Nem Sonna is the lead instructor in the sewing training program and cooking class with young mothers. Prior to working at Bethel Neighborhood Center, Nem volunteered many hours at Bethel helping wherever help was needed. She said, “When my family and I first arrived in Kansas City from India, many people helped us, and I learned so many new things from those who helped us. I feel that it is now my turn to educate and equip young mothers with new skills to help support their family and to prepare nutritious and healthy foods. While my children were younger, they like to eat American foods more than the ethnic foods, and I had to learn how to prepare the American foods. It is very rewarding for me to work with young mothers as the role of mothers are very important to build strong God-fearing homes and community.”Nem earned her Bachelor of Theology (B. Th) degree from Grace Bible College in Manipur, India, in 1995, and she completed a missiology training in Salem, Tamilnadu, India. Mang and Nem are blessed with two children – Mawi and Suan Sonna. After their children left home for college/university, Nem took two courses of sewing training under Once We Were Refugees. The basic sewing training she had while she was in high school in India, helped her to learn new skills faster. She enjoys learning new skills and teaching her students the new skills she learned both in cooking and sewing. She has gone to our students’ home teaching them how to use their oven and how to clean their homes, as our refugee women are not used to the appliances that are used in the American homes.

We accept donations of fabric, new and gently used sewing machines and sewing notions for the sewing training program. Nem's involvement in the Bethel ministry has diversified and widened our reach and impact. Bethel is blessed to have her working with our young women.