Who The Bead Ladies are Following

Their name, Rwot Omiyo, means "God Provides."

I try to wear paper beads every day. I do it to keep in my mind and honor my sisters, the ten bead ladies, and to make sure that the things they make really are wearable in the American market (because I'm such a fashionista, you know!). When I wear paper beads, I remember these women who greet me with smiles and songs, and that wonderful African noise known as ululating (a high-pitched, wavering sound that indicates joy and celebration). The ladies who gave me an Acholi name, Aber, meaning good. The ones who listen intently and work so hard to try and understand the fashion sense of the American woman, so they can make jewelry we will like.

I think of Jackie, the leader of the group, a woman radiant with joy. She started the bead group to help women from her church who were struggling to raise their children or grandchildren, and sometimes several other kids, too. It's that "takes a village" thing. So many adults have died from war and Aids, almost half of the children in northern Uganda have lost a parent, and many both. These women are the strong ones, who have taken up where others have had to give up. Almost every one of them are supporting children who are orphans. Lucy wins the prize, caring for six of her own children and six others as well.

I was asked to interview the women by a caring young woman who wanted to know more about them. She suggested I ask, What are you reading now? Who are you following? So I called each one into Jackie's house individually. I sat face to face with them and asked them what their lives were like. How many kids did they support? (many)...What did they do to support these children before the bead project came along? (lay bricks, dig other people's gardens...as well as their own, for food). Where did they live? (mud huts, no electricity, no water, cooking over a fire)... I tell you, these women's lives were so hard, I could not bear to ask what they were reading and who they were following. So I asked them where they got their strength. Each one had a ready answer. Grace loves the book of Job, who was burdened with hardship upon hardship, but never gave up his faith in God. Lucy has memorized parts of  Psalm 88: "I am overwhelmed with troubles and my life draws near to death...my eyes are

dim with grief...but I cry to you for help, Lord; in the morning, my prayer comes before you..."  Each woman was ready, even without warning, to give a reason for the hope that lies within her. Even when they could not read, they had these passages memorized. So it turned out, even without Facebook or Twitter or Instagram,  they were "following" somebody after all.