by Torkin Wakefield
“My jajja (grandmother) raised me and my brothers and sisters. And also some cousins and neighborhood orphans. She said that although she could not send us all to school but for a few years she was glad that she had enough money for soap to be clean and paraffin to light the lantern.” Olivia, a BeadforLife beader, is relating the story of her life. Her eyes cloud with tears when she says “My jajja became paralyzed 8 years ago and now she just sits on the floor and can not leave her hut. She crawls on the floor pulling herself.”
Mercy Ajok before the surgery.
This jajja, Rebecca Mukisa, by her own reckoning has raised over 40 children. “Sometimes I did not think I could do it, but then I just kept going and somehow we all ate.” Like so many grandmothers in Africa Rebecca has raised her grandchildren and neighbor’s orphans after 5 of her own children had died of AIDS. These elderly women are heroines, holding together the fragile lives of children who have been orphaned. The thought of this 87 year old hero unable to move moved us to action.
BeadforLife has a small amount of money we call our “Compassion Fund.” Sometimes individual donors give something specific to it and sometimes it is used when we discover a heartbreaking situation that we want to do something about.
Mercy with a beautiful smile after her surgery!
About a year ago Sharon Perun of Woodbury, CT sponsored a little girl, Mercy Ajok, to fix her cleft palate. This life changing operation has put a smile on little Mercy’s face and BeadforLife sent Sharon this photo of Mercy as a way to thank her. Sharon’s husband, Jack, wanted to participate and signed BeadforLife up with his company, General Electric, to be part of the employee matching grant program. This meant that another child had her cleft palate repaired. Then Sharon’s mother, Judith Grim of Bethlehem, CT seeing Mercy’s photo asked if she could help someone through the Compassion Fund. Judith sponsored a wheelchair for Rebecca and the world got brighter for both of them.
Rebecca with her new wheelchair.
bush”. They found Rebecca patiently sitting on the floor, her swollen legs awkwardly folded under her. Olivia burst through the doorway “Jajja! Jajja! We’ve brought you a wheel chair!” Rebecca started to cry and then burst into a hymn of thanksgiving. The family crowded around helping Rebecca into the chair and over to the window, where for the first time in years, she could look outside. The “Weybali nyos nyos” (thank you thank you) echoed in the simple home for about an hour. The newborn baby was promptly named “Sharon” to honor Judith and Sharon. Tears and laughter flowed in equal amounts. “I can go to church on Christmas!” exclaimed a beaming Rebecca clapping her weathered hands together.
Then Rebecca sent children scurrying off in many directions bringing us a fat pumpkin, aromatic roasted groundnuts, a bunch of bananas, a papaya, and steaming corn. Everything they had to give they gave to Phoebe and Torkin. This mirrors the generosity of spirit that surrounds Rebecca and her life work.
Phoebe standing, Rebecca, baby Sharon and Oliva to left of Jajja Rebecca
It gives us great delight to know that, thanks to Judith, who lives a world away, Rebecca will spend her final years able to move about. And the thought of her going to church on Christmas for the first time in 8 years, is just about the best Christmas present Judith could imagine. And Sharon, who could not have children, is beaming to know a little girl a world away was named for her.
These are miracles of the circle of love and generosity that is BeadforLife.
Happy Holidays from all of us at BeadforLife!
Tags: Africa, Bead Circle, BeadforLife, donating, Empowering Women, Uganda, Women Making A Difference
Hello,
I bought some beaded work over a year ago. It’s nice to hear from you again. Rebecca’s story is wonderful–as is your work. All the best this holiday season.
Thanks so much, Tony. We are so happy to have you as part of the BeadCircle!
I just had a bead for Life Party. It was an honor to sell your jewlery. Everything was so beautiful. I felt so good inside to participate in such a wondersful organization!
Thanks, Karla!
I ordered the CD a month or so ago…it’s absolutely delightful. You can hear the joy in the women’s voices…makes a wonderful Christmas gift.
Yeah! Carol we are so glad you enjoy the CD. We listen to it all the time in the office. Thanks so much for your support!
Our world is healed through one to one relationship building, cross boundaries, like this inspirational story. Everyone a giver, everyone a recipient of sharing. Thanks Beads for Life! This is great work that you do.
Thanks for this heartwarming, heart expanding story! This is indeed the true joy of Christmas! Thank you for all you do. I am still hearing abt ripples from the bead party I hosted last month - 2 others are hosting, one friend of a friend heard abt it, went to the website and bought 20 Christmas gifts!
Merry Christmas!
My Bible Study Group ordered 3 bags of beads so we could make jewelry together. We prayed for our sisters in Uganda. It was alot of fun. Two weeks later I went to a Beadforlife party and bought several Christmas gifts (and a few for myself). I appreciate the small cards explaining your ministry. I put them with the gifts to spread the good news of Beadforlife.
