Beads, Baskets, Widows and Orphans

The necklace in the picture above comes from the wonderful website, 31bits.com. I’ve been buying necklaces and bracelets from 31 Bits for several years.  They sell beaded jewelry made from recycled paper that is crafted by internally-displaced women in Uganda. Why do I like these necklaces so much? First, they are uniquely beautiful.  Second, making jewelry provides  the women with money they can use to send their children to school.

Trading For Treasures is another organization that sells products from Africa. Headquartered here in Colorado, Trading For Treasures markets baskets made by women in Rwanda. These baskets, some that are designed for decoration and others that can be used as serving pieces, are made of sisal fibers, sweet grass, banana leaves and raffia. Go the website and take a look. I have purchased a number of these baskets for wedding and housewarming gifts.

I’ll close with the story of Miriam Neff. Miriam’s husband Bob, was a Vice President with Moody Broadcasting in Chicago. A wife, mother, and high school counselor, Miriam had the opportunity to travel overseas with her husband who, in addition to his responsibilities at Moody, helped jump-start Christian radio stations overseas.

Bob Neff died of Lou Gehrig’s disease in 2006. Miriam began reaching out to other women and started Widow Connection. Here in the States, Widow Connection provides a variety of resources to those who have lost a spouse. In Africa, Miriam’s organization partners with other ministries to teach widows how to sew on Singer treadle machines. The ladies ultimately learn to make school uniforms which they sell.

I'm not sure why I’m passionate about the plight of these people.  I grew up in a solidly middle class home.  My exposure to poverty has been minimal.  I didn’t spend much time in church until my early-twenties.  Nevertheless, I am reminded of the oft-quoted proverb which says, ‘Give a man a fish and he eats for a day. Teach a man to fish, and he eats for a lifetime.’  James 1:27 reminds us of the importance of caring for widows and orphans.  “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”