It's not always a happy occasion when we outgrow something -- like clothes -- but in the case of Project Patricia, it's definitely a good thing. The ministry has grown to the point that we no longer had enough room in the upstairs area of the church we'd been given, so we've expanded to the lower level and are now utilizing almost one-half of the available space.
Thanks to the labor of many (involving much "elbow grease"), the new Project Patricia Ministry Center is open for business. We have a large room set up for sewing machines and sergers, with plenty of room for supplies in smaller rooms off the big room. An additional adjoining room has two cutting tables in it where wetbags are cut. It's wonderful to be able to leave the equipment in place when we quit working for the day instead of having to pack up everything and move it back to a few shelves in a designated corner of an already full room.
We also have a hospitality room where workers can sit and snack while visiting with fellow workers during a brief break. The room is large enough to have tables set up where other tasks can be completed to get pads ready to move to the snapping room down the hall. The smaller adjoining rooms have plenty of shelving units that currently hold hundreds, probably even thousands, of pads that are ready to be worked on.
The last big room we use is for the snapping process. The men know where they need to go and what they need to do, so they're able to begin work immediately when they arrive. The last time the entire church met to work, the men snapped over 1300 pads, which was awesome! There are supply rooms off the big snapping room, and one of those rooms is where kits will be made up and packed for shipping.
And speaking of shipping, Project Patricia has been able to ship out 1330 kits so far in this calendar year. We feel honored to have had a part in that many women in other countries receiving the Word of God in their hands.
Some of those kits went to Haiti through a new partnership with Oceans of Mercy, an organization in Kansas City. We look forward to continuing to work with them as they travel and give aid to people in Haiti.
Many blessings have come our way in the last month or so, and we're hopeful we can multiply those blessings and shower them onto those who are less fortunate than we. Toward that end, we continue to ask for your prayers for this ministry, for strength to carry on, for monetary needs to be met, and for more missionary partners willing to transport kits for us. Thank you for the prayers that have already been offered up for us. We appreciate every one of them!
Until next time,

My intention as 2012 began was to be more diligent in posting here about how things were going. It seems, though, that this train is well underway already, and I'm just trying to hang on!
At the suggestion of different missionaries, we've made a change from five pads per kit to three pads per kit. Now we can send the same number of pads but in a greater number of kits to be given out, thereby helping even more of our sisters in Africa. It's working well because we sent out 560 kits in January alone! Hang on, we're going places this year!!
In trying to get things organized as the new year began, we already have requests for nearly as many kits as we sent out in all of 2011. Maybe that doesn't sound significant, but believe me, it IS important. The Word of God was put into the hands of over 2800 women in Africa last year, and we're making plans to witness to even more this year. God's Kingdom WILL advance, and we want to be on-board as it happens.
I wish I could list all the volunteers who work diligently behind the scenes to make all this possible, but I feel certain I'd forget someone. Just suffice it to say Project Patricia couldn't exist without each one of them putting in countless hours doing the same thing over and over again because of love for women they've never met, and very likely will never meet in this lifetime. Only God's love working in their hearts can make someone willing to cheerfully give so much of their time to this work, and I thank God for each and every one of them.
We have a major fund-raising effort underway currently as we save towards the purchase of more waterproof fabric. Our last big purchase has lasted us two years, but we're running low. The minimum yardage we can purchase will probably last us another two years, but we're required to pay for it up front, and the amount required is well into the thousands of dollars. We ask for your prayers in this regard as we strive to be good stewards of what God has provided us.
Until next time . . .

Since tomorrow is Thanksgiving and we have so many things to be thankful for, I decided I should start this message the night before! An old but beautiful hymn tells us to count our blessings and to name them one by one. I'm afraid I can't. There are just too many!
I wanted to post this message to tell everyone involved with Project Patricia that I'm very thankful for YOU!! There are folks working behind the scenes that just never stop. I'm pretty sure they mark and cut fabric in their sleep. There are folks sewing who are just like that bunny on television -- they just keep on going.
I've received packages recently from Texas and Wyoming with hundreds of pieces of towels and/or sheets. Some groups sew and others simply cut. It's all a huge blessing to us, and we're very, very thankful for each item.
There's a church in a small town in Iowa who sent over 800 pads recently they'd finished for us. What a blessing that was! I continue to be amazed at the response out little project has generated, and it's all because we have a great and mighty God who cares about the women in Africa just like He cares about you and me.
On this Thanksgiving Eve, I just want to say that I'm grateful for everyone who helps out in whatever way. It takes many hands to finish one pad before it's sent to Africa, and I'm certain it goes through a few more hands to get there. The Bible tells us there are many parts of the body, and they're all necessary. Project Patricia is no different. Everyone has their part, and it's important to everyone that it be done.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

