Good Morning, All!
  As I promised I would continue with how I got started crafting for charity which has become my ministry.
   Continuing on then, I crocheted for over a year in the group I had joined. I felt so happy. God had answered my prayer. What I didn't realize at that point things were about to change once more. The owners of the group I was in sort of had some sort of falling out. I was asked to moderate the group. Well, other then being a mother of ten children I had no other experience moderating, or so I thought. I had forgotten about when I worked in the college library as a Librarian Technician. I had student workers under me. It gave me some experience too. Then I also forgot I had a talent for working with materials I love. I love books! I love to read. When my children were in an elementary school in East Oakland, the librarian passed away and the district just had no money to send another librarian to that site..so there sat a library that needed to be dusted off., this of course is an understatement, it had boxes of books..books out of order, they were storing anything in that room. I simply one day heard that voice that is quiet and talks to us say, well you always wanted to work in a library, here's your chance..so I asked the principal if I could go in..clean it up and make it useable..working to keep it running..for free! I would even have it open and ready for the teachers to bring the kids in to check out books..and I would do all of the bulletin boards..I did this for over a year and a half..I loved it..but then had to quit to help my family then in crisis.  Looking back at all of this..I had way more experience then I first thought. So, I helped moderate the group I loved. But one day, I sort of had a surprising revelation.
  I realized that it would seem that almost everyone wants to help a helpless child. Preemie or newborn it didn't matter..But, what about the elderly? what about the homeless person? Did it really matter how or why they needed some help? By this time I could navigate myself around sweaters, blankets, hats and slippers..I was afraid the owner would be upset with me. I wanted to start another group. One that would address the needs of elderly, homeless, a cancer patient, anyone in need and not just babies. So, I quietly began to do the footwork of my new group. I kept it quiet. I worked the group up where only an owner could see what I was doing. Anyone on the outside would see just the front page..I was busy working behind the scenes to get things set up. Its an amazing amount of work. Then I  shared with my friends what I was doing and what was exciting me. Some even said they were interested and wanted to join the group. My fears of upsetting my owner in the group were not unfounded..she was indeed angry. She accused me of "fishing" to get members for my new group. I was hardly a threat to take down the one I moderated in. First, my new group really was concentrating on helping everyone else that was NOT a newborn. Then my health took another dive and I had open heart surgery. I backed slowly out of the newborn/preemie group because two groups was way more then I could handle. I had my group open for over a year and realized the title of the group only encompassed those who crochet. I was beginning to learn knitting and I already sewed..so did others in the group. I then changed the name of the group to honor all of the crafters. I also was realizing that I had another problem. I had crafters come in who expected me to be one of those groups that you can win things in.. I did not have that sort of group. They wanted to win things..not take a responsibility for keeping the group going. We all do this in conversation, in sharing a new pattern, a problem in our crafting, something new we found, the list goes on. Instead I was finding people who just wanted to be entertained, some wanted to just pop in and see what we were doing..That was definitely not working. I have a gift of gab so to speak, but even I need some responses and communication..It was not forth coming. I also realized that some of the problem is that there seems to be a "pat on the back" forth coming when we do something for a helpless infant/child..but not so for the other people in need. I also had on the back of my mind, where is God being given the glory for what is done? I had opened my group for anyone to talk about their faith, and asking for prayer..it was a place that feels good to be in.. I still have this group open as the handful of faithful want to stay in contact..Even I can see that the group really has no breathe left in it. Its so very sad.  Then one day recently my christian friend said to me, Leslee, you say you do not know what purpose He has for you in this life? uh, yeah. Sorta of surprised here as I didn't expect her to say this to me. It again was something I was thinking about and talking to God about. She said, ok tell me what talents do you have? You like to read? yes. You like to write? ..definitely! You craft. yes..what do you think would work here? How about taking your ministry to help others into a blog..Helping other crafters to create things to help people in their communities. wow! That's a really good idea! She said, you faithfully post scripture out on facebook to get His word out..yes, I do. The wheels inside my brain were beginning to move. I realized that by blogging I may be able to reach people in a way that had not occurred to me.

The problem finding people who really want to help others..to spread His love and compassion to people who really need is,  that I can't find a way to get the word out that people can make a difference in the life of those around them. I used to be able to go to yahoo and look up people whose hobbies are crocheting, knitting, sewing, crafting. Because they changed their format I'm without email addresses to find people. Facebook is a joke to get a message out more then a scripture or something that steals the news..It reminds me of an electronic ,Enquirer. The tabloid that I used to see in the grocery store. Not sure if its still in print. Many printed items are being replaced by electronic devices.

 I realized that there are crafting blogs online that might be interested in this ministry. It has very little glory or recognition to the crafter. The glory goes to our Creator who created us and gave us these gifts we call talents. 

 I intend to write things here about what I see available for patterns, what I craft myself, pattern links to other places, ideas that come to me and I hope others will share their passions for what they create. I hope to share my own charity work here too.

Remember, the people we help are helpless in many different ways. It can be a debilitating disease, life itself, or just plain getting old. There seem to be many who jump to the aid of people in a disaster. Praise God for this! What about those forgotten? What about the senior in a senior's home? They miss their families, the life they had, and just simple comforts like being warm, or something handmade which reminds them that they are loved. A pair of slippers or socks gives amazing warmth. Its kind of like someone tenderly washing your feet out of the love that they have for you. Someone homeless may be in this situation because of the way life has been lived..their choices that they made..regardless, of whether it was by choice or not, I felt who am I to say this person should or should not receive the love and attention they need? I am not to judge their life..I am able by His good grace to help. I extend my hand to all. Women, Men, teens, and children. If you want to make something to keep someone warm or give comfort please by all means do so. Our communities have many forgotten people. Consider it like helping in a soup kitchen. I was amazed at all the people now who want to work in a soup kitchen. They get seen helping. We who craft do not. And its not important to be seen and noticed. He sees all.

Having shared all this, please feel free to comment. Feel free to share your lives, your passions for helping others..and please above all else..donate your time/gifts to extend His hand in love and compassion to your communities.