. So it's
just very personal to them.
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That is so precious because the
whole idea is they're losing so
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much (Yes) and this gives them
something that is their very own
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(Yes) That is so beautiful and
so caring. (Yes) What kind of
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response do you
get from the children?
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You know, we don't actually most
of the time see the children.
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So because we work with the
county usually the county, and
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so we just provide the bags
to them and they are the ones
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giving them to the children.
But occasionally we do have some
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interaction or we hear back.
I'll tell you a story. This is a
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chapter in Appalachia.
It's the Appalachian chapter.
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Stacy Shanahan is the
director there and she had the
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opportunity to provide four bags
to teens that were living with
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their grandmother. And they were
all special needs children and
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she was able to really kind
of make it unique for them. One
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child was very interested
in horses so she put a quilt in
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that had horses on it. She
put horses books in it. Another
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child that was quite severely
challenged, he liked fuzzy
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things so she put in you know
fuzzy blankets and more of the
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stuffies or the stuffed animals
and when he received his bag
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and pulled out his blanket he
said, Is this my very own? And
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then he wrapped it up around him
and just you know hugged himself
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with it. So you know when we
hear those stories it's just so
00:10:01.80\00:10:06.57
heartwarming. But even if we
don't hear the stories you know
00:10:06.60\00:10:09.90
pray over the bags before we
take them to Child Protective
00:10:09.94\00:10:14.71
Services or wherever we're
taking them. And so we just know
00:10:14.74\00:10:21.35
that God is in this. That He
blessed it and that He will...
00:10:21.38\00:10:28.89
there'll be something in there
that child particularly wants.
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That is so beautiful, that is
really beautiful. So how do you
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get...do people donate the
stuffed animals. Like how do you
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get the materials
that go into this?
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They do. We get donations.
We also, purchase sometimes.
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There's different ways that we
can purchase. I purchase the off
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of Facebook Marketplace. I don't
know if I'm supposed to say that
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but anyway...anyway I purchase
them online. And a lot of times
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when people hear what I'm using
them for they just give them to
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me. So we do accept gently used
stuffed animals. We accept used
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books and you know some
of the items that go in here.
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That is so beautiful. How great
is the need for all of this?
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It is so great and the pandemic
has even increased the need.
00:11:18.54\00:11:24.51
Um so there's over 600,000
children in the foster care
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system in America alone. So
that's not counting anywhere
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else.
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Six hundred thousand?!
00:11:35.39\00:11:36.93
Six hundred thousand. Yeah. And
so the need is great. It just is
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so great. And you know they
end up going and sitting in the
00:11:41.50\00:11:46.80
office while they're waiting
to be placed. And so this just
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eases a little bit of their pain
while they're having to wait to
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have something to look at.
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That's beautiful. What about the
books inside. Are they religious
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books are they...
what kind of books?
00:12:03.45\00:12:04.79
Well I will tell you that
some places don't really allow
00:12:04.82\00:12:09.32
religious books. But I live
in the Bible belt and they do so
00:12:09.36\00:12:14.36
we put either Bible stories or
with the older teens, we might
00:12:14.40\00:12:21.40
put a New Testament. But we do
put religious books in every bag
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but in some places, I think
maybe Eda you know in Maine it's
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not so accepted. And so I do,
when people start a new chapter
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I do ask them to ask because
we don't want the whole program
00:12:36.12\00:12:40.42
derailed because they don't
allow religious books, so I do
00:12:40.46\00:12:44.59
request that they
ask about it. So yeah.
00:12:44.63\00:12:50.20
And so these quilts are handmade
at every chapter makes their own
00:12:50.23\00:12:56.17
quilts. (Yes) And we have
someone from the Canada chapter
00:12:56.20\00:13:00.78
tells us about our Skype guest.
00:13:00.81\00:13:08.52
I will. Our skype guest is Julia
and she is in Canada. She's been
00:13:08.55\00:13:13.96
also doing it from like 2005 I
think or 2006. She's been doing
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it for a long time. And she
has really been involved in her
00:13:18.96\00:13:23.60
community. Her community
has really stepped up, her local
00:13:23.63\00:13:26.70
community and her you know
surrounding areas have really
00:13:26.74\00:13:31.44
stepped up and helped her make
quilts. And they're actually
00:13:31.47\00:13:34.78
right now at a quilting retreat.
And they're closed in with a
00:13:34.81\00:13:39.85
blizzard and they're just making
quilts. Let's invite Jewel.
00:13:39.88\00:13:45.75
Hi Jewel, there you are Welcome.
This is Jewel and Rosemary and
00:13:45.79\00:13:52.76
they're just going to tell a
little bit about their program
00:13:52.79\00:13:54.80
and Rosemary I think you were
going to tell little bit how you
00:13:54.83\00:13:58.87
even heard about it
and how you got started.
00:13:58.90\00:14:01.54
Well I saw a newspaper article
(skips in transmission) bags so
00:14:01.57\00:14:09.38
thought I can do that (skips)
said I can help too. And so we
00:14:09.41\00:14:13.78
made bags for a little while and
then when we realized that they
00:14:13.82\00:14:16.79
were quilts that went into them
we started making quilts because
00:14:16.82\00:14:19.92
basically, that's what we wanted
to do. And I'm blessed with a
00:14:19.95\00:14:23.46
group of friends who we meet
once a week. So they came on
00:14:23.49\00:14:29.43
board too and so now we sew as
much as we can for Bags of Love
00:14:29.46\00:14:34.84
It's what we want to do for the
children and to help the purpose
00:14:34.87\00:14:39.74
which we believe in.
00:14:39.77\00:14:41.11
Thank you. That is beautiful.
Jewel, how did you get started?
00:14:42.88\00:14:45.98
Well I got started by accident
because I'm not a quilter and I
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was a teacher's aide and I was
busy doing things and an older
00:14:52.95\00:14:57.63
lady in our church was very
involved in our community who is
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now 98 and still involved in our
Bags of Love. She strings every
00:15:02.00\00:15:06.43
single bag that you saw that
Susan had with the string that
00:15:06.47\00:15:10.21
goes around the top. She's still
the person who strings all of
00:15:10.24\00:15:14.08
our bags. I got involved because
she plopped all these papers in
00:15:14.11\00:15:17.68
my lap. I took them to school
let the grades 7, 8 and 9 go
00:15:17.71\00:15:21.72
through them and say what do you
think guys? And they said Mrs.
