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Four American women, all with their own challenges, embark on a mission trip to South Africa. Their lives are changed as they encounter a group of South African women who suffer from AIDS yet demonstrate great joy and faith in the face of overwhelming adv
From the Back Cover
Coming through the airport terminal door, Gabby paused on the sidewalk and squinted into the sun. A stout lady standing next to a young girl caught her eye. The woman’s coral blouse looked stretched to its limits, as did the flared, brightly colored patterned skirt she wore, both a beautiful contrast with her dark skin.
What an unlikely-looking welcoming committee, Gabby considered. But maybe we look just as odd to them. Four women coming from the other side of the world—to do what? Save them? Save South Africa?
If they only knew. She couldn’t speak for the rest of her group. But didn’t she need someone just as badly to save her from herself?
When four women embark on a mission trip to South Africa, they all have selfish reasons for going. What none of them expects is how profoundly their lives will be transformed by those they meet.
A moving story about the power of faith and hope to overcome even the most tragic circumstances, Beaded Hope was inspired by a nonprofit organization of the same name. Learn more about it at www.beadedhope.com. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this novel will go to support Beaded Hope.
Have you ever read a book that was so uplifting and just good for your soul? I just finished one. Beaded Hope was so beautiful. It touched me to my core.
In Beaded Hope you meet these 4 women. Gabby who is hurting so deeply from not being able to carry a baby. She’s drawn away from her husband and into her own pain. Heidi is dealing with a stressful situation, she has found out that her teenage daughter Katie is carrying a baby. Katie is of course carrying the baby and that is and of itself an emotional time for anyone, let alone a teenager. Cassandra has shut her emotions off. She had an abusive foster father and a foster mother who let it happen. She is now a successful news anchor trying to keep the younger competition far behind her.
These women aren’t friends before hand (except for mother Heidi and daughter Katie) and have independently decided to go on a missions trip to South Africa, each for their own reasons. When they get there they meet Mama Penny who then introduces them to a host of beautiful women, the one who touches them the most is Jaleela and her children Nomvula and Tumi. These women, all of these women from South Africa in the story, are struggling to take care of their families in an area where AIDS has taken so much. As Mama Penny says at one point, there aren’t even enough men left to take up the shovels for the burials, the women have to do it as well. Some of the children are now on their own, older ones taking care of younger siblings, relying on the kindness of others in their community to help them survive. Yet these women don’t lose their hope, their faith in God.
Beaded Hope is an integral part of this book. I would be leaving out a huge part of it if I didn’t introduce you to this. While the story is fiction, Beaded Hope is very much alive and working.
I am borrowing from Beaded Hope’s website because I can’t say it any better:
In a country overwhelmed by sickness, poverty and unemployment, most South Africans suffering from the impact of HIV/AIDS have no way of supporting themselves or their families.
However, in a moment of hope, women from South Africa and America joined together to collectively battle the devastation of the AIDS pandemic.
By using education and employment, we hope to empower families in South Africa who have been impacted by HIV/AIDS.
It is our hope that…
…survival will no longer be a struggle,
…food will be prevalent,
…family units will be whole,
…and lives will be change.Our hope is that all this is possible through Beaded Hope.
Beaded Hope is growing, and bead by bead, woman to woman, we’re making a difference.
If you go to Beaded Hope , you can actually read about the women who work with this project. Mama Peggy is who Mama Penny in the book was inspired from. As there is a character named Mighty in the story, there is also a beautiful woman named Mighty working with Beaded Hope. Check out their site, and if you are able to make a purchase, your money will be going to help these women support their families. You will definitely be getting your moneys worth. I am amazed by the talent of these women across the world from me.
Back to my review, I don’t want to go into more detail because I want you to read this special book for yourself. I had tears that I kept wiping away during parts of the book and spent a few minutes at the end of the book just reflecting as I cried. There were times that the tears were sorrowful and times when I cried because it was so beautiful. It just touched me.
You will not regret picking up this very special book and reading it.
And a portion of all proceeds from the book, Beaded Hope, go back to Beaded Hope for the women.
I want to thank Cathy Liggett and Tyndale Fiction for providing me with a copy of this book. It was touching, inspirational, and just a beautiful story! Also thank you for introducing me to Beaded Hope.
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Twitter: BeadedHope
says:
Hi, Heather.
I just had to drop you a note and thank you for this wonderful review of the Beaded Hope novel. It is our hope, Cathy and mine, that the story of Beaded Hope will touch the heart of the reader, as it obviously did for you.
Thank you!
Jennifer Davis
Executive Director of Beaded Hope
.-= Jennifer Davis´s last blog ..Do Good (for free!) =-.