KnitKnots update

Greetings from our KnitKnots!

On Wednesday last week, some of our KnitKnots took a trip to the south of our city to visit a very special place in Sweetwaters, Grasmere.... 

EMTHONJENI 

(meaning 'fountains of life')

Emthonjeni village is a non-profit organisation that houses approximately 23 orphans/vulnerable children.  It forms part of the 'Emthonjeni - fountains of life' project  (Vineyard Community church) and is the brainchild and initiative of Rev Trevor Ntlhola - the current Chairperson of the Board of Emthonjeni.  The village we visited has been operational since around 2005.

This particular little village is overseen by four passionate and dedicated, live-in 'house-mothers' as well as the very hospitable manager Pastor David Mothobi. The village is built in the midst of the local community and the resident children attend school within walking distance from their home.  

I must say that we were humbled by the enthusiasm and dedication of the whole team at Emthomjeni - despite the sometimes very difficult circumstances under which they perform their calling.  Thank you so much to Pastor David and the house-mothers for showing us around and allowing us to meet some of your children. 

Our car boot was packed with blankets - awaiting delivery...

 (Above: Thanks to the amazing generosity of our network of knitting and crocheting ladies (you know who you are ), we were able to deliver 27 blankets to the village.  Thank you so, so much! - they were absolute works of art!)

 (Above: Emthonjeni's four dedicated house mothers)

 Children receiving their blankets...

 The little Emthonjeni village is currently made up of four occupied houses, and a further two which are used as a storeroom and library respectively.  

Each house has a small vegetable garden where the children are encouraged to help grow food.  It was lovely to see how neatly the houses are kept inside  and the display of house rules which the guide the childrens' discipline.

EMTHONJENI is always in need of numerous provisions. They really do need any help you can offer! 

From their brochure:

"We serve the community of Thulamntwana, Weilers farm, Finetown and Kanana which are located in the Orange Farm region of Johannesburg. Together these 4 communities have a total of approximately 170 000 residents. The areas in which we operate are among the poorest of Johannesburg. These communities are mostly made up of rural people and refugees who came to Johannesburg looking for work, many of them facing the harsh realities of the city.

The population is very young with 40% under 18.Income levels are very low: 50% of the population has no income and about 62% of the remainder earns less than R1500 a month, indicating that the majority live below the breadline. The unemployment rate is estimated at 70%, far higher than the national average rate.

The HIV infection rate is nearly 20% with approximately 5.7 million people living with HIV/AIDS in South Africa. It is estimated that 300 000 people die every year from Aids. This harsh reality has left many children orphaned and vulnerable."

They are a growing village and we were told that they have a vision to build a total of 30 houses by 2025. The need is great - both on a financial and practical level.  

We were taken through their little 'sewing factory' during our visit:

We were glad that we could help in our very small way - simply by handing out blankets and offering a few provisions, but I am sure that there are folk 'out there' who will be touched by their efforts.  

If you, dear reader,  wish to help EMTHONJENI in any way, please email:

manager@emthonjeni-fountains.co.za

I know that your gesture will be hugely appreciated. Please?

---xXx---

I would also like to say a big thank you to folk which continuously hand me packets of knitted and crocheted squares on a Sunday morning or during the week.  All these squares eventually work their way into our blankets and go towards charity handovers.  Sometimes were are especially blessed with blankets put together by our participants.  Take a look at these beautiful creations made by 

Cheryl Triegaardt.

(Thank you so much, Cheryl!)

Our KnitKnots meet every Friday afternoon in a companionable, supportive environment. We encourage one another in our daily walks with God and we try, in our small way, to do good for those less fortunate than ourselves. Should you wish to join us, or help us in any way, please feel free to leave a comment below this blog or contact the office of 

THE NEW HARVEST CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP.

Until next time,
Sending lots of love, in Christ

Caryl and the KnitKnots

We're growing...

Greetings from the KnitKnots!

Our Friday 'Get-togethers' can best be described as happy, companionable, bantering tea-parties.  It's all in the name of fellowship, companionship and charity. Between us all we hope to do good - for one another,  and also for others less fortunate than ourselves.

