Stitched with Love
A Ministry of Faith, Fabric and Compassion
How one couple turned a simple sewing club into a ministry touching lives across the Caribbean and beyond.
When God places a calling on your heart, retirement doesn't mean the work is finished. For Jeanette and Bud of Haiti Mercy Mission (HMM), it simply meant finding a new way to serve. After years of missionary service in Haiti, where they operated an orphanage, Jeanette and Bud returned to the United States in 2012. They settled briefly in Destin, Florida, where they spent their days watching the waves roll in and out. But something was missing. They knew God wasn't finished with them yet. Bud reached out to Harold Martin at Missionary Flights International (MFI) to ask if there was anything they could do to help. That simple phone call opened the door to another chapter of ministry. While volunteering at MFI, Jeanette noticed something. Many of the older women had time on their hands and talents that weren't being used. Having spent years serving in Haiti, Jeanette understood firsthand the tremendous need for children's clothing. An idea began to take shape. Why not bring these women together to sew clothing for children in need? What started as a way to keep the ladies active and engaged soon became something much greater: a ministry of compassion, fellowship, and purpose. The women began sewing dresses, shirts, and other clothing items using donated fabric. Much of the material came from families whose loved ones had passed away, leaving behind collections of fabric they had intended to use. Instead of letting those materials go to waste, Jeanette and her volunteers gave them new life. Each stitch became an act of love, and every finished garment became an opportunity to bless someone they might never meet.
Through MFI and other missionary connections, the handmade clothing began making its way to children in Haiti, the Dominican Republic and orphanages and ministries throughout the Caribbean. Jeanette would often leave bags of freshly sewn clothing in MFI's hospitality park, making them available to missionaries traveling to communities where the need was greatest. There were no complicated requirements. If a mission needed clothing, they were welcome to take it. Over the years, their generosity has reached beyond Haiti, with clothing also sent to communities in Jamaica, Guatemala, Belize, and Mexico. Jeanette was intentional about the materials they used. Having lived in Haiti, she knew lightweight cotton was essential for the tropical climate. She understood that effective ministry wasn't simply about giving people something. It was about understanding what they actually needed.
The sewing ministry eventually expanded beyond children's clothing to include baby layettes, collections of essential items for newborns. During her years in Haiti, Jeanette had witnessed mothers bringing newborn babies wrapped in bloodstained towels. The experience left a lasting impression on her. "New babies should have new things," Jeanette recalled. That simple conviction became another expression of the ministry's love. Today, mothers and newborns are among those blessed by handmade items and donated supplies. The ministry also shares these resources with other organizations serving families in need. For Jeanette, it has never been about recognition or building a name for Haiti Mercy Mission. It has always been about meeting needs wherever God opens a door. Jeanette and Bud continue to support the work of MFI because they have witnessed firsthand the difference missionary aviation makes. Their story reminds us that serving God doesn't require a large organization, an extraordinary budget, or even a passport. Sometimes, it begins with recognizing a need, gathering a few willing hands, and trusting God with the results. As Jeanette shared during our conversation, "If God wants you to do something, He will make a way." And through the faithful hands of these women, He continues to do just that.
At Missionary Flights International, we are grateful for ministry partners like Jeanette and Bud of Haiti Mercy Mission, whose faithfulness demonstrates how ordinary acts of service can make an extraordinary difference. Together, we are sharing hope, meeting needs and advancing the Gospel, one flight and one stitch at a time.
