God is always at work around you.

  • Oasis Africa establishes a Children's Center in the slum of Mashaka, Kenya.  They begin working on developing a plan for the Adult Caregivers to earn a viable living to care for the children.  They dream of a Quilting Center where people can use the gifts, talents and abilities God has given to make quilts that can be marketed worldwide.
  • Marilyn Nasman, Friday Harbor, attends a San Juan Island Women's Retreat in March and shares the story of how the church can support the women in Kenya through purchasing jewelry made by they Kenyan women.  She meets Kitty Sorgen at the retreat.
  • Kitty Sorgen is a talented quilter who loves teaching quilting to any age.  Kitty leads a session at the retreat about loving our neighbors through the making of a prayer quilt. 
God invites you to become involved with him in His work.

Marilyn suggests Kitty go to Africa to teach quilting to the women in Mashaka in partnership with Oasis Africa.  Kitty says YES, you bet!

God's invitation for you to work with Him always leads you to a crisis of belief that requires faith and action.  You must make major adjustments in your life to join God in what He is doing.

Kitty and her daughter, Jill Urbach, have committed to going to Mashaka this summer and will stay up to two months, Lord willing!  There are a million little details, but they are moving ahead with faith.  Shots have been had, travel arrangements are being made and supplies are being gathered. 

You can be part of this mission team. 

  1. Pray:  for safe travel, for both Kitty and Jill's families in their absence, for health, that the people of Mashaka would be receptive, that their gifts that are freely shared would be used for God's glory.
  2. Sponsorship support for the Women of Mashaka:  Twenty women will initially be trained and they will then train others.  The cost to run the Training Center for six months equals $57 per woman per month.  You can sponsor one or more women for one month or all six.  A detailed budget can be viewed here.  To provide trainee support, checks can be written to CISF and sent to Marilyn Nasman.  The Friday Harbor Presbyterian Church has established a missionary fund to support this project.  Make checks payable to Friday Harbor Presbyterian Church and put "African Quilting Project" in the memo line.  You can also donate online through CISF. Be sure to identify your donation as the Mashaka Quilting Project.
  3. Financial support for the expenses of Kitty Sorgen and Jill Urbach.  The primary expenses include travel and room/board.  Travel amounts to approximately $3000 per person.  Room/board is $30 per day. The Friday Harbor Presbyterian Church has established a missionary fund to support this trip.  Make checks payable to Friday Harbor Presbyterian Church and put "African Quilting Project" in the memo line.
  4. Quilting Buddy:  Adopt a quilting buddy and make a small quilt for one of the children in Mashaka. This will help the women learn different quilting techniques and styles as well as provide blankets for the children.
You come to know God by experience as you obey Him and He accomplishes His work through you.

God is already providing in amazing ways:

  • World renown fabric/quilt designer Kaffe Fassett donated two huge boxes of fabric for this project.
  • Professional quilter, Marti Michell, donated rulers and supplies.
  • The Rainshadow Quilting Arts Guild in Friday Harbor made sewing kits for each of the women.  Some of the supplies to fill the kits have already been donated.
  • Sponsorship commitments have been made for three women.
Soli Deo Gloria!  To God alone be the Glory!