A few recent happenings:
SOMO has recently joined an awesome network called PovertyCure. They featured us on their blog! SO cool!
SOMO is revamping the website (whoot Gooey Studios)
SOMO is getting into any holiday market we can! Does anyone know of any?
SOMO has SO many ideas and SO much we want to do. AND- Christmas is around the corner. We plan to take FULL advantage of this Holiday of excessive giving. Please keep SOMO in mind when you make out your Christmas lists because we have SO many new beads!! A few are debuted on Danielle's neck:
What? You want to host a TRUNK SHOW?! To give others the opportunity to buy some presents that take purchasing power to a new level - HAVE A CHRISTMAS TRUNK SHOW!. Just email me: heidi@somobeads.com and we'll start planning. We could really use this!
Ok- onto rambling...
So this thing called reality - its a funny thing. In Gulu the reality I discovered was ugly, but at the same time full of potential. I battled a cynicism that was trying to win out my idealism and dreams. Reality is so full of these contrasts. Theft, generosity, poverty, wealth, fat and greasy, nutritious, no one cares, intense compassion, work, vacation, over priced, a killer sale. Opposite ends of the reality spectrum coexisting.
I've realized that I am going to have to fully accept these extremes to truly live in reality. After noting that, I've discovered I'm a bit of an extremist. That is, I seem to grab on to one extreme or the other. Crap.
Being back is GOOD. At first it was all JOY JOY JOY! So much joy. Tex-mex, Kelly, Church, phone calls, fast internet, a country that allows protests. My awesome bosses welcomed me with open arms and many questions. I loved being in my little cubicle with my computer, phone, stapler, tape, post-its, sharpies again! And all my coworkers walking by. Fantasy Football is in full swing and my team is in 2nd place (very realistic game)! Speaking of football and joy...Can I get GO PACK GO?! Undefeated, what?. I LOVE them. No- you don't understand. I LOOOOVE them. :)
Here's when reality sets in...less than 1 week back I locked my keys in my car. Which convinced me to get Triple A. One day after I got Triple A I graciously ran my cute Red cube into a curb. Poor thing. Don't feel sorry for me. I'm an idiot. It was a pricey wreck, so I had to pull out all the stops and get State Farm involved. (Thank you Baker Nissan dealership for always taking care of me - is it bad that Jimmy in the body shop knows me and my car by heart?). Two days later I grabbed a slick Toyota Prius from Enterprise (and yes, they did pick me up). That night I parked my car outside of my sister's apartment. This spot happened to be the ONE reserved spot (yes, Kelly, you did tell me this - I FORGOT!). Thus, Tuesday morning at 6am I: 1. ran up and down the street hoping MAYBE I parked it somewhere else. 2. kicked a brick wall. 3. stormed up the elevator leaving my sister in the dust. 4. payed $$$ to the lady behind the bullet proof glass. 5. took the (all too familar) walk of shame into the impound to retrieve my car.
Ah, wonderful Houston. It's good to be back.
A week later I fully participated in Houston's favorite holiday: Halloween. Can you guess who I was?
Life is WEIRD.
I say all this because, believe it or not, I'm trying to articulate my experiences, thoughts, weirdness, excitement and confusion about SOMO. I feel like my few weeks back have sort of represented the back and forth of extreme emotions in regards to SOMO. I had so many awesome moments and then a good deal of horrible ones. I have so much doubt and at the same time a gripping passion. I circle back to this thought: I have nothing to lose in this attempt but my pride (of which I could afford to lose). I admit: I'm nervous, I don't know what I'm doing, I feel in over my head. BUT: I'm going to pray. And try.
Do you realize what an awesome privilege it is to even contemplate how to help. God told us to serve the poor. I am very happy to be on the "serve" end of that command.
Inspiring Servants:
Brother Lawrence.
Mother Teresa.
Billy Graham.
My Mom and Dad.
So with that we push forward- anyone want to help?
Here is to a funny life we all live. I'm thankful for the opportunity of prayer and the perspective it brings.