It's a fact that many times my car is loaded with so many things that I can't see out the rearview mirror. I've often joked that my next vehicle is going to be a U-Haul. A very sweet young lady at church who often helps me mentioned my comment to her grandparents -- who just happened to have a minivan they wanted to dispose of. And guess what God did? Yep, you guessed it. He impressed upon their hearts to give that van they no longer needed to me to use for Project Patricia. I don't have it just yet, but am already envisioning just how many sacks and boxes I'll be able to load into it. Isn't that just like God to take something someone else was done with and lay it on their hearts to pass it along to another in need? All He needed was a willing, cheerful giver, and He certainly found that with the Moores!!
When Andrea and I began this journey in 2008, we had no idea it would grow to the size it is now. God has blessed us with many, many folks who have helped us in every way we can imagine -- and some we hadn't even considered. We have been amazed time and again by ways God's people have stepped up and helped us out, whether praying, sewing or giving in some way, and we appreciate it all. We serve a mighty God!
I can't tell you that we've met the 5,000-kit goal this year, but I can tell you that more kits have been shipped out this year than ever before. We've made new contacts and partnered with many different mission teams. We've corresponded and talked by phone to new friends in several different states. I've personally met women who love to sew and have "caught the vision" of Project Patricia. These women are scattered throughout the land, but have a heart of service and a love for their sisters in Christ who live in Africa. I've been honored to meet some of these women and spend time sewing with them. This is truly a labor of love on their part.
As always, we ask for your prayers as we continue our work. The harvest is plentiful, and sometimes it seems the workers are few -- but God always provides, no matter the need. Thanks be to God, and to those saints He allows to be used.
Until next time,

Sometimes it really does feel like an emergency, but them I stop to remember that God is God, and I am not! I'm very glad He's in control so I don't have to be. What a relief that is!
On Wednesday I received an email from a mission team coordinator whose team is leaving for Mozambique in one week, and she wanted to know if we could get 100 kits to her in time to take along. And so it began. Fortunately, we had a recent snapping party at my house, snapping over 600 pads that evening. Johnathan, Ben and Seth worked hard while Andrea and I loaded snaps and fed pads in. It was great.
My pastor scheduled an "urgent" workday, and the troops are gathering to help out. While those 100 kits are being packed up, others will be tucking the thread tails, inserting snap caps, and snapping pads that are waiting. I've taken an inventory of the shelves at church, and I know there will be lots and lots of work to be done. I also know lots and lots of work will get done because of the faithfulness of everyone involved with this ministry.
The national publicity we received has brought lots of inquiries and quite a bit of help. I've received shipments of everything from cut materials to completed pads just waiting for snaps, as well as several packages of underwear to send along. It's been wonderful to see the outpouring of love and service from throughout the United States.
I've been able to travel to four different cities across the state for sewing events within the last month, bringing home many beautiful and well-made pads upon my return. I'm very thankful for the wonderful friends I've made at these different churches. The fellowship we've shared is precious to me, and I'm hopeful we'll continue it for many years to come.
I'm often asked what we need most. I never have a good answer because we have many needs, but prayer has to be at the top of the list. Please pray for strength for those who are doing all the things necessary to complete the kits -- and those steps are many! Much goes on behind the scenes before materials ever reach a sewing machine. It would be impossible to accomplish our goals without everyone working to get the supplies ready.
Pray for continued provision of sheets, towels, underwear and monies for items that must be purchased, as well as postage to ship kits to mission teams. In the next few months we will be needing to order more waterproof fabric, and that is a pretty costly item. In addition, we have to buy in a large quantity in order to get the best price available, so I'm expecting that item to be many thousands of dollars. Definitely pray about that, please!
Pray for the mission teams who willingly transport kits, even though their luggage is already crammed full -- and despite the airlines having put even more restrictions on the number of bags and their weight. Pray for the missionaries who will be distributing the kits, that they will have opportunities to share the gospel with the women who are receiving kits. And pray especially for the women in Africa who are receiving kits, that their hearts will be open to receive the Word.
After considering it all, I guess it's not really an emergency after all -- just a lot to be done in a short period of time. No problem. With God, all things are possible.

