Pat at the Wheel and Out of Control

It's that time again! Sam Pritchett, Pat Lyon and I are preparing for the 2011 Cambodia mission. Sam departs Austin, Texas, on Saturday, July 9, and you can follow Sam on his blog, see link at right on this blogspot. I will depart Chicago on Sunday, July 10, and will continue to post on this blog. Pat departed Chicago on Sunday, June 19, and has landed safely in Siem Reap Town Monday evening about 9 pm Wisconsin time.

Thanks to many of you and other generous people who make the Cambodia mission. All of your generous money donations benefit the vulnerable Cambodian people: clean water wells, toilets, domestic hygiene and sanitation education and training, vegetable seeds and fruit tree seedlings, piglets and pig pens, educational scholarships to post secondary education for poor youth, first aid supplies and training, personal hygiene supplies and training, computer equipment and training for youth, sewing equipment and supplies and training for village women. Costs for travel to Cambodia, immunizations, lodging in Cambodia, visas, interpreters, motorbike and car drivers in Cambodia and whatever else is necessary are paid for by mission members themselves and with money they raise in other ways. Please keep the Cambodia mission and the mission members in your prayers. Pat does not yet have a blog, so I'm posting her emails here. Enjoy!! Deanna

Pat at the Wheel and Out of Control
June 22, 2011 9:31 pm

We have known the tailor now for about 6 years. We found her through Christine and Jnnifer Boehm. She has moved for the third time, but we have been able to track her down. She lives across from place where kill pigs, cows, chickens, etc. Now she has a married son who live with her in addition to her very competent single daughter Rothny who works two jobs as an accountant. Her home is two inches away from that of another family. She has created her own jungle at the entrance of the house with flowers and plants that we buy for house plants. On the other side of that there is a frog pond.

This year, one of my goals is to develop competency in sewing with treadle sewing machine. Hers is somewhat foreboding. It is a Janome, industrial strength type, mounted on a cast iron Singer frame. In the past, she has not wanted to serve in a teaching capacity because she is self taught and very modest. She does not know how much I wonder how she can sew without the help of Vogue, Simplicity, MCall's, etc. But now she and Rothny are very excited that I want to learn. Why, I do not know. About five dogs of varying sizes and amounts of fur move aside. There is a tiny newborn kitten in front of me. A pretty little girl about two years old clings to her grandmother because I am large, pale, and wear glasses. Mony needs a cigarette, but he's watching.

I must turn the large wheel at my right and get my feet going at the same time. There is no plastic here, like with my little Nancy's Notions "Babby Lock". (What a wuss name for a machine.) I turn wih all my might and they start shouting at me. They are probably saying "go, go go!" The tailor pulls me from the chair to show me. She spreads her bare feet a certain way. I try to imitate. I sew a little bit crooked and it makes gathers. The machine becomes un-threaded. Rothny tries to thread it from behind and upside down.

I am ready to give up but they persist. Once again the tailor shows me with her feet and I finally get it. Right-left, right-left, etc. Wow! Exercise and sew at the same time. Left hand must guide and pull fabric. Four body parts all doing something different at the same time. Good thing I'm not chewing gum!

I am measured for a dress and shirt. I point, show pictures, nod yes or no. I shoo Mr. Mony from the room to get measured. This is a probem. We agree to come again for another lesson. Adieu, adieu!

The next night I return at 5:00 pm because cooler. But sewing machine broken. She shows us where a new part is needed. I tell them I am glad it was not me! Pat L