The "team" reported that the   POBLO, booth was "the most attractive" booth.  It was showcased by a display board with colorful pictures of our sewing students and ESL students and a beautiful, vibrant colored quilted wall hanging contributed by Karen and Alice Patten in Denton. The beautiful and colorful ethnic dresses worn by Nita, Suzan and Yirgalem also attracted attention and brought visitors to the booth. Along with the display board and brochures about our Sewing Seeds of Faith (SSOF)  program, items sewn by our SSOF students were on display. These items were available to attendees and the attendees gave generously of free will offerings as they took the items back to their respective homes.  The sewing women had made Bible covers, tote bags and aprons in all different designs and colors.   

Margaret Ball , WOBLO volunteer, discusses the Sewing Seeds of Faith ministry with an LWML  Convention attendee.

This was a great  opportunity to talk about the ministry of the Gospel to Muslim women, and share stories of PO

BLO, the WOBLO ministry, and our Muslim students in our ESL program  was exciting and brought a wonderful response from the other believers.  The friendly, warm, loving reaction from  visitors to the booth was heartwarming and brought joy to the WOBLO female missionaries.  Many new friendships were born and "old" friendships renewed.   Friday was a day of wonderful news and blessings!  The LWML delegates voted to give not one, BUT two grants to POBLO-TX!  WOBLO received a $20,000 grant, and our EIIT (Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology) Program will receive 90% or $15,300 of a $17,000 grant*.  Both grants will be dispersed over a two-year period beginning in 2012. Praise our Lord! This was the first LWML convention for Women of the book Lutheran Outreach female missionaries from all Nations.  "Their hearts were gladdened by the warm welcome from other Lutheran Women in Mission, and by the sharing of friendship and faith among all.   They have experienced a glimpse of what heaven will be like with all God's children standing before

Karen Nygaard and Nita Karki enjoying a time of fellowship  at the convention

the throne, all clothed in Christ righteousness and adorned in God's Word" Rev 7:9 Our hope is that we have all learned ways to be adorned - not with the jewels of the world - but with God's jewels of wisdom and grace.  

*By early fall, a mite poster and prayers for all grants funded at this year's Texas District convention will be available at www.lwmltxdist.org.

With a theme of the "Joy of the Lord is our strength", Nehemiah 8:10, a great multitude of  Lutheran women from many parts of Iowa gathered at the Lutheran-owned camp on Lake  Okoboji, in Northwestern Iowa, for the 2012 LWML Iowa Convention.  Pastor Karim Baidaoui was honored to preach the Word of God and teach about Women of the Book Lutheran Outreach ministries in Texas. (WOBLO) 

Above, Judy Rozek and Pastor Karim proudly display LWML aprons at the convention.

In addition to being able to relax and enjoy God's beautiful handiwork of the lake and trees, and fishing at Lake Okoboji (Beautiful Water), a special time on his trip to Iowa was a special trip with Judy Rozek, to visit with

Above, Pastor Karim had a special visit with longtime friend and supporter, Lucille Lang, while in Iowa who celebrated her 100th birthday on Aug 3rd!

her mother Lucille Lange, a friend of many years, who will soon celebrate her 100th birthday, and also meeting the mother of our LCMS president, Matt Harrison.  

 God shared HIS love in the form of three blessings for our mission at the convention. After hearing Pastor Karim's presentation and the story of the "Sewing Seeds of Faith" (SSOF) and the ministry needs, the women voted on the spot to donate a check for $ 500.00 to purchase some new machines, and pledged to try and gather 200  sewing machines to assist this program. The sewing machine drive is being coordinated by Lucille's daughter, Judy Rozek.  POBLO-TX volunteers, Phil and Margaret Ball are driving their truck to Iowa in August bring the machines to Dallas. 

Pastor Karim and Adeline Gutz Iowa West LWML District President

A $25,000 Grant was the 3rd blessing. The grant voted by the Iowa LWML delegates to be given to WOBLO-TX (Women of the Book Lutheran Outreach) will be dispersed over a two-year period beginning in 2012.  We Praise Our Lord once again!  ...... "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."  Phil. 4-6.

The time and talents given by the volunteers and the payment received in the hearts of our POBLO-TX volunteers as they work with the women in the program is a gift from God that cannot be measured by dollars or material items.   We are all blessed for each and every one of them!