00:15:21.75\00:15:26.76
Lien let's do this. So that was
the beginning and when we got
00:15:26.79\00:15:29.99
like the group that's here today
that we're doing our quilting
00:15:30.03\00:15:32.83
retreat with I just want to
mention, these ladies have been
00:15:32.86\00:15:36.00
together for over 20 years as a
quilting group and they all came
00:15:36.03\00:15:43.00
on board and have just been...
When we need something like
00:15:43.04\00:15:48.68
running out of teen quilts and
things like that, I just have to
00:15:48.71\00:15:51.78
ask and they fire them up.
Whatever it is. This is just
00:15:51.81\00:15:54.15
a wonderful close group and
there's more groups like them.
00:15:54.18\00:15:59.15
But we meet once in a while in
places like this and just have a
00:15:59.19\00:16:02.76
good time.
00:16:02.79\00:16:05.09
That is so lovely. God is going
to richly bless. In fact, I know
00:16:05.13\00:16:10.00
He already is richly blessing
you for this and your whole team
00:16:10.03\00:16:14.80
And you're in a
blizzard right now?
00:16:14.84\00:16:18.74
You know it just comes and
goes and honestly, I heard and I
00:16:18.77\00:16:24.48
actually had prayer the night
before and said that you know
00:16:24.51\00:16:27.22
honey, I feel weird about us
coming in on this Tuesday to our
00:16:27.25\00:16:30.79
retreat because I have so much
to unload for the girls to put
00:16:30.82\00:16:36.89
together and I'm worried about
unloading in the snow. And I
00:16:36.93\00:16:41.10
woke up on Monday morning and I
called all the girls and I said
00:16:41.13\00:16:42.86
I'm going to see if we can get
into that bed and breakfast one
00:16:42.90\00:16:47.24
day earlier. We could. The doors
opened up and we got here, got
00:16:47.27\00:16:50.84
unpacked and then the snow began
I really wanted to send you guys
00:16:50.87\00:16:55.61
some pictures of it because it's
even strange for us this time of
00:16:55.64\00:16:59.98
the year. But it was just sort
of an unplanned event and the
00:17:00.02\00:17:05.19
people that were staying here
that gave it to us, they even
00:17:05.22\00:17:08.82
gave us that night for free just
because they said you know what
00:17:08.86\00:17:12.46
that was a very good idea that
you came and I'm sure that your
00:17:12.49\00:17:16.83
prayers were answered. They said
we're not even charging you for
00:17:16.87\00:17:19.70
that night. (Wow) So it's just
neat how things come together.
00:17:19.73\00:17:24.81
Yes. Well we thank you so much
for being with us and thank you
00:17:24.84\00:17:27.78
for all that you're doing
for the cause of Christ because
00:17:27.81\00:17:31.01
that's what it all boils down to
You're showing the love of Jesus
00:17:31.05\00:17:35.12
by making these quilts. So
may God bless you and your team.
00:17:35.15\00:17:39.12
Thank you so much
for being with us.
00:17:39.15\00:17:42.29
Your so welcome.
00:17:42.32\00:17:43.66
God bless. So Eda tell us about
you and how you got started.
00:17:43.69\00:17:48.86
with It's My very own.
00:17:48.90\00:17:52.00
My Very Own. Well about 14 years
ago I went to a women's retreat
00:17:52.03\00:17:57.21
and there was a lady there and
she got up and spoke about this
00:17:57.24\00:18:03.35
new ministry. I'd never heard
of it. (Eda Stoll) I was just
00:18:03.38\00:18:07.85
to quilt myself. She kind of
left it here like you know for
00:18:07.88\00:18:14.26
people to look at during
the weekend. I remember standing
00:18:14.29\00:18:18.53
there looking at the bag and the
quilt and I thought, I could do
00:18:18.56\00:18:24.63
that. You know, I could do that.
And time went on and you know
00:18:24.67\00:18:29.30
I worked, I had two kids at home
I had an autistic kid and I had
00:18:29.34\00:18:34.98
a son that was in college
and that's a lot. I was thinking
00:18:35.01\00:18:38.55
that's going to be a lot to do.
And I kept sending up prayers to
00:18:38.58\00:18:43.35
God, Yeah you want me to do this
Yeah about six months I did that
00:18:43.39\00:18:47.82
You know how you pray, Lord what
do you want me to do? One day I
00:18:47.86\00:18:52.86
was driving to work and I was
praying to the Lord and I said
00:18:52.89\00:18:56.56
you want me to do this? And
He said to me, Just do it. And I
00:18:56.60\00:19:02.27
kind of heard a little voice,
Just do it. And I said well wait
00:19:02.30\00:19:06.57
a minute Lord, I'm praying about
this. I wanted to just pray.
00:19:06.61\00:19:13.08
That was easier. And It just
said, Just do it. And I said all
00:19:13.11\00:19:19.05
right Lord I'll stand up and
I'll do it. But I'm too busy.
00:19:19.09\00:19:22.82
You've got to bring whatever
I need. It's your ball game.
00:19:22.86\00:19:26.86
I don't want to be more stressed
Oop! more stressed so that's how
00:19:26.90\00:19:32.47
I began. Just like that and
Susan and Arnold were our pastor
00:19:32.50\00:19:37.07
at the time. And I presented it
to the church and the church was
00:19:37.11\00:19:42.78
good with it. So we started.
