BeadForLife

The college where I work hosted International education week in autumn semester. Students sample foods from around the world, learn about opportunities to travel abroad, and enjoy art work created by the artist in residence. My favorite event this past fall was the BeadForLife fair trade exhibit. I want to share their story:

A chance encounter

BeadforLife began with a chance encounter between women. Our co-founders Torkin Wakefield, Ginny Jordan, and Devin Hibbard met Millie Grace Akena while walking through a crowded Ugandan slum. They were on their way to visit a sick woman when they saw Millie sitting on the ground outside of her mud home; she was rolling small strips of paper into colorful beads in the sweltering sun. Intrigued, they stopped to talk to her. 

Less than a dollar a day

They soon learned that Millie was originally from Northern Uganda, but had been driven from her home by Joseph Kony and the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA). To protect her children from being kidnapped as soldiers, Millie fled to the Kampala slum. To support her family, she worked in a rock quarry crushing stones into pebbles with a hand mallet. In order to earn enough for one meal a day, her children often had to work alongside her in the hot, dusty quarry. For their efforts, the family earned less than a dollar a day. Millie said she loved to roll beads out of recycled paper, and proudly showed Torkin, Ginny and Devin a bag full of her unique hand-made necklaces. She also shared that she had no market for her jewelry.

Paper beads bring hope

Our co-founders admired Millie and bought a few of her necklaces, wearing them around Kampala in support of her handiwork. Immediately, others began to notice the distinct jewelry and asked where they had been purchased. Believing there was a market for the paper jewelry, they returned to Millie's slum. With her help, they met with a hundred more women who knew how to make paper beads, purchasing a few necklaces from each. At this time, they had no way of knowing that their lives, and the lives of so many impoverished Ugandans, were about to change.

Birth of the bead party

Once back in the US, our co-founders shared their experiences with others. Through word of mouth, women across North America began to purchase the beads and were captivated by the stories of resilient Ugandan women lifting their families out of extreme poverty. As suspected, there was a market for the hope-filled, hand-rolled beads and their inspirational creators after all! In September 2004, BeadforLife was officially born. At the time, our dream was to provide opportunities for a few dozen women from Millie's slum. Today, we provided opportunities for thousands. To see how our dream has grown, visit Our Work in Uganda.

I love wearing the beads. They are not only beautiful, they make a difference. The women of Uganda now have means to feed their families while doing work that they enjoy. The bright colors of the beads remind me of hope. My hope in mankind grows when I find out about people who work to make someone else's life better.

Do you know of any fair trade organizations where the sales go back to the artists and crafters?

Work In Progress

Hi,

I’m so glad you stopped by. For the blog hop, I’m talking about my work in progress, my first ever novel. I’m excited to say that I’ve finished the rough draft and am in the process of editing.

What is the working title of your book?Peace, Love and Mashed Potatoes 
I chose this title because my main character finds all of those things when she moves home after several years away.

Where did the idea come from for the book?

The idea was planted in my heart by God. I never dreamed that I’d write fiction. I’ve been writing devotions, book reviews and articles for several years. One day God nudged me to write Willow’s story. When the story came to me, I knew that Willow was a troubled soul who needed to find her way home. Because I love stories where the town has a strong role, I wanted Willow to return home to a place that had memories, but had also changed.

What genre does your book fall under?

I’ve settled on the contemporary romance genre after playing around with women’s fiction and romance.Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

 
Willow Abbott would be played by Gemma Arterton. 

Reed McRae would be played by Rob Mayes.

Bess (Willow’s sister) would be played by Emily Blunt.

Micah (Bess’s husband) would be played by Geoff Stutts.

Bailey Joy (Bess and Micah’s daughter) would be played by Taylor Hogue.

Annie Abbott (Willow’s mom) would be played by Bianca Spender.

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

For Willow Abbott, moving home meant a short break until she found a new job, but Reed McRae has other ideas that might just involve her heart.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

I am hoping to find an agent who will represent my work. I appreciate their knowledge of the publishing business as well as the market.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

I wrote the first draft over a period of two years and for the last several months, I’ve edited. I also work a full time job and have a family.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

I’ve been influenced by the writing of Robin Gunn Jones and Debbie Macomber. I love the books they’ve written about small towns and finding love. The Glenbrooke series by Robin Gunn Jones might be a good comparison.

Who or What inspired you to write this book?

Reading so much good fiction written by Christian authors has pushed me forward. Several people in my life, including my family and my critique group in the ACFW have encouraged me. I’ve written for several years, but never considered fiction until I felt a nudge from God. I don’t know where this will take me or who I will touch with my story, but I know that God has a plan for the manuscript.

What else about your book might pique the reader's interest?

The book is set in southwest Ohio and has several references to areas around Cincinnati and the rural areas that surround the city. Willow is a professor who teaches English and Reed owns the local bookstore. Part of the story focuses on Willow’s journey back to God as she seeks to forgive her father.

As far as the love story, about the time Willow accepts that Reed might be the one, a twist brings an unexpected discovery that may make or break they’re relationship.

I also have a Pinterest page for Peace, Love and Mashed potatoes. Visit at: http://pinterest.com/pennyfmcg/peace-love-mashed-potatoes/

Thanks for stopping by.