The Sewing Seeds of Faith program now has six regular volunteers:

Margaret Ball:  Margaret is a member of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Longview, TX.  For over two years, Margaret and her husband Phil have driven to Dallas to volunteer with our program.  Margaret also works with a group of basic level sewing students and is available for any task.  Phil is an "unofficial" volunteer with the program, and works hard each week, driving to pick-up donations of materials and doing repairs.  He has just finished building and outfitting the POBLO truck with storage shelves.

Rebeka Cook:  Rebeka is a mom of two and the wife of the Associate Pastor at Lamb of God, Flower  Mound, TX.  Rebeka has been a volunteer with the Sewing Seeds of Faith program since its inception.  She organizes the activities and continues to assist the program in focusing on the program's goals.

Henny Hughes:  Henny is a professional clothing designer and teacher and a member of Prince of  Peace Lutheran Church, Carrollton, Tx.  Henny is currently working with a group of the advanced students  teaching them to take their body measurements and make paper patterns on the way to sewing their first items of clothing, a skirt and blouse.

Virginia Johnson: Virginia lives in Celeste, TX and is a member of Our Savior, Rockwall. A couple of months ago, Virginia received a newsletter from POBLO-TX and after reading about the Sewing Seeds of Faith program found it calling her to volunteer with the program.  Virginia taught math for many years, is an ESL certified teacher, and excellent seamstress and sewing machine "fixer".   Virginia comes to the Sewing Seeds of Faith on Mondays and does ESL teaching on Monday and

Friday evenings.

Karen Nygaard: Karen, a member of Lamb of God, Flower Mound lives in Denton.  Karen has been with the program from the beginning. She is currently working with a group of   students teaching  them beginning quilt making and other crafting.  Karen recently pieced together a beautiful and vibrant wall hanging quilt that was given to Pastor Karim and the WOBLO ministry.  (Alice Patton of Material Girl Quilts of Denton     donated the material and Alma Gross did the quilting.) 

Pat Summers: Pat came to us by way of Karen Nygaard. She lives in Lewisville and is a member of Lamb of God, Flower Mound.  Pat is an avid sewer and will be working with the students on quilting and crafts.              

Rosaline Tijani:  Following the death of her brother in Africa this summer, Rosie has returned to her homeland.  Rosie, from Africa, was an ethnic student turned volunteer. Rosie is also a member of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Dallas.  She is an advanced sewer and works with the team and students making Bible covers, tote bags, and aprons. We will miss her sweet smile and loving manner.  Rosie sewed many Bible covers, tote bags and aprons for POBLO and was a calm and talented teacher. Please keep Rosie and her family in your prayers.  

We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. Romans 12:6-8

Scripture in the Light of Islam - by: Sabir Nazir Bashir

Pastor Russell Hildebrandt of Grace Lutheran in Arlington with Deacon Sabir Bashir

Working among the International students at the University of Texas, Arlington, TX, it provides opportunity in meeting with students from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Japan, China, Korea and other 10/40 Window nation students. I, as a Pakistani, find it fairly easy to meet, greet, make friends and develop a relationship with the ethnic community from the East. The greater challenge comes when they come to know that I am a Christian and a Missionary and would like to share the Gospel with them. The trust and confidence has to be built to develop a relationship and that comes with much prayer and time. The Quran is the most precious holy book for all Muslims. We cannot ignore Muslims or their book if we want to relate to them. We sometime wonder how their Quran can be a bridge to help them to understanding the Gospel Truth. There is over one billion, five hundred million Muslim that needs the salvation of the Lord. The question is how can we, as Christians, relate to them?

I happened to meet a Muslim man Mr. Muhammad from Pakistan through an acquaintance. Muhammad has been without a job for the past two years. I started visiting Muhammad once and sometimes twice a week. One day I offered to pray for him to find a job. Muhammad liked the idea and so I laid hands on him and prayed a short prayer for God to hear my prayer and provide a job for Muhammad. The next week the work force commission provided Muhammad a job to work at Marshall's, a department store. Praise the Lord! Muhammad calls me at least twice or thrice a week just to say hello and he feels good to have me as a friend. The last time I met Muhammad he asked me to pray for his back and knee pain, which I did at his home by placing my hands on his back and knee, in faith asking God to come and heal Muhammad's pain. Since that day I am praying for Muhammad that God will reveal Him to Muhammad in dreams and visions so that Muhammad would ask me questions regarding Jesus, sin, faith, salvation and life everlasting.

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