Better than water for sun soaked skin!

Today the African sun was out in full force! Rainy season is over, hello hot hot heat and dry dusty days.

After spending most of the day in the sun my skin was dry and tired. Even with sunscreen on and replied a few times this Scandinavian DNA never really tans.  I have made peace with always turning a lovely shade of red. To help combat the sun dried feeling I soaked in a lovely coconut milk bath, home made of course!

It may sound a little odd, I thought so too at first but TRUST me. Your skin will love it and you will love how you feel after! The coconut milk proteins are better than water for your sun soaked skin and the lavender oil helps make that red color fade. The smell is also amazing. So tranquil and tropical! Next time your skin is crying out for some love after a day in the sun.....feed it with a rich milk bath!

How To:
1/2 cup coconut milk (I use powered because it is what I have. From the tin will work just as well.)
15-20 drops of lavender oil
2-3 heaping Tbps of backing soda

Add all ingredients to a lukewarm bath as you are drawing it. Soak in heaven for at least 30 min.

Colors of Hope

Africa is so colorful! Trees, flowers, people, and ever the fabric! Daily, I am blessed to see smiles as big an bright as the sun!

These bright smiles have become like family to me. I love them so much and thank the Lord I get to live among them! Some of my Ugandan family have the skill of sewing. They do it on the side as extra income. There is one lady that has made many lovely things for me in the past. The last time she made something for me she opened up. She told me how helpful it was for her and her family to have the side job of sewing. With the extra