That's 14 years ago and we're
00:19:42.81\00:19:48.35
still doing it and many, many
blessings. God just opens doors
00:19:48.38\00:19:52.89
and you meet so many people and
you bless the kids. You know we
00:19:52.92\00:19:56.99
don't always see the kids,
like Susan said. But you do hear
00:19:57.03\00:20:01.26
stories once in a while and
you make contacts with the DHS
00:20:01.30\00:20:08.50
workers that work with the
children. And they tell you
00:20:08.54\00:20:12.27
things and they are happy
because their job is not a fun
00:20:12.31\00:20:18.58
job to take those kids out with
nothing. You know it's a need
00:20:18.61\00:20:22.62
if they're neglected or drugs or
whatever the case that they need
00:20:22.65\00:20:28.12
to be removed for. You know it's
not an easy job. But when they
00:20:28.16\00:20:33.70
come with a bag. You know
because a lot of time in Maine
00:20:33.73\00:20:37.40
they do home visits and they
don't want to remove the child.
00:20:37.43\00:20:40.30
They want them to be with their
parents. But things have to
00:20:40.34\00:20:45.81
change. They have to be educated
Some of them are educated to
00:20:45.84\00:20:51.08
just how to parent. You know
society is not what it should be
00:20:51.11\00:20:56.69
So that's good for them too.
They are happy, more than happy
00:20:56.72\00:21:03.43
to take things you
know to give to the kids.
00:21:03.46\00:21:09.06
That kind of brings us to...I'm
glad you said that Eda because
00:21:09.10\00:21:11.67
it brings us to...We have
a video of a case worker that
00:21:11.70\00:21:16.67
describes what the bags mean
to her. (Good) Let's watch. Show
00:21:16.71\00:21:20.34
that now.
00:21:20.38\00:21:21.91
(Jessy Boylston) It's very
important as a caseworker to be
00:21:21.94\00:21:25.55
able to have access to
It's My Very Own bag to provide
00:21:25.58\00:21:28.42
to a child.
00:21:28.45\00:21:30.29
When we're brought into
the picture it's often very
00:21:30.32\00:21:32.95
turbulent and scary for
the children. They have no idea
00:21:32.99\00:21:36.56
what's going on, why there
family members can't take care
00:21:36.59\00:21:38.59
of them. To be able to give them
something solid somebody out
00:21:38.63\00:21:47.34
there personally made, an item
for me, they're thinking about
00:21:47.37\00:21:50.84
me, a quilt. They kind of hug it
you know and being able to try
00:21:50.87\00:21:58.01
and mitigate some of that harm,
that anger and that frustration.
00:21:58.05\00:22:03.05
It's really important to be
able to provide that to them.
00:22:03.08\00:22:08.09
It makes a big difference.
00:22:08.12\00:22:09.46
Jessy watched a four-year-old
find comfort from the bag he
00:22:11.36\00:22:14.60
received.
00:22:14.63\00:22:15.96
He had special needs. So he's
a handful. Unfortunately most of
00:22:16.00\00:22:21.94
the caregivers weren't able to
meet his needs so in receiving
00:22:21.97\00:22:25.27
his bag it kind of grounded
him a little bit. He came from a
00:22:25.31\00:22:28.91
home where he also did not have
many toys or just support from
00:22:28.94\00:22:34.02
his parents. So receiving that
bag and the content of a stuffed
00:22:34.05\00:22:38.32
animal especially. He enjoyed
wrapping himself in the quilt
00:22:38.35\00:22:41.36
Nine times he went to a
different home and each move he
00:22:41.39\00:22:46.36
was able to take his bag with
his belongings his comfort item
00:22:46.39\00:22:51.73
the stuffed animal. It meant the
world to him to be able to have
00:22:51.77\00:22:55.00
that so...
00:22:55.04\00:22:57.54
Oh, that's precious, that is
precious. It's got to tear the
00:22:57.57\00:23:02.68
case workers' hearts apart.
Yes, to remove children from the
00:23:02.71\00:23:08.98
home and you know the children
don't easily leave. Oh, that's
00:23:09.02\00:23:14.06
got to be heart-wrenching.
00:23:14.09\00:23:15.76
I heard from case workers...
Occasionally we put a postcard
00:23:15.79\00:23:20.26
on the bag so that then the case
worker can just mail it back.
00:23:20.30\00:23:24.67
Then we know. And occasionally
they will write on here and I
00:23:24.70\00:23:29.57
had a couple of notes if
you don't mind my sharing, (yes
00:23:29.60\00:23:32.07
please) from a case worker. This
one it says, This bag of love
00:23:32.11\00:23:35.88
went to a very sad six-year-old
girl. She is over-the-moon happy
00:23:35.91\00:23:40.22
now that she received your
bag of love. And the caseworker
00:23:40.25\00:23:44.25
also texted me and she said
this girl was so distraught that
00:23:44.29\00:23:48.09
like she wasn't even able to
place her because she couldn't
00:23:48.12\00:23:52.99
even like deal with anything.
And then when she gave her the
00:23:53.03\00:23:57.67
bag it just kind of settled her
down. And she was able then to
00:23:57.70\00:24:01.70
process what they needed to do
to place her in a home. So the
00:24:01.74\00:24:06.74
the caseworkers do
appreciate it as well.
00:24:06.78\00:24:10.61
Yes, yes. It's got to be really
difficult but it's so beautiful
00:24:10.65\00:24:15.55
that the children are getting
something that they can take
00:24:15.58\00:24:18.15
that gives them some sense
of continuity too. They're going
00:24:18.19\00:24:21.82
from this home to that home to
perhaps another one and if they
00:24:21.86\00:24:25.73
have their own bag it
just means something to them.
00:24:25.76\00:24:29.23
Bill and Gale tell us about how
you got involved with It's My
00:24:29.26\00:24:34.90
Very Own.
00:24:34.94\00:24:36.27
(Bill and Gail Hix) Well we had
been making bags actually for
00:24:36.30\00:24:40.04
Susan's chapter. We were snow
birds and her parents were in
00:24:40.08\00:24:45.25
the same camp that we were in.
And then one fall we had a bunch
00:24:45.28\00:24:51.62
of quilts to present to her and
she said why don't you just keep
00:24:51.65\00:24:56.09
them and start your own chapter.
So we thought about that and the
00:24:56.12\00:25:01.66
the responsibility and all but
basically, we decided that we
00:25:01.70\00:25:05.67
would. And it took us six months
Our church is very small. Very
00:25:05.70\00:25:12.17
few of us even sewed and so it
took us six months in order to
00:25:12.21\00:25:16.48
get enough to be able to present
them to DCF (Department of Child
00:25:16.51\00:25:20.52
and Families) to begin with. But
Bill came up with a kit concept
00:25:20.55\00:25:29.49
that saved us.