What I learned from the Hobbit: part 2

Since January 1, I’ve read several posts about choosing a word for the year. When I first pondered this, no particular word came to mind. Then I saw on Facebook that someone had chosen the word “fearless” last year. When my eyes fell on that word, I knew that God wanted me to adopt it for 2013. Now I’ll admit, choosing a word like fearless scares me. I’m sure you get the irony. But, I also know that perfect love casts out all fear.

You may wonder what this has to do with the Hobbit. If you’ve read the book or watched the movie, then you know that Bilbo Baggins was not known for his bravery or his sense of adventure. Even so, he tucked away his fear and left his home behind because he wanted to help his new found friends. Thorin and the other dwarves doubted him more than once. But he reassured them. “ I know you doubt me, I know you always have, and you're right. I often think of Bag End. I miss my books, and my arm chair, and my garden. See, that's where I belong; that's home, and that's why I came cause you don't have one.. a home. It was taken from you, but I will help you take it back if I can.” Instead of hiding behind his fear, Baggins stepped up and put the hopes and dreams of his friends, before his own comfort.

J.R.R. Tolkien said that, “Living by faith includes the call to something greater than cowardly self-preservation.” As I venture into this new year, I ask God to give me courage and to take away my fear. God has set a task in front of me. He wants me to join him on this wild adventure of writing and publishing. Like Mr. Baggins, I need to get out of my own way and follow my heart.

Guest on Devotion Blog

I was invited to share a devotion on Women of Valley View's blog. You can read it at:
http://womenofvalleyview.blogspot.com/p/callies-second-hand-lessons-28-sep.html

What I Learned from the Hobbit : part 1

At the beginning of The Hobbit, the reader learns that Bilbo Baggins lives in a hobbit-hole; “not a nasty, dirty wet hole…nor a dry, bare sandy hole…it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort.” Mr. Baggins loved his home, his garden, his books, and his armchair. In other words, he’s quite content to stay home in his comfortable environment. But, one evening as he sat down to feast on fish and vegetables, his life changed. A knock on the door and an invitation to adventure, turned his quiet, simple life upside down.

J.R.R. Tolkien created an amazing world in Middle-earth. While much of what he wrote was considered fantasy, he taught many lessons for the human world. As I think about Bilbo Baggins and the challenges he faced, I am reminded of my own life. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been content to be at home. I surround myself with treasures that I enjoy, most are gifts and art made by family and friends. Puttering never bores me, and I could read or write all day.

But, like the Hobbit, I received an invitation to live life outside of my comfort zone. When I made a commitment to follow Jesus, I accepted a lifetime of adventure. He called me to write, so I wrote. Devotions, essays, poetry, those are easy for me. Then he challenged me to write fiction, not so simple and every step a challenge. At work, my faith is tested every day. Even in the seat at church, I’m confronted by God’s truth compared to my sin. Yes, when I told Jesus I’d follow him, I accepted a life filled with lessons, challenges, and adventure. Like Bilbo Baggins, I stepped out and answered the charge. The best part, God walks with me and places others in my path and by my side.

My comfort zone remains a wonderful place for rest and reflection. But If I spend too much time in my secure, quiet space, I’ll miss out on the exciting life God has planned for me.

Has God asked you to step out of your comfort zone? 

Perfect Love

Friday evening, my granddaughter, Dylan, and I attended the Nutcracker ballet at the college where I work. As we sat on the front row and watched the ballerinas dip and twirl, I let myself drift into a relaxing mix of peace and joy. My granddaughter and I enjoyed the program and went home talking about the beautiful costumes and the talented dancers. Even as we shared the excitement of the evening, I couldn’t stop thinking about the tragedy that occurred earlier that day in Connecticut.

That night she stayed over and as she fell asleep I thanked God for the opportunity to spend time with her. As I watched her face fall into a restful sleep, my heart went out to the parents and grandparents who lost children at Sandy Hook.

The next morning, we planned to take Dylan to the mall. I have to admit, fear reverberated through me. As we walked with the bustling crowd, I found myself thinking how I’d protect my granddaughter if I needed to. Later, I read a post from a friend, who felt a bolt of fear because she knew she’d need to send her children back to school on Monday. Reality tells me that I can’t control what happens any more than my friend can. But I can rely on God and love my family daily. Perfect love casts out all fear and perfect love comes from God. I have to trust and pray.

As I watch my grandchildren perform in their Christmas play this evening, I will continue to pray for those who are hurting. I’ll also embrace the time with the little ones I hold so dear. 

A Year of Biblical Womanhood

A Year of Biblical Womanhood: How a Liberated Woman Found Herself Sitting on Her Roof, Covering Her Head, and Calling Her Husband "Master"

by Rachel Held Evans

I thoroughly enjoyed Rachel's writing. With humor, sincerity, and determination, she parted the waters of what it means to be a woman and a believer. I did not agree with every interpretation, but I appreciated the wisdom she gleaned from her studies and attempts at living out the scriptural laws of the Old Testament. Supported by her husband, Rachel delved into Proverbs 31, the life of a woman in biblical times, women's lives that echoed the respect that Jesus gave them and the great responsibility they held for their families and the church. A good book for a women's book club.