Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Mujeres Jireh Artisan of the Month

Beatriz Castro de Baldoceda is our Mujeres Jireh featured artisan of the month.  Read her story here:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=265075753597218&set=a.265073370264123.47257.246622185442575&type=1&theater


I started working making handicrafts about 8 years ago.  Our economic situation was insupportable.  There were days when we didn’t have bread to lift to our mouths.  I was used to drinking water and going to sleep.  My husband was a retired teacher and his income was small.  And money was discounted from his pay for debts so that we received very little.  I only asked that God would illumine me and give me wisdom so I could dedicate myself to something that I could do with my hands so that we could survive and not get sick.

One day a friend took me to see how to make (Barbie) dolls with hard clothing.  I paid attention and was interested in making them.  But I realized that I wasn’t apt at this type of work.  So I got the idea to start making other kinds of dolls.  At the congregation where I attend (Shalom Free Methodist Church in Tarma) I met the missionary (Becky Crouse) that God has put in my life so that I can go forward and leave behind the misery of our lives.  Until today I thank God for this great blessing to send his servants so far to see to the needs of his children in these places.  The missionary asked me if I could make cloth dolls like a model that she had. I said yes without knowing how I would do it.  But I started to think about how to make the patterns and everything else.  First I gave my hands to God and whenever I work on my dolls I say to God, “Let’s go to work.  You put your art and beauty, and they are your dolls.  I am only your instrument.”  This is how we work together when there are orders.

Presently I still make dolls, perhaps making them better and better each time because I have a beautiful dream that I know God will permit me some day to give work to many persons, be they men or women, so they can give food to their little children.  I thank God for having given me difficult times economically because if I hadn’t passed through them then I wouldn’t think about my brothers and sisters who need to live.

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