Diamond in the Rough

Diamond in the Rough:  in a natural state without decoration or other treatment.

 I will go before you and make your rough places smooth. --Isaiah 45:2

If you've been around here for awhile, you're familiar with Jogma. She is 18 years old and in the 12th grade in Liberia. If you've been around here for years, you might remember a quilt that Jogma made a few years ago. Her 'Wisdom of Heart' quilt raised $1400 to make a house a home for the children at Danny Feeny Memorial Orphanage Home! At that time, Jogma had never met the children at Danny Feeney, but she was proud that her handmade creation could benefit other children living in an orphanage about an hour from her own orphanage. {Jogma's first quilt is extremely special to me because I LOVED the quilt, but someone else won it at the auction. That kind and generous woman gave the quilt to me, and has since passed away. I cherish that quilt!}

Fast forward about a year to sometime in 2010. Jogma started to ask me about the older girls at Danny Feeney, and wanted to know if they could sew. After a few conversations, Jogma started taking the 1+ hour drive with me to Danny Feeney every week and began to teach the girls there how to sew. Jogma loved teaching the girls something that she loved so much, and I think she forgot about that $1400 that helped move those girls to a new and safe home that they could call their own.

Now, in 2012, Jogma began to work on her second quilt for me to bring back to auction off at HeartCry's annual Pasta Dinner and Silent Auction. Jogma began to cut and sew and create. Jogma never measures, always makes up her own designs, and does everything with a foot treadle sewing machine or by hand. I would sit on the porch with Jogma's infant son Joshua on my lap while she worked on her latest quilt. We talked about school and life and sewing...and there was plenty of laughter! Jogma finished the quilt and gave it to me just before I left Liberia in June. I packed the quilt in my suitcase and it set out on it's journey back to Georgia to be a part of this year's auction.

This year's auction is on Friday night. We have sold out of tickets for dinner, but we would LOVE for you to come and participate in the auction, as well as to learn more about the orphanage that New Hope works with in Haiti. The doors open at 6pm and the auction opens at 6:30pm. This year's live auction items include: a 5 star quail hunt and overnight lodge stay, a NASCAR VIP experience and a helicopter tour and overnight stay at Chateau Elan; along with great silent auction items too! This is a night that you don't want to miss!

Jogma has no idea that her Diamond in the Rough quilt will be a part of the silent auction, and that this year's proceeds will be used to move over 100 children in Haiti to their new orphanage! Yes, for the second time, Jogma's quilt is going to help children move into their desperately needed new home! I cannot wait to call Jogma and tell her the story of quilt, and how she has changed the lives of orphans living half way around the world from her in Haiti! Please join us on Friday night, and be apart of the the story!

What: HeartCry's Pasta Dinner and Silent Auction

When: Friday, November 2 at 6pm

Where: New Hope Baptist Church-Rainbow Room

Fayetteville, GA

Why: To build a new orphanage in Ganthier, Haiti for the children of Masion d'Enfants par la Foi

You can also join us on Saturday, November 3rd for HeartCry's 'Footsteps for the Orphan' 5K. All proceeds from the weekend will benefit the kids in Haiti, as well as HeartCry's ministry. You can register for the race here.