It seems an article about Project Patricia has recently been published in "The United Methodist Women News," causing our inbox to overflow with inquiries from all across the nation. Honestly, it's only 11 states in all (so far), but they're coast-to-coast! I'm amazed, and am happy to reply to each one attaching a file with patterns and instructions. It may turn out that the churches can't help because of the distance and the postage required, but I'm thrilled that they've heard about us and are interested in our mission.
We had a sewing day at Northland Baptist Church earlier this month where those great ladies made 314 pads. For their first sewing day, that was a great accomplishment! Those pads got snapped right away and have already been packed up and sent to a team in Texas leaving for Lesotho very soon.
It's been necessary for us to have a "family snapping evening" a couple of times recently so we'd have enough pads finished that we could pack up 150 kits for the Lesotho shipment. That left the men at Sunday's workday at The Master's Community Church snapping at their leisure, often having to wait on the other steps in the process to be finished before they could do their part. It turned out to be a slow day because of all the pre-workday work that was done. That was your break, guys. Don't expect it every time!
We've been blessed with lots and lots of sheets, towels and fabric from many sources. Thank you!! The women in Africa thank you! This means that we'll have material resources to make lots and lots of pads to send out, for which we're very grateful.
A new contact has come about for us: The Friends of St. Anne's Girls School - Kapkemich, Kenya. We're anxious to ship kits out to each of the girls in their school in the fall. This will allow the girls to attend school every day of the month, thereby being able to take advantage of the education offered by the school. More importantly, it will give them yet another taste of the Gospel message.
Please continue to pray for us. We try to be good stewards of our financial resources, but often (like now) we find ourselves very low on funds to pay for postage. Pray for a financial windfall, for continued donations of fabric and helping hands. Pray for doors of opportunity to be opened to partner with even more missionaries in Africa who are willing to distribute kits for us. Pray for their boldness to speak The Word, and for the hearts of the women hearing the message to be receptive.
Until next time,

The weekend was "sew" wonderful because I was able to sew with the women of Faith United Methodist Church, Park Hill Baptist Church and at my church, The Master's Community Church. "Sew" much was accomplished that I'll have to be careful to get it all listed.
Friday night at Faith United Methodist a small group of women gathered (and brought snacks, of course) and put together a grand total of 205 pads. "Sew" many in "sew" short a time.
Saturday morning at Park Hill Baptist a pretty good-sized group of women gathered (for lunch, of course) and made 205 pads, start to finish. That was "sew" amazing. We were also treated to hearing Carolyn, retired missionary from Ghana, speak about her experiences actually distributing kits to women in Africa. "Sew" touching to our hearts!
Sunday afternoon at The Master's Community Church (after a great lunch, of course) men and women gathered to work on every step of the process. There were people cutting fabric, sewing pads and wetbags, serging, threading in the thread tails, and inserting snaps so the men could snap the pads. And snap, they did! Over 1300 pads were snapped yesterday, and that's a record for us. It was "sew" nice of them to accomplish every goal I'd written down for the day.
This morning I was "sew" blessed by being able to mail out 120 kits that will eventually be sent to Zambia. Sharing the Gospel with women in Zambia is indeed "sew" wonderful!
Please continue to pray for us as we've stepped up the pace of production. Pray for continued contacts and requests for kits. Pray for continued resources and continued strength to perform. Pray especially for hearts of these women who will be hearing the Gospel of Christ, many for the very first time ever.
Until next time,

I set a goal for the year of 5,000 kits going out to women and young girls in need. That's a lofty goal, but certainly not out of God's reach. The next step was to find even more connections in Africa to distribute kits.

I've been in contact with ten different mission teams who have trips planned to Mozambique this year, and have received a reply from one so far who has agreed to take 200 kits when they travel. That's awesome! Another team wants to take kits and is getting someone lined up to coordinate that with me. Another great opportunity.

