My Wednesdays

Every Wednesday, I meet with 30 awesome and inspiring Karamojong women! We encourage one another, learn Bible Stories, try out some income generating activities, and chat about things that are important to us. Wednesdays have quickly become my favorite day of the week!!
I have really enjoyed this group of ladies. Each week, we learn a new Bible Story together using a method called, "Chronological Bible Storytelling." First of all, we learn the stories as they are in the Chronology-from Creation to Christ. Since we just began the group last month, we have just finished the story of Noah...
In addition to that, it's an oral method of learning a story - just hearing the story (not reading it, or using pen and paper to take notes.) I've actually read that over 70% of the world's population communicates mainly by stories, songs, dramas, proverbs, etc. This way of learning is certainly traditional in Karamoja (and throughout Africa I would guess...) Stories are passed down from generation to generation orally. Important facts, even history is passed down through story, song, or word of mouth. These things are not necessarily written down on paper! So learning Bible Stories orally is what makes sense in this culture/tradition.
So after a Simply the Story training SP hosted in August, I have learned how to tell the story in a way that is easy for the women to understand, and in a way that enables them to remember and re-tell the story! Each week, I tell the story to the women, have them re-tell the story to one another, and then we walk through the facts of the story. Last, but certainly not least, I have the women tell me the observations they have from the story, and ways they can apply the stories to their own lives!
I love hearing what the women have to say about the Bible Stories! Last week when we were learning about Noah and the flood, the women just started laughing!! When I asked what was happening, I was told that the women have heard this story before. It has been passed down from generation to generation, but no one had any idea that it was a true story..in the Bible!
The women also loved hearing the story of Adam and Eve the first week! They had never heard the story before! One of my ladies, Maria, went home and told her neighbors the story. She said the next day she had a line of people waiting to hear why it is that women have to endure labor pains and pain in childbirth! ha! It is wonderful to see the excitement the women have each week as we are preparing to learn a new story.
It is so refreshing to be with these ladies! I am able to experience these stories I have heard all my life in a fresh and new way!!
We also have been doing some bead-working (jewelry making) to make a little income for the women. That is what is going on in most of the photos...
I just wanted to share with all of you why I love Wednesdays!

These ladies are great! The one in the middle loves going back home to her neighbors and telling them the new Bible Story she learned in our group.

These ladies are all sitting together and making jewelry

This is Maria. I really love her. I will have to post a whole blog about the reasons why. Here she is telling the group the story of Cain and Abel.

Marita showing off the necklace she made!

More jewelry making!

Another shot of Marita

One of the many babies that also attends each wednesday. :)