Thanks for all you do and please send a big thank you to my Sisters in Uganda who made these beautiful beads!
I have to smile because I am wearing earrings that I made in ten minutes this morning with the beads. I didn’t have green earrings to go with my shirt so I just grabbed the beads and made a pair
Thanks for sharing with us, Suzy! We are delighted to hear about the outpouring of support that was generated from your BeadParty! Happy Holidays.
We totally agree with you! Thanks so much for giving your heart to BeadforLife. We appreciate you.
What a wonderful circle of Life. No wonder I have always wanted to work with Beadforlife! I’ve met some of you in the Boulder office when I interviewed for a job about a year or so ago. I like to keep up with the work you are doing. You such are a blessing. I love the interconnections. Merry Christmas to you all!
Tobi -
What a great story! So glad that you had the BeadforLife beads on hand to help complete your outift today. Thanks so much for your kind words and for being a part of the BeadCircle. Happy Holidays.
Thanks, Caroline! We are so glad you keep in touch. Happy Holidays.
About five years ago … I met Torkin … I was introduced to the beginnings of Beadforlife … I fell in love with Africa … with the people of Africa. Torkin and her team had a dream … a seemingly impossible one — create life opportunities, create confidence, create health, create family — for people who seemingly do not have or should not have hope. Today, the entire Beadforlife family is a testimony to our common hope, our common love, our common energy. Thank you Torkin … thank you everyone at Beadforlife for all that you do for others.
Fred - Thanks so much for your lovely words. You’ve captured the heart of BeadforLife and it sounds like we have captured yours as well!! We are truly grateful for your continued support.
today I had a luncheon for my best friends from church. As a gift I gave all of them a necklace. I explained to them the meaning of the necklace, gave them the small card that is included with the orders and also showed them a picture of Pauline that I sponsor thru World Vision who lives in Uganda. I told them although Pauline’s mother has died from AIDS maybe we were helping another childs mother thru the beads. They were thrilled with the necklace and it is a nice way to remember Pauline everytime we wear our necklaces.
Thanks for sharing this wonderful story. I just recently became aware of BFL and I love giving something so unique and helpful as a gift. I will continue to purchase for friends and family for many years to come. Thank you for allowing me to contribute to a great cause in such a fun way!
I purchased about five hundred dollars of the beautiful beaded creations as gifts for my friends and family for Christmas this year. Someone from BFL called to inquire about the purchase.
I said that it was all for my giftgiving. I wanted something this year that I could share with others but would have a more global picture-a gift that would benefit the women of Uganda.
Thank you, you lovely women for getting such a powerful message out with your beautiful artwork! I wish you many blessings at this time!
I was introduced to Beadforlife through Compassion (I sponsore a beautiful little girl). What a wonderful way of giving back. I ordered many packets of loose beads and made bracelets for Christmas. A Christmas gift with such a powerful meaning behind it and a way of giving help to those communities, that is what Christmas is about. Now when my friends wear the bracelets they will remember the story behind the beads and will possibly think about helping out. I feel so honored to be able to wear something so beautiful, made by beautiful, humble people. Thank you to everyone at Compassion and Beadforlife!
I gave the jewelry bags each containing a different necklace as a holiday present to the members of my new book club. Everyone was thrilled with how beautiful they are and very touched by the story behind them. I am so happy to be able to contribute in this small but important way to your magnificent work. “Each one reach one”–this is a wonderful way to pay it forward in thanks for the abundant blessings of our lives in America and in gratitude to our strong and beautiful sisters in Africa. Thank you for everything you do! And thank you for giving us both this awareness and an easy way to help.
Thank you Bead For Life! 10 days ago I was trying to come up with an idea for a Christmas gift for one of the women in my life. Then my brain fired and I remembered hearing that Bead For Life had a store in Boulder. I was so delighted to find such an inspired holiday gift that I came back two more times and bought BFL jewelry for every special woman in my life. And I wrote an email to every Boulder woman I know recommending she do the same. I know of at least three more people who connected with BFL because of my message. What a great holiday gift it is for me to have found BFL. I will definitely be hosting a Bead Party in the Spring!
These stories just give me goose bumps and a wonderful feeling that there are still people out there who care about others whe don’t have enough to help themselves. I try to do my best to help others with caring for them and giving them a smile when things don’t go too well for them. Thank you folks for caring so much. I don’t have a job and my husband has been on sick leave since June 9th and we know now that even if he could return back to work there isn’t any work for him to go back to. We loose our insurance after the beginning of the year. But God always helps his believers. He closes a door but opens a window.
My name is Lilly,
thank you all for pouring so much love to all who really need it. There is nothing like bringing a smile in onother person,s face. In my face you always bring ters in my eyes. I send my love and thanks for what you did for Rebbeca. God bless you.
I live in Dar es Salaam Tanzania and would like to buy some beads for the women in our church. Pleas assist, how do i go about doing it?
Please advice