We also learned about the New Life Center in Zambia, and I've been in contact with Rev. Groves who, along with his wife, head that ministry. He has shipping containers available several times per year to send big amounts of things, and he's agreed to ship every kit we can get to them. We are beyond excited!! Now the "next step" is to actually make those kits up.

We have messages out to people helping us that we're going to be increasing the pace. What a challenge we have before us. We definitely need your prayers that we can use our time and resources wisely in working toward our goal.

The Apostle Paul explained to the Colossians that God willed them to share the mystery: Christ in them, the hope of glory. That's what we're trying to do, share Christ. So like Paul, we say, "to this end I also labor, striving according to His working, which works in me mightily."

Please pray for us as we work toward "this end." Pray for strength for the workers, boldness for the missionaries, resources of gently used towels and sheets for use to make the pads, and financial resources to buy waterproof fabric, snaps, and for postage.

God has blessed us mightily with many volunteers who help in this ministry, and I'm very, very thankful for each and every one of them. I'm also thankful for those of you who check out this blog occasionally, who "like" us on Facebook, and who check in periodically to see what's happening with Project Patricia. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, we couldn't do this without you.

Until next time,

I can't believe January is over and February has begun. I can believe, though, that January was a very, very productive month! On the evening of the 28th I went to Faith United Methodist Church in Grain Valley to sew with friends I've met through this ministry. The ladies had been hard at work even before I arrived, and when I left I was able to take 358 pads home with me! It was wonderful.
On the 29th I traveled to Brunswick to meet with the ladies of the United Methodist Church there. We sewed from 9:00 to 4:00, and I brought home 282 beautiful pads. Those women do quality work! And the meal they laid out was delicious.
On the 30th I met with many members of my own church, plus a few extras, and we snapped pads in addition to making up kits to be sent to Kenya. There are many steps prior to the actual snapping, and each station had many volunteers.
I was delighted to have Susan and Lee with us. Susan cuts the covers for nearly all the pads we make. This was their first time joining us to see all the activity. After "the tour," they sat down and began work, too.
A wonderful blessing we get from this ministry is seeing several different generations coming together to work toward a common goal: Spreading the gospel of Christ along with a practical solution to a great need.
We have a special sewing day coming up on March 19 where we'll be treated to a speaker who is now retired from the International Mission Board, but was formerly in Ghana and distributed kits for us. She'll be able to tell us first-hand how excited the women were to receive the kits and of their sincere gratitude. I can't wait!
As the year progresses, our desire to serve increases. Please keep us in mind when you're cleaning out that linen closet and start to toss those old towels or sheets. There are women in Africa who'd love to receive a gift made from our cast-offs.

It's exciting to know that even though the calendar says the year is nearly over, the mission of Project Patricia is NOT nearly over. We've heard encouraging words from women in Mozambique that make me want to double my sewing efforts.

Victoria writes: "On behalf of the Women's Organization in Mozambique South Confernece I thank you for this partnership between our conferences. These pads are transforming people's level of living. I am distributing them to women who are very vunlnerable, we have young girls of 11 to 18 years of ages who are living with their grandparents and they are not able to buy them pads when the have period."

We are so very blessed here in the United States to not suffer with such needs, and that's all the more reason we should do all we can to help out.

The October sewing days in St. Louis and Brunswick were tremendous! What a job these ladies (and men, I understand) did, especially those in St. Louis who had no one from the organization to help them. They were able to sew quality pads without much in the way of instruction. I hope the women in Africa who receive those pads can feel the love in each stitch!

Another exciting piece of news: The girls softball team from Mid-America Nazarene University has volunteered to mark and cut towels for us a couple of afternoons this month. I know those girls will crank out many, many pieces so that those of us who sew can keep right on sewing. This is truly women helping women across denominational lines.

We are still attempting to collect women's underwear to send along in the packages as this is also a huge need. And as always, we continue to ask for gently used towels and sheets with which to construct the pads themselves.

Yes, we've only just begun on this mission to reach the women in Africa with the Gospel of Jesus Christ in a practical way. We'd love it if you'd consider joining us. The rewards are great, believe me. Please contact us at projectpatricia@yahoo.com to let us know of your interest, to ask any questions you may have, or just to tell us you're praying for us. We covet your prayers.

Until the next time,

Blessings,
Glenda