00:25:29.52\00:25:30.86
Oh, tell us about it.
00:25:30.89\00:25:32.23
In order to help the ladies who
were sewing I started cutting up
00:25:32.26\00:25:37.00
the pieces of quilts. And at one
point we said if we could get
00:25:37.03\00:25:42.57
quilt clubs to help us we could
give them the pieces, they sew
00:25:42.60\00:25:48.21
it together and give it back and
maybe we can keep up that way.
00:25:48.24\00:25:51.75
We attended the Leesburg church
There's about 50 people attend
00:25:51.78\00:25:56.55
so it's not a big group and
there were just two or three
00:25:56.58\00:26:00.86
women that were sewing and
it was hard for us to keep up.
00:26:00.89\00:26:04.26
So we came up with this, we call
it the kit concept and what we
00:26:04.29\00:26:10.67
is we give a quilt club these
packages here and there are four
00:26:10.70\00:26:20.24
different squares there are 16
of each and this is the backing
00:26:20.28\00:26:26.01
for the quilt and here is a
pillow and the bag. The ladies
00:26:26.05\00:26:33.82
in the church are making the
pillows and the bags. This is
00:26:33.86\00:26:38.59
what the quilt clubs return to
us and they like the John Deere
00:26:38.63\00:26:49.67
and this would got to a boy five
to eight years old and if you've
00:26:49.70\00:26:59.31
got a young lady she
would probably prefer to have
00:26:59.35\00:27:03.85
something like this quilt. Now
they're all seven-inch squares
00:27:03.89\00:27:08.49
and they all have 63 in it
so there's one square left over
00:27:08.52\00:27:15.26
because there's 16 of each. But
the quilt clubs sew these up for
00:27:15.30\00:27:18.90
us. We first gave this to
American Sewing Guild who was
00:27:18.93\00:27:24.51
meeting at the Lady Lake church
and the ladies thought yeah we
00:27:24.54\00:27:29.08
can do that so they sewed a
bunch of them, made more in a
00:27:29.11\00:27:33.28
month than we had made in six
months. We thought that's going
00:27:33.31\00:27:38.39
to work. But God always provides
We went out on faith and He has
00:27:38.42\00:27:44.29
provided. We got a call from the
Legacy Quilt Club which is in
00:27:44.33\00:27:48.10
the subdivision where we live
and we said we heard about the
00:27:48.13\00:27:52.50
American Sewing Guild. Could
you come show us this program?
00:27:52.53\00:27:55.64
So we took a kit. We took a
finished product and said this
00:27:55.67\00:28:02.61
is what we do and we told them
all about the program, about the
00:28:02.64\00:28:05.25
children and they were excited.
Now they select a charity each
00:28:05.28\00:28:10.89
year and they will quilt or work
whatever to help that charity.
00:28:10.92\00:28:18.19
So in 2016, we were the charity
of their choice, 2017 came along
00:28:18.23\00:28:24.03
and they contacted us and they
said We've decided to do you
00:28:24.07\00:28:29.00
again this year which we
were very blessed. In 2018 Gail
00:28:29.04\00:28:33.94
approached them and said we
really appreciate everything
00:28:33.98\00:28:37.41
you've done but if you want to
choose another charity we would
00:28:37.45\00:28:42.78
understand. And they said well
we don't feel like we're doing
00:28:42.82\00:28:46.65
it for charity. We feel
like we're part of this program.
00:28:46.69\00:28:50.36
And the last five years this
ladies' quilt group has made 195
00:28:50.39\00:28:57.67
quilts for us.
00:28:57.70\00:29:00.80
Ooo! Wow!
00:29:00.84\00:29:02.17
Recently we were contacted
by the case worker that you just
00:29:02.20\00:29:06.44
saw and she is now working
for YRCC (Youth Recovery Care
00:29:06.47\00:29:14.55
Program) and these are 12 to
17- year-old boys and girls that
00:29:14.58\00:29:19.45
have drug and alcohol problems
and it's a 30-day in-patient
00:29:19.49\00:29:25.46
program. She said I've seen what
these bags of love do for the
00:29:25.49\00:29:32.53
children and we would like you
to provide them for us. And we
00:29:32.57\00:29:39.34
inquired about the program. They
have 16 beds. They're in for 30
00:29:39.37\00:29:44.31
days and 16 times 12 is a bunch
of quilts and that was more than
00:29:44.35\00:29:52.69
we could possible see, there's
no way we could do that. So we
00:29:52.72\00:29:59.39
approached the church and Pastor
Scott said It's God's program,
00:29:59.43\00:30:03.23
He'll provide. Gail says, If we
do it, it'll work. I'm a little
00:30:03.26\00:30:10.37
more realistic. I said that's a
lot of cuttin' up. I was the one
00:30:10.41\00:30:18.35
cutting squares up. Well
the church voted, let's do this.
00:30:18.38\00:30:23.79
The next Tuesday we met and
23 church members showed up. The
00:30:23.82\00:30:31.29
pastor wishes he'd get that for
prayer meeting. So they cut, we
00:30:31.33\00:30:37.77
packaged up an additional quilt
clubs started calling us. We now
00:30:37.80\00:30:41.90
have six groups, The Hawthorne
Quilters, The Arlington Ridge
00:30:41.94\00:30:46.61
Quilt Till You Wilt group,
Quilting for Angels. Susan Woods
00:30:46.64\00:30:53.85
called us and said we could help
you. So we are producing these.
00:30:53.88\00:30:59.85
There's no way we could possibly
meet the demand without the
00:30:59.89\00:31:04.66
quilt clubs. We no longer make
any quilts at our church. We
00:31:04.69\00:31:08.26
make kits. And we distribute
these and the quilt clubs bring
00:31:08.30\00:31:13.20
these back and
they're beautifully done.