We get together once a week and spend about two fun hours together  

 It's a very happy place to be and it has been wonderful to watch the personal growth of our members and the oozing generosity which flows from their hearts.  So many wonderful knitted and crocheted items have been made in the process. Friendships are forming as we speak and deep bonds are developing. We have some wonderfully skilled ladies too...and lots of wool (for the moment)  God is definitely at work in our midst and we feel truly blessed.

The enthusiasm for our efforts is spilling out into wider networks too:

People have been so generous with the items they have handed in to us.

(Above: The 'waiting on God' blanket handed in by Helen Brimson)

(Above: Beautiful knee rugs made by Ruth Barnes)

(Above: Beautiful scarf made by Amy Dowse)

(Above: Beanies made by Gudrun Gebhardt)

---xXx---

Our biggest surprise, however,  arrived in Susan's car one Friday afternoon. Her little vehicle was absolutely brimming with blankets! There were TWENTY FOUR single-bed-sized, handmade crocheted blankets in total.  It is a HUGE, generous donation from the Wednesday group - 'Stitch and Bitch'.  Thank you so much ladies!  We took great delight in unpacking the car and displaying the beautiful blankets in the little library adjacent to the clubhouse.  

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you ladies!  

You guys are absolutely awesome!

 These blankets are all earmarked for a handover at 'Emthonjeni' (meaning 'the fountain') this coming week:  24 young and vulnerable children will be receiving their personal blankets and we can't wait to give it to them. Thank you to the 'Stitch and Bitch', Wednesday group, for making this gift possible.  We are very, very grateful for your love and support. God Bless you all!

THE LADIES AT 'HAIR COMPLETE'

Some time ago I was asked for help - to start a small "knitting basket"  project at HAIR COMPLETE - in the NHC Centre along Witkoppen Road, Randburg.  I wrote up a manual, scouted for some hooks and needles, sourced a small variety of wool colors and delivered it to them.  The ladies at the Salon have wanted to do this for sometime now.  They were soon ready for action.

It wasn't long  before  I received a call - A very enthusiastic voice on the other end of the phone told me that they had made real progress and wanted me to come and collect their squares.  What a joy it was to go along and witness their obvious progress in encouraging a new skill. It seems that they have taught their whole staff now.  Well done ladies and thank you for your enthusiasm.

The squares that have been handed in will be added to the KnitKnots pile.  These will eventually be stitched together and made into blankets for charity. Thank you again and keep up your excellent work!

--- xXx ---

Our KnitKnots ladies are currently busy on a number of projects: 

We are making squares (20cm x 20cm - crocheted or knitted); knee blankets, single-bed sized blankets; baby blankets; baby jerseys;  bootees; beanies; scarves, etc 

The guideline, however, is 'Make what makes you happy and we'll find it a home.  To this end we've set up a small panel who will make the final decisions of where our end-products go.

Thank you Felicity, Susan and Ellalene for being our "Decision" panel!

I would like to say a special "thank you" to Ellalene Brown and the management of THE OLIVE RETIREMENT VILLAGE for the use of their beautiful clubhouse on a Friday afternoon.  Some of the residents have joined us now - which is an added bonus - and we encourage others to join us too.  We are really grateful for this privilege...THANK YOU!

As readers will know, we recently had a raffle to raise money for our wool stocks.  Our team went on a shopping trip, so now we are ready for action :

(Above: Our wool stocks...replenished...for the moment)

If you are interested in joining our KnitKnots, or would like to make a donation towards wool, please contact our church office directly (click on the link in the sidebar, or leave a comment).  We look forward to meeting you or having you in our group. 

Sending lots of love

'till next time

Caryl

Introducing our KNITKNOTS

GREETINGS FROM THE KNITKNOTS!

What a privilege it is to write this first blogpost to introduce our little group.  Thank you for stopping by to read about our activities.

We are a small but ever-growing group of ladies who meet every Friday in a companionable environment - knitting, crocheting and enjoying a cuppa tea together. At the moment there are approximately 24 of us in total. So much has happened in the past year - it simply has to be recorded and shared via this blog.

