A sewing machine saved my family

On May 13th families across America will celebrate their mothers and the sacrifices that they’ve made for their children and spouses. Today, we'd like to honor two mothers in India whose lives were changed with one simple tool - a sewing machine.

Ten years ago Ijjana lost her husband and was left to raise her two children alone. As a widowed woman in India, Ijjana instantly faced a life of struggle and discrimination. Without a husband or a job, Ijjana and her children fought to survive.

Although surrounded by desperate circumstances, Ijjana did not lose hope because of her faith in Jesus Christ. After much prayer, Ijjana heard about India Partners’ six-month tailoring program where she could learn sewing skills and how to start her own sewing business. Ijjana praised God for the wonderful opportunity He had given her, and she worked very hard to complete the training.

Today, Ijjana is equipped with sewing skills and able to provide for her children, and she is full of hope because of her strong faith in Jesus Christ.

Veera was not as hopeful, however. Married to a husband who wasted their money on alcohol, Veera was worried for her children and often thought of committing suicide. Desperate for help, she went to a nearby church and asked the pastor to pray for her husband because of his constant drunkenness.

Although her husband’s actions stayed the same, God answered Veera’s prayers by providing a seat for her in India Partners’ tailoring program. During the program, Veera learned valuable sewing skills and heard about Jesus’ love for her. With a newfound faith in Christ, Veera was full of joy and successfully completed the tailoring program, by God’s grace. Today, Veera is thankful to God that she is able to provide for her children and she continues to pray for her husband regularly.

As we celebrate the triumphs of our own moms this Mother’s Day, let us also remember Veera and Ijjana in our prayers, as well as the many other mothers in India who struggle daily to provide for their children.

This Mother’s Day, honor your mom by donating a sewing machine for a woman in need in India and we will send your mother a handmade Indian card!

$95 provides one sewing machine

• 1. Click “Donate Now” and select “sewing machines” from the drop-down menu.
• 2. Check the box specifying that your gift is in honor of someone special and fill in your mother’s contact information.

We will send her a handmade Indian card to notify her of the sewing machine given in her honor.