00:31:13.23\00:31:16.30
That is beautiful. I think we
have a video about that. (We do)
00:31:16.34\00:31:19.71
I am part of the Legacy Leesburg
Quilt Group and we are very
00:31:19.74\00:31:24.65
lucky to have met up with Gail
and Bill Hix from the It's My
00:31:24.68\00:31:29.22
Very Own chapter of central
Florida. They have given us a
00:31:29.25\00:31:33.92
purpose and we have just been
thrilled because when we receive
00:31:33.96\00:31:38.69
materials to create these
quilts for the children they are
00:31:38.73\00:31:44.67
already combined into a
perfectly organized kit. All the
00:31:44.70\00:31:49.10
pieces are labeled, they are
counted out perfectly. They go
00:31:49.14\00:31:53.51
together perfectly and all
that's left for us to do is to
00:31:53.54\00:31:57.15
sew and it's a
beautiful partnership.
00:31:57.18\00:32:01.65
That is so great-involving the
community in what you're doing
00:32:01.68\00:32:05.02
had multiple benefits, I'm
sure because you also get to
00:32:05.05\00:32:08.99
introduce them to the gospel
and all of that so that is
00:32:09.02\00:32:14.00
beautiful. So tell us, with
these different groups, do you
00:32:14.03\00:32:19.70
have to know how to sew to get
involved? Or do you learn on the
00:32:19.73\00:32:25.77
spot like how does that work?
00:32:25.81\00:32:27.14
These are all quilters, that's
what they do is make quilts.
00:32:27.18\00:32:30.25
These ladies love to make...and
they make some beautiful quilts.
00:32:30.28\00:32:33.68
So the least favorite part of
a quilter they will tell you is
00:32:33.72\00:32:38.12
cutting up the pieces.
00:32:38.15\00:32:43.22
Sorry. When our group met you
were asking if you had to know
00:32:43.26\00:32:45.83
how to sew. But when our group
met we had different tables and
00:32:45.86\00:32:49.03
in the kit, there's the cord and
the Velcro and the labels and
00:32:49.06\00:32:55.50
all of that so people who didn't
know how to do anything else
00:32:55.54\00:32:58.97
assembled those bags for us that
go into the kit. Other people
00:32:59.01\00:33:04.38
just stuff pillows. But
there's a job for everybody.
00:33:04.41\00:33:08.28
And also like I don't know how
to sew. And I've been involved
00:33:08.32\00:33:14.52
with a lot of different, It's My
Very Own chapters because I move
00:33:14.56\00:33:19.06
quite a bit. So I move and so
I'm like let's start a chapter
00:33:19.09\00:33:21.70
here. But I don't know how to
sew but there's other things to
00:33:21.73\00:33:26.30
do as well. You know there are
purchasers. Somebody needs to
00:33:26.33\00:33:31.04
be the one purchasing and
organizing the items that go in
00:33:31.07\00:33:34.74
the bag. There's fundraising
even you know. Fundraising or
00:33:34.78\00:33:42.78
talking to civic groups in your
community to get the word out.
00:33:42.82\00:33:46.92
So there's really a lot to do
that doesn't require sewing but
00:33:46.96\00:33:52.93
then of course you do have
to have somebody that sews. But
00:33:52.96\00:33:56.97
also, I just want to point
out with Bill and Gail being
00:33:57.00\00:34:01.84
involved. It's not just
women. Men can get involved too.
00:34:01.87\00:34:05.57
Well, that's a good
point, that's a good point.
00:34:05.61\00:34:09.94
In our church Ken and
Joan DeWitt are two of our big
00:34:09.98\00:34:13.88
producers. She makes a lot of
bags but Ken stuffs the pillows.
00:34:13.92\00:34:18.39
And Joan will sew them up, Ken
will stuff them, give them back
00:34:18.42\00:34:24.19
to sew up hole that he used
to stuff and they have kind of a
00:34:24.23\00:34:28.53
running contest between them.
He says he can outstuff her. She
00:34:28.56\00:34:32.53
said she can outsew him. But
it's a fun family thing for them
00:34:32.57\00:34:36.77
But men can get involved.
00:34:36.81\00:34:38.44
Yes, are you still doing
a lot of the cutting or...?
00:34:38.47\00:34:41.34
Yes, I do a lot of the cutting.
00:34:41.38\00:34:43.18
(Okay) You do most
of it still right? (Yes)
00:34:43.21\00:34:46.45
We do have events at church
where other people come in
00:34:46.48\00:34:51.02
and a lot of the men cut.
Because of the way we lay it out
00:34:51.05\00:34:54.86
we typically cut six or eight
layers of fabric with a roller
00:34:54.89\00:34:59.23
blade and sometimes the men
have enough strength to do those
00:34:59.26\00:35:04.50
cuttings. So men get involved.
00:35:04.53\00:35:06.60
See that's really good because
you don't want people to think
00:35:06.63\00:35:10.41
that this is just women's
program. This is for anybody and
00:35:10.44\00:35:14.44
everybody. I think churches
can get involved you know and
00:35:14.48\00:35:18.88
contact the local quilting
groups because that seems to
00:35:18.91\00:35:24.29
have really been an amazing
source, a resource for you.
00:35:24.32\00:35:29.09
It's a blessing.
00:35:29.12\00:35:30.46
When you start you don't have
anything. You have the desire to
00:35:30.49\00:35:36.16
do it. But you go around, you
can make contacts with all the
00:35:36.20\00:35:40.64
quilt guilds and different
churches you know and just
00:35:40.67\00:35:44.71
present it like you did. And you
get such an outpouring of help.
00:35:44.74\00:35:50.75
You know. I haven't spoken to
anybody because I don't have to.
00:35:50.78\00:35:55.98
Everybody knows me and it's
just comes. You know it's good.
00:35:56.02\00:36:00.76
You know when you were talking
earlier, Eda, about how you
00:36:00.79\00:36:03.36
spent like six months praying
about it. That resonated with me
00:36:03.39\00:36:07.36
because so many people will just
say well I have to pray about it
00:36:07.40\00:36:10.50
There's some things that
you know that God has already
00:36:10.53\00:36:13.20
ordained for you to do. So
it's kind of like we hide behind
00:36:13.23\00:36:17.51
that (two voices,
not understandable)
00:36:17.54\00:36:19.64
(Yes, yes, yes) How
can this be possible?
