While in São José dos Campos, I met a group of women at the Jardim das Indústrias Baptist Church, working diligently in a room full of sewing machines. I also met another woman, a professional seamstress, who gave me bags full of clothes made in her atelier for the children. These are today’s Dorcas—women full of love who dedicate their time and talents to sewing clothes to send to the children of PEPE.
Many of them have not yet had the opportunity to visit a mission field and personally deliver the dresses, shirts, or shorts, but they are moved when they receive photos and see the smiles on the children’s faces when they receive such beautiful gifts. Their loving hands have already reached Nicaragua, Belize, Panama, Colombia, El Salvador, Venezuela, and the indigenous people of Paraguay.
They are the true Dorcas of today, following the example of Dorcas in the Bible, also known as Tabitha, whose story was remarkable enough to be recorded in the book of Acts. She loved people and lived to help. Her profession? A seamstress who used her talent to spread God’s love through her hands. She lived in Joppa, a city near Lydda, where the apostle Peter was preaching.
Dorcas fell ill and died, causing great sorrow among the disciples. Two men were sent to Lydda to bring Peter. When he arrived, he was taken to the room where Dorcas’s body lay, surrounded by widows showing the clothes she had made. Moved, Peter prayed, and by a miracle of God, Dorcas came back to life to continue her mission of love and service to the needy.
Dorcas was not famous, powerful, or wealthy, but she impacted many lives with her love and good works. She was a true disciple of Jesus and loved people as He taught. She was full of good deeds because she dedicated her days to helping those around her.
I pray to God that the Dorcas of IBAJI will continue using their hands to bring the love of Jesus to more children in the PEPE program!
— Carmen Lígia – Continental Director of PEPE Americas
