Trinidad is a city located 118 south of Paysandú. Ms. Jane Augeistane, from Colorado Springs, has been coming to Uruguay during these past three years. The first time, she came as part of the Women's Division of the UMC in a program called "Ubuntu". This first activity was held in Montevideo. Women from different churches around the country came to learn how to quilt. The second year, Paysandú was the place selected for the program, and it was developed mainly by ladies from the northern part of the country. During this experience, Ms. Cecilia Perez (active member of San Lucas Methodist Church and one of the Camp Renacer caretakers) and other ladies from the local congregation learned how to quilt. As a local church, we organized a local workshop weekly. Since then, Cecilia has become the leader of the group and many other ladies have been involved in the local project. Last June 16th to 18th, Cecilia was invited to be part of the third quilting experience. This was held in the Methodist Church of Trinidad. This new opportunity for Cecilia has given her the chance to reinforce what she had learned before, to learn new techniques and to continue developing the local church's quilting workshop with enthusiasm.
"Curiosity kills the cat"! Since the Ubuntu project began in Uruguay, I had wished to be part of it. Unfortunately, for many different reasons, I hadn't been able to take part in the workshops. This past June was my chance! I had been invited to lead the morning bilingual devotions and help in the translation of the activity. I did the first one without any problem. However, the second one gave me a surprise. I noticed that my help was not 100% necessary, as most of the local ladies understood all of the instructions given by Jeanette and Wanda. So, what should I do? Just stand there watching, in case any help was needed? Well, knowing me - an active man - I decided to ask Jeanette if she was able to teach me how to quilt! I had never sewn on a sewing machine in my life!! This was going to be, not only an adventure for me, but also for the teacher!! She just started by saying, "Choose the pieces of fabric and colors that you would like to use in your quilting blanket". Wow! She really trusted me!!
Believe it or not! I had my first sewing and quilting experience......amazing, isn't it!!! You can see this "masterpiece". What do you think? This new experience in my life reinforced my thought that "nothing is impossible". We just need to try.
The Funny Part: The local TV station of Trinidad decided to report on the activity: ladies in the local community were learning a new sewing experience. Well, they found me there sewing and doing my quilting. That night the local News showed the quilting program. I stopped at the local church the next morning. One of the bricklayers who was working on the rebuilding of the old Trinidad Methodist Church building came to me and greeted me, saying, "Congratulations, Pastor; you were seen on TV last night! You're the first Methodist male pastor who I know who quilts"!! Everybody laughed and I learned a new lesson: "Fame is only temporary"!
"Curiosity kills the cat"! Since the Ubuntu project began in Uruguay, I had wished to be part of it. Unfortunately, for many different reasons, I hadn't been able to take part in the workshops. This past June was my chance! I had been invited to lead the morning bilingual devotions and help in the translation of the activity. I did the first one without any problem. However, the second one gave me a surprise. I noticed that my help was not 100% necessary, as most of the local ladies understood all of the instructions given by Jeanette and Wanda. So, what should I do? Just stand there watching, in case any help was needed? Well, knowing me - an active man - I decided to ask Jeanette if she was able to teach me how to quilt! I had never sewn on a sewing machine in my life!! This was going to be, not only an adventure for me, but also for the teacher!! She just started by saying, "Choose the pieces of fabric and colors that you would like to use in your quilting blanket". Wow! She really trusted me!!
Believe it or not! I had my first sewing and quilting experience......amazing, isn't it!!! You can see this "masterpiece". What do you think? This new experience in my life reinforced my thought that "nothing is impossible". We just need to try.
The Funny Part: The local TV station of Trinidad decided to report on the activity: ladies in the local community were learning a new sewing experience. Well, they found me there sewing and doing my quilting. That night the local News showed the quilting program. I stopped at the local church the next morning. One of the bricklayers who was working on the rebuilding of the old Trinidad Methodist Church building came to me and greeted me, saying, "Congratulations, Pastor; you were seen on TV last night! You're the first Methodist male pastor who I know who quilts"!! Everybody laughed and I learned a new lesson: "Fame is only temporary"!