00:36:19.67\00:36:23.04
But the Lord's plan is for you
to act, not just to think about
00:36:23.08\00:36:29.78
it. But as Danny says,
the blessing's on the go.
00:36:29.82\00:36:32.92
So do something, do what you
know that God is really telling
00:36:32.95\00:36:38.13
you to do. As He said
Just do it. Just do it.
00:36:38.16\00:36:41.66
Yes, yes, yes. How has being
involved in this program changed
00:36:41.70\00:36:46.60
each of your lives?
How has it impacted you?
00:36:46.63\00:36:51.57
Well I know for me you know when
I...Barbara always used to say
00:36:51.61\00:36:56.58
when a new chapter would start,
she would say prepare to be
00:36:56.61\00:37:00.42
blessed. And we have just seen
that. I know you all have, I
00:37:00.45\00:37:04.65
have. It just is amazing how God
has blessed this ministry. When
00:37:04.69\00:37:11.43
I first started it in southeast
Georgia you know I don't sew.
00:37:11.46\00:37:17.27
It was a small church. There was
only two people that even sewed
00:37:17.30\00:37:23.00
there and they were kind of just
getting started. And I was like
00:37:23.04\00:37:26.21
wow, okay, let's do this.
But you know I was a little
00:37:26.24\00:37:30.51
concerned and at that time the
quilt group wasn't real eager
00:37:30.55\00:37:34.12
to help us initially. But
God brought a lady to our church
00:37:34.15\00:37:41.12
who was neighbors of some church
members and they told her about
00:37:41.16\00:37:47.50
it. And she's a seamstress
extraordinaire. Her name is
00:37:47.53\00:37:54.10
Antoinette and she started
making bags. That's what she
00:37:54.14\00:37:58.01
first did. She started making
bags. And then she's made now
00:37:58.04\00:38:04.35
herself well over 100 bags. I
don't remember how many. And a
00:38:04.38\00:38:09.75
few other people started making
bags. And then she actually had
00:38:09.78\00:38:13.39
a contact with the quilt guild
and so she's involved now with
00:38:13.42\00:38:20.80
that quilt guild and she's
making quilts and they're making
00:38:20.83\00:38:23.93
quilts. We coordinated with
another community group at the
00:38:23.97\00:38:28.30
time and they provided like 40
quilts right when we needed them
00:38:28.34\00:38:32.27
because I was like okay we don't
have any more quilts and they
00:38:32.31\00:38:36.31
provided. So God does provide.
So that has been for me that's
00:38:36.34\00:38:41.48
how it's impacted me the most.
Just that I see how God has even
00:38:41.52\00:38:46.79
before we ask God has answered
our prayers. And in that church
00:38:46.82\00:38:51.19
we also had, we have still,
I mean I'm no longer there, but
00:38:51.23\00:38:57.23
there was a man that was a
branding expert and an artist
00:38:57.27\00:39:02.00
and he designed our logo.
And there also was an attorney,
00:39:02.04\00:39:08.34
a lawyer there, and he did
whatever you have to do to be
00:39:08.38\00:39:16.15
trademarked. So It's My Very Own
is now trademarked and they did
00:39:16.18\00:39:20.92
it for free. You know, these are
all volunteers. Nobody's paid.
00:39:20.96\00:39:24.99
I'm not paid, you know, none of
us are paid. It's all volunteer.
00:39:25.03\00:39:29.13
And just to see how people step
up it's amazing to me. That has
00:39:29.16\00:39:36.97
just really
blessed me and inspired me.
00:39:37.01\00:39:39.04
That's beautiful.
How about you Eda?
00:39:39.07\00:39:41.84
We started it and I told you
I had two kids at home, was busy
00:39:41.88\00:39:48.22
About two years I lost my
22-year-old to a motorcycle
00:39:48.25\00:39:55.92
accident. And it was a pretty
traumatic time. Susan was there
00:39:55.96\00:39:59.89
at the time and it was hard.
When you lose a child you know
00:39:59.93\00:40:06.90
it just hits you. You can't
do anything else? But I had the
00:40:06.94\00:40:15.01
bags of love and I sewed
for other people. And my church
00:40:15.04\00:40:18.85
rallied around me at that time
and really they tried to sew
00:40:18.88\00:40:23.02
They weren't sewers but they
did what they could. They really
00:40:23.05\00:40:27.76
helped at that time. But giving,
I say if you're going through a
00:40:27.79\00:40:32.46
hard time and just can't get out
of your own way, do something
00:40:32.49\00:40:39.20
for somebody else. Go ahead. God
will bless you because you're
00:40:39.23\00:40:43.91
thinking about somebody
else. You're not thinking about
00:40:43.94\00:40:47.14
yourself. And I think, I know I
was healed by doing for others.
00:40:47.18\00:40:53.11
You know. And I think that's
God's design for us not to just
00:40:53.15\00:40:57.45
be self-centered. Because some
people when they're in grief
00:40:57.49\00:41:00.89
they never come out of it. You
know they can stay there for a
00:41:00.92\00:41:06.16
long time. And you know there
is a process for grief. You know
00:41:06.19\00:41:09.83
you have to go through the
process. I always said, If you
00:41:09.86\00:41:17.97
did all the grief all at once
your heart would break and you'd
00:41:18.01\00:41:21.64
die. But when you grieve, you
know, God has a plan for grief
00:41:21.68\00:41:25.51
too. You know a little at a time
steps, it's always steps. And
00:41:25.55\00:41:33.69
doing for others. Even if you
don't see that quilt going to
00:41:33.72\00:41:36.83
that child or just the contact
of people wanting to help. (Yes)
00:41:36.86\00:41:44.33
It's healing. If
you need healing give.
00:41:44.37\00:41:50.61
That's beautiful. God
is good. (Yes) Thank you.
00:41:50.64\00:41:53.34
Thank you. What about you Gail?
00:41:53.38\00:41:55.64
Well I would say it's increased
my faith because when we were
00:41:55.68\00:41:59.98
asked to go with the YRCC
program it was overwhelming.
