SPACE FOR AFRICAN STORIES

To leaders coming to Africa, from the outside, to MANI* 2011 consultation:

How can we create space for the African stories to be heard?

*Movement for African National Initiatives

Tomorrow our journey begins.

"We're coming, Africa, to come alongside in your process, to listen & help you think creatively - outside the box, in order to reach your goals for each country & beyond."

More trip thoughts: Our Stories blog.

Creating story ropes in Rwanda at World Relief Headquarters.

'OUR STORIES' Came Today !!!

The box of 500 business sized cards arrived this morning from Modern Postcard in California. THANK YOU, GOD! And I love how they came out!

Their timely arrival looked pretty dim a day ago. The UPS website located them stuck in a Chicago warehouse overflowing with boxes, all held up because of a natural disaster. That would be the infamous hurricane, Irene.

Prayers moved the impossible & OUR STORIES cards showed up on our doorstep today!

Shortly they'll be going to MANI 2011 in Africa with me! I'll be handing them to African leaders & global delegates interested in using storying techniques for healing, sharing the Good News & discipleship.

The design coordinates with the current header on OUR STORIES blog. Blog address & story rope uses are on the card's reverse side. Click on photo to enlarge.

Thank you to a special friend for her totally unexpected gift of funding these cards to be made & inspiring me to create them at all ! May God give the increase!

ALL PACKAGED UP

The pre-cut story rope fabrics are gently rolled, packed into little bags & ready for my carry-on. I have enough for 70 people wanting to learn the process to take back to their nations. And if I run out....I can 'show 'n tell the rest'!

Thank you, Amanda, Dante'ya & Careece for getting the strips of fabric ready to go! You 3 are on my sending team! And here they are!

MANI* 2011 Consultation in Abuja, Nigeria begins on Monday, with 1000 invited leaders coming from almost every African nation & 24 nations outside of Africa. An honor to be invited to listen, learn & share. MANI* Movement for African Initiatives

DELIGHTFUL AFRICAN FICTION

Listening to The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency series on CD's...takes me back to Africa.

You have to have been there to catch the subtle humor. Some of the lines are quite funny.

Continuing to network the Abuja consultation attenders list.

AFRICA ON THE TABLE

Putting out some of the Africa stuff for packing. Cut strips & buttons ready for story ropes. Sample story rope. African jewelry. Rwandan dresses to iron.

Check out my new blog! Our Stories

WRITING POSTS

working on new blog

Our Stories

writing a bunch of posts

getting it up to speed

sharing info in Africa

post on transparency

WORKING ON A NEW BLOG

Through my own & friends experiences, the blog will teach how to use storying techniques with people.

Story ropes, accordion books & altered books are some of the techniques we'll share.

Needs to be ready for Africa. Keep you posted.

• story rope with African fabrics & buttons

CUTTING FABRICS FOR STORY ROPES

My friend, Amanda (in black), came over this morning with students, Dante'yh (in blue) & Careece (in yellow).

We worked on getting the strips ready for 'story-rope' making when I go to Africa. Together we chose fabric scraps, ironed & cut strips - lots and lots of strips of African fabrics.* Thank you, ladies! We got so much accomplished!

Amanda will be bringing the girls back. I want to hear more about their hopes & dreams for the future, show them my art work & probably make some collages.

*the African fabric scraps are from my seamstress friends at Amani Ya Juu (peace with God) the Christian sewing cooperative for marginalized women in Kigali, Africa.