When I went to work at the office on Monday I was assigned my own little task which involves something called The Bead Project! My job is to write an article about The Bead project. I get to interview the bead ladies, learn the process of how to make the beads and take some pictures. When the article is finished I have to contact different magazines and see if they are interested in publishing it in their magazine. Most likely the article that I write won’t be published, maybe bits and pieces, but I was told that the magazine usually has to write their own, which makes sense. So, my task is to pique their interest and make it as easy for them as possible. I’m sure you can imagine my delight yet intimidation at the thought of this little project. It’s really cool because I have considered doing photo-journalism in the past, but on the other hand I’ve never done anything like this before and I feel so unqualified. BUT, I’m willing to try my best 🙂 I’m so excited for this opportunity! What a great experience! Not many people have such an opportunity.. I feel blessed. Getting an article into a magazine could do big things for Child Voice International, bring awareness to the situation here in Northern Uganda and could help the women imensely. I really feel the importance of this job so I have been really praying that God would give me the abilities and words to capture the attention of the people who read it and to do the best work I possibly can. It’s in good hands 😉
The first day I started writing a little bit about the story behind The Bead Project so next I have to write about how the beads are made and write a few of the women’s stories. I have been able to go to a couple of their sessions which are on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9:30 am to 4pm. On average the women make 300 beads per day! Bead making is tedious and time consuming but incredibly rewarding. I never thought beads could mean anything but when you make them yourself you value them so much more.
Today I got a little bit frustrated because I love this kind of thing, it’s right up my alley but I was having a hard time making anything decent looking. I took a break and hung out with a bunch of kids, most of whom were making mud, putting it on leaves and then licking it off… YUCK! I was determined to make atleast one good bead so I put aside my disapointment and tried it again. Success at last! Turns out when you use a needle it looks a hundred times better.. I was very pleased with myself 🙂 I ended up making about 25 beads today… which is not TOO far behind the typical 300 haha! I even cut some paper by myself without even being showed how and they turned out really neat.
I love hanging out with the bead women because they always have so much fun together. Everyone will be doing their own thing when all of a sudden a peal of laughter peirces the air and then all of the women break out with laughter and giggles, chattering away to each other. They are all cheerful workers. A couple of them have little kids that sit with them while they work or toddle around the room. One of the women has a tiny baby who is only a month old, she is soo adorable! The other day Logan was holding her and she peed haha poor Logan.
Please pray for me as I take on this exciting job! I will keep you posted 🙂