00:42:00.02\00:42:04.72
You know 16 a month was what we
were facing. Thankfully they've
00:42:04.75\00:42:09.39
gotten a slow start. But then
God just started working and we
00:42:09.42\00:42:14.36
were hearing from quilt clubs
and people who were interested
00:42:14.40\00:42:17.97
in helping. Donations from
people nobody even knew. Big
00:42:18.00\00:42:22.34
donations. And one of the big
blessings is because you think
00:42:22.37\00:42:27.08
of the expense of it all. We got
notification that somebody was
00:42:27.11\00:42:32.31
selling their whole quilt...
They'd been collecting these
00:42:32.35\00:42:38.05
fabrics for years and they were
just selling them at two dollars
00:42:38.09\00:42:42.82
a yard. And these were very nice
designer fabrics, most of them,
00:42:42.86\00:42:48.83
and so we were able to buy
500 yards for a thousand dollars
00:42:48.86\00:42:57.41
which we've been using and
we will be using for quite some
00:42:57.44\00:43:00.74
time. But there are just so many
miracles that once we stepped
00:43:00.78\00:43:04.75
out on faith God just put in
place one right after another.
00:43:04.78\00:43:08.85
So we bought 500 yards,
told her about the program what
00:43:08.88\00:43:14.79
we were using
00:43:14.82\00:43:16.16
it for and she gave us 130
yards more. So we've seen God's
00:43:16.19\00:43:22.63
blessings and we are amazed by
what happens? Just have faith.
00:43:22.66\00:43:28.87
That's the key. I think you
know, so often we don't see what
00:43:28.90\00:43:36.14
the next step is. We don't know
how we're going to get to the
00:43:36.18\00:43:39.21
next step. You know 3ABN is a
faith-based ministry as well and
00:43:39.25\00:43:46.02
you don't know and you have to
have a certain amount of money
00:43:46.05\00:43:49.62
to function. But you know that
God's going to provide. If He's
00:43:49.66\00:43:53.43
told you to do it He's not going
to just say, Okay, you're on
00:43:53.46\00:43:56.06
your own. You're just there.
Without Him...He's going to make
00:43:56.10\00:44:04.51
it happen. The cattle on
a thousand hills are His.
00:44:04.54\00:44:06.37
The silver and gold are His.
So what you're telling us is
00:44:06.41\00:44:10.98
that you have all encountered
this place of how are we going
00:44:11.01\00:44:16.32
get to this next step. But you
trust God and you see that He
00:44:16.35\00:44:20.56
opens those doors. He opens
those doors. So where do you
00:44:20.59\00:44:25.03
envision this ministry going?
What is your vision for it? We
00:44:25.06\00:44:31.27
know that God...You have your
own vision but God's going to
00:44:31.30\00:44:35.67
make it happen the way He wants
it to. But where do you see it
00:44:35.70\00:44:38.54
going?
00:44:38.57\00:44:40.08
I would just love to see
every county in the U.S. and the
00:44:40.11\00:44:44.45
provinces you know in Canada and
across the world. I did get a
00:44:44.48\00:44:49.78
call from a lady in South Africa
that had seen our previous
00:44:49.82\00:44:57.06
interview here. And she had seen
it a while back but just didn't
00:44:57.09\00:45:04.03
do anything about it and just
called me in the last few months
00:45:04.07\00:45:06.57
and said I'm ready to start.
So I mean that was just amazing.
00:45:06.60\00:45:10.41
That's more than I could even
really dream you know. But I
00:45:10.44\00:45:14.51
would just love to see it in
every county so that any child
00:45:14.54\00:45:18.15
that is taken out of the home
will have, yeah will have hope
00:45:18.18\00:45:23.45
and will have some things. So
you know who knows, but that's
00:45:23.49\00:45:28.36
what I'd love to
see, every county covered.
00:45:28.39\00:45:30.86
Yes, so how does one get started
00:45:30.89\00:45:33.53
So they can go to the website
It's IMVO.org. They can go to
00:45:33.56\00:45:41.14
the website. They can order...
I'm going to show you here.
00:45:41.17\00:45:43.61
They can order a getting started
kit. What it has in it. I'll
00:45:43.64\00:45:49.78
just show you. It's just a box
that I would mail to them and
00:45:49.81\00:45:53.35
in it, I have a quilt kit much
like what they have. I have a
00:45:53.38\00:45:58.99
quilt kit, I have a bag kit. I
have brochures that they can use
00:45:59.02\00:46:04.66
to tell people about it. And
also, some labels to get them
00:46:04.69\00:46:11.17
started because sometimes labels
is kind of the hardest to find
00:46:11.20\00:46:13.94
somebody to print them. So
that can be a barrier to getting
00:46:13.97\00:46:19.04
started. And then there's also a
manual in this and in the manual
00:46:19.07\00:46:24.11
it gives some quilt ideas
and how to do it. It gives
00:46:24.15\00:46:29.68
instructions on how to make
a bag. It also just gives basic
00:46:29.72\00:46:34.92
instructions on who to talk to
and you know how to get started.
00:46:34.96\00:46:39.23
And once you know they've done
this and talked to their county
00:46:39.26\00:46:44.77
DHS or the church. It doesn't
have to be a church that starts
00:46:44.80\00:46:51.97
it. It can be you know...I just
had a call recently from a lady
00:46:52.01\00:46:56.28
that she said just a group of
women get together and sew and
00:46:56.31\00:47:00.45
she heard about it and she
ordered a quilt, I mean ordered
00:47:00.48\00:47:04.22
a gain starting kit. So it
can be anyone. But you do need
00:47:04.25\00:47:08.39
some support you know. But
and then once they kind of get
00:47:08.42\00:47:13.03
established they can contact me
and I'll put it on the website,
00:47:13.06\00:47:17.50
their chapter so that it's there
and people can contact them.
00:47:17.53\00:47:21.97
And I welcome calls anytime. If
people want to call me and ask
00:47:22.00\00:47:26.47
questions.
00:47:26.51\00:47:27.84
I think too Susan if they want
to start one they can get on the
00:47:27.88\00:47:32.91
website and they can look for
somebody who may be in the area
00:47:32.95\00:47:35.68
already doing it.