Our purpose is FELLOWSHIP, COMPANIONSHIP and CHRISTIAN OUTREACH. The fruit of our activities is demonstrated by the amazing creativity and giving nature of our ladies. We teach each other, support one another and churn out beautiful handmade knitted/crocheted/sewed items.  These items are eventually collected and fed into various charities under the mentorship of "The New Harvest Christian Fellowship"  (NHCF).  Our main focus is on "doing good" in our circles - all in the name of our wonderful Lord Jesus Christ.

"And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased."

(Hebrews 13:16)

Our wider congregation support us too by either contributing wool,monetary donations or they knit at their leisure and eventually hand in their items.  We are honoured to be recognised as a smaller mission of NHCF. But we are by no means exclusive! We encourage participation from outside our community and endeavour to network into other, larger networks of equally-inspiring women.

The KnitKnots have been active since June 2015. It happened in a simple, yet amazing way...and we cannot deny God's hand in the process. In personal prayer, I dedicated my Friday afternoons to crocheting/knitting and put out the invitation for anyone who wanted to to come and join me.

 "Please Lord, bless this group," I prayed. 

My faithful Lord listened to my small prayer and it wasn't long before we had at least 12 active members. 

Above: One of the first meetings in my home

 Soon, our congregation became involved and I was being handed packets of knitted/crocheted items every Sunday after service. The encouragement we received and joy demonstrated was tangible.

Above: Blanket made by Denise Wiid-baisley

Above: Items handed in by our congregants

As we grew in numbers, we were offered a beautiful venue - the clubhouse at THE OLIVE retirement village - a secure, happy environment close to our church, and we moved our activities there. We have structured ourselves in a way that invites participation - whether it be by simply knitting squares , or sewing up blankets; looking after the wool stocks; keeping track over our finances; investigating charities; sharing patterns; involvement in hand-overs, or overseeing the all-important 'TEA' at a Friday get-together.  There is a place for everyone!

Over the past year, the KnitKnots have contributed in one way or another to the following charities:

*Divine Mercy home for single, pregnant mothers

*West Rand Christian Centre

*Jan Hofmeyer feeding scheme

*Hands of compassion

*Various orphanages

*67 Blankets for Mandela

*Cancer Dive

*Baragwanath Hospital Childrens' Clinic.

Obviously, in a knitting/crocheting group, there is always a need for WOOL, WOOL and more WOOL! In pursuit of this, we embarked on a wonderful fundraising raffle in May 2016  - a blanket made by our own Knit-knots.  This particular drive yielded an astounding R4700  for which we are very, very grateful!  This money will go towards buying much needed wool. Many thanks to everyone who participated in our raffle. 

Above: The "Rule Britannia raffle blanket"

What follows are a few photos of some of the things we have been up to during the year:

Above: One of our first group blankets which went towards the Cancer drive

 Above: 80 beanies were made and handed over to the West Rand Christian Centre

 Above: "Mood" blankets made entirely out of odd balls of wool

 16 Baby packs were handed over to Divine Mercy home for single, pregnant mothers

 Above: One of the Baby Packs comprising: 1x blanket, 1x jersey, 1x beanie, 1x bootees

 Above: First charity blanket knitted by Sandy Mol - Jan Hofmeyer feeding scheme

 Above: 16 Baby packs ready for distribution

 Beautiful quilt made by Mary Smith and Caryl Moll for our quilting ministry

 Above: Blanket handed in by a congregant and made larger by Mary Smith

 Above: Claire and Madeleine with the beautiful blanket made from donated squares.

 Above: Joy and her first-ever blanket. Well done, Joy!

 Above: Absolutely stunning blanket made by Valarie

 Above: My own blanket made out of odd balls of wool.

 Above: Gudrun and her beautiful blanket made out of scraps.

Above: Susan and the blanket donated to Jan Hofmeyer drive

Above: Beautiful scarf made by Glynnis

Above: Blanket put together from donated squares for a little one.

I would like to take the opportunity of thanking every one who has been involved in our efforts.  We really appreciate your encouragement and support.

"THANK YOU!"

Should you feel moved to contribute in any way, please contact me personally 

(carylmoll (at) yahoo (dot) com.  

Or alternatively contact the church office by clicking on the link here:

May God bless you in your work

Yours, in Christ

Caryl

xxx