Uganda Quilt Update!

Willie, Ben and I drove down to Denver yesterday with the last of the quilts for Andrea and Pavel to pack! 103 Quilts!! You won't believe this, but Sarah's (AiryFairy from South Africa) quilt, which she mailed from England last week, ARRIVED just in time to be packed in with the other quilts! Can you believe it? That is one world traveled quilt. Sewn in South Africa, taken to UK to mail, flown to Colorado, and now ready for its final destination - a little orphanage in Uganda, Africa! Almost a full circle! It's beautiful too, red and blue checked ginghams and adorable animals with their English names. AND, the quilt Chris made in Australia with fabrics from New Zealand arrived here in time for me to put the backing and binding on - and it's all tied up with a matching ribbon. What an incredible quilt that the oldest of the orphans, Edith, will treasure forever. Chris and Sarah, thanks for those last minute, quick ships from around our world!
I am sooo relieved to have the quilts on their way. I can't tell you how I feel: pleased, satisfied, exhausted, blessed.... all warm and tingly inside.
Each one is rolled and tied up with a ribbon with a little hand made surprise tucked inside. We rolled them with the most interesting design, or colorful fabric on the outside. I just can't imagine what that kids are going to think! And they will get them soon - this week! I made about 30 of sgillette's marble mazes - thank you so very much for that design! Having some unique designs from Cuties, really helped us personalize our quilts -thanks to our Cutie digitizers!
Then after all the little orphans receive their quilts, there will be a surprise bag with all the quilts for the bigger kids/orphan/students. Each of these has their name embroidered on it. You have all done such an incredible job on these quilts! They are stunning, and when they are all together they are just overwhelming - and they simply radiate Love. You can almost see the love glowing - you know - like little ripples of heat! Well, maybe you can just feel it when you hold them - LOL
I also made two cute little zip bags for two little sisters (names Patience and Precious on them) who are not in the orphanage, and tucked those into a ziplock bag, along with lots of little FSL angels, crosses, and African animals for Patrick to share with the others, like the staff of lady cooks, and told him he could use them however he thought would be best. There are also a few extra quilts, beyond the 80 needed for the current orphans, and the ones for the older student/orphans, and a lot of the extra little surprises for Patrick to use as needed.
As I mentioned before, Andrea said Patrick doesn't hold in his feelings, and he will be literally jumping for joy. He knows there are quilts on the way, but there is no way he can imagine what THESE quilts will be. They are amazing with tons of special details.
We are hoping the extra baggage charges won't exceed the $250 we sent along for that. Did I tell you that a lot of people, who couldn't sew, or didn't have time to sew, or the shipping was just ridiculous from their countries, sent in cash donations, either through Paypal, checks, cash or money orders! Also, there were Cuties who helped buy fabric for others to stitch, to pay for postage to get quilts to Colorado, and even for the backing fabric for the seven quilts from Chris' friend from Australia. I think Chris mailed four different packages all that way! If anyone else wants to donate, through Paypal, we can send directly to Pavel and he can withdraw while he is in Uganda (for the month he will be there), and those offerings will go directly for food for the orphans. Pavel is the only middleman and 100% will go to the kids.
We have taken tons of photos of the quilts, and there will be lots from Uganda too. It is just going to take a while to post them. I want to make a slide show of the quilts from Cuties.
I do need a day or two to rest. My hards can barely type, and they ache really badly. I had to take my machine back in for tune up and repair. It had only been 3 months, but it had another 4,900,000 stitches on it since then. I know that is record for me - LOL
I feel soooo good and soooo relieved they are completed. Thank YOU, Thank YOU all for your love and support, your fabric, your time, your postage, your designs, your $$, and your encouragement. I feel so very blessed to have been a part of this great adventure: I could not have done it without YOU :-) God bless You all, and hugs of gratitude from me, Jan
Pavel's flight leaves Denver at 4:30 on Tuesday, and I'll have to let you know when it's supposed to reach Uganda. Patrick and some of the older orphans will meet him at the airport to help carry the 3 large bags!
I'm hoping we can have an "around the world prayer chain" going while Pavel travels with the quilts - I'll post that separately when I know for sure his schedule!
Hugs and more hugs, Jan
Thank You Thank You Thank You Thank You Thank You Thank You Thank You Thank You Thank You Thank You = 10q