00:47:35.72\00:47:37.05
Already doing it, correct?
00:47:37.09\00:47:38.42
And that would help them or
they can just go help, you know.
00:47:38.45\00:47:41.99
Right. Thank you for that
because that is true. There's a
00:47:42.02\00:47:44.96
number of ways to get involved.
You don't have to start one
00:47:44.99\00:47:47.23
yourself. You know, if maybe
you just want to make quilts or
00:47:47.26\00:47:51.30
maybe you want to donate items.
You can just do that you know.
00:47:51.33\00:47:55.80
If there's one local. And the
website does list by state it
00:47:55.84\00:48:02.28
does list. In fact, we have a
picture of the chapters across
00:48:02.31\00:48:07.42
U.S. and Canada. It doesn't show
the particular county but it
00:48:07.45\00:48:11.35
does show in each state you know
how many chapters that we have?
00:48:11.39\00:48:16.52
Is it represented by
the blue or the grey.
00:48:16.56\00:48:20.83
Yes the blue so the blue shows
that we have chapters in that
00:48:20.86\00:48:25.73
state. So you can see the white
and the gray, we don't have
00:48:25.77\00:48:30.31
chapters there but...
00:48:30.34\00:48:33.14
Wow, that's amazing. So are
you finding that it's growing
00:48:33.17\00:48:37.31
exponentially?
00:48:37.35\00:48:38.98
Not exponentially I wouldn't say
but it is definitely growing.
00:48:39.01\00:48:42.08
I've had probably in the last
few months I've had maybe four
00:48:42.12\00:48:49.46
or five start-up. And from the
last 3ABN interview I had...the
00:48:49.49\00:48:55.63
one story that I told at the
beginning about Stacy, she saw,
00:48:55.66\00:49:00.30
actually, she listened to it. It
was on 3ABN Radio I guess. She
00:49:00.34\00:49:04.27
was listening to it and she
had to stop her car...She was
00:49:04.31\00:49:08.94
driving. She had to stop her car
and pull over and she was just
00:49:08.98\00:49:13.75
overwhelmed with like emotion
but also like this is something
00:49:13.78\00:49:18.75
that I need to do. She doesn't
sew either. So it was kind of
00:49:18.79\00:49:26.09
a...how can I do this? I don't
even sew. But I had said in that
00:49:26.13\00:49:32.23
interview that I don't sew and
so you know she was able to go
00:49:32.27\00:49:37.97
forth and start it and she
worked with her community so she
00:49:38.01\00:49:41.04
has a community and a church
supporting her. So yes you can
00:49:41.08\00:49:46.28
go on the website and see if
there's a local chapter already
00:49:46.31\00:49:49.18
and see how you can help. Or
you can contact me through the
00:49:49.22\00:49:53.69
website or call me and I
can help you get started.
00:49:53.72\00:49:56.29
Susan@IMVO.org
00:49:56.32\00:49:57.66
And there's so many ways that
you can help. So as you say I
00:49:57.69\00:50:00.66
can't sew a lick but we can
contribute or donate and you
00:50:00.70\00:50:05.33
know because...
00:50:05.37\00:50:06.90
Do some shopping. Shampoos, the
personal items like hair brushes
00:50:06.94\00:50:12.07
and stuff. You don't really...
It's a lot of work too. If it's
00:50:12.11\00:50:18.81
spread out it's good.
00:50:18.85\00:50:20.18
I have a lady that she doesn't
have a group in her area but she
00:50:20.22\00:50:24.95
sends...whenever I tell her,
hey this group needs quilts, she
00:50:24.99\00:50:29.22
sends them quilts. So she just
makes quilts and then she mails
00:50:29.26\00:50:34.30
them and she doesn't charge us,
she pays for the shipping, she
00:50:34.33\00:50:36.43
said this is my ministry.
00:50:36.46\00:50:38.73
That's so good. We have another
video that you've provided. Tell
00:50:38.77\00:50:42.14
us about that.
00:50:42.17\00:50:43.51
Yes, this is a chapter in
Arizona and it just shows also
00:50:43.54\00:50:47.64
how they got involved in their
community and what it has meant
00:50:47.68\00:50:52.71
to those that are
participating in this chapter.
00:50:52.75\00:50:56.08
Good. Let's take a look.
00:50:56.12\00:50:59.02
(Betty Baerg) Pauline was 89
years old and she had listened
00:50:59.05\00:51:03.96
to a 3ABN program, listening
to Barbara Naher talk about her
00:51:03.99\00:51:11.03
program, Bags of Love, and
Pauline was sure we all needed
00:51:11.07\00:51:17.97
to start here. And I said
Pauline that's a job, project,
00:51:18.01\00:51:22.98
that we'd never get it done. It
would go on forever. We're going
00:51:23.01\00:51:26.48
have kids in foster care forever
I didn't realize at the time
00:51:26.51\00:51:31.09
that really that is such a
blessing for the church to have
00:51:31.12\00:51:34.66
a project that goes on forever.
And you realize the Bible says
00:51:34.69\00:51:38.86
to care for those children. They
feel so good about it because
00:51:38.89\00:51:44.37
it's work for Jesus. And
they appreciate being able to
00:51:44.40\00:51:49.34
unburden their heart each week
and have us pray for them and
00:51:49.37\00:51:55.88
remember that during the
week and come back and hear good
00:51:55.91\00:51:59.68
things. It just gives people
courage. Our group is like a
00:51:59.71\00:52:03.85
family. We meet together every
Monday, nine to three, that's
00:52:03.89\00:52:08.22
the typical situation. We're in
our 15th year and our total bags
00:52:08.26\00:52:12.53
so far given away
is 3259. Bags of love.
00:52:12.56\00:52:18.90
That is so beautiful. (Isn't
it) It is really beautiful.
00:52:18.93\00:52:23.20
Everybody can be a part of this.
Everybody can take advantage of
00:52:23.24\00:52:28.21
this opportunity to help. We're
going to take a short break.
00:52:28.24\00:52:31.41
Stay with us.
We'll be right back.
00:52:31.45\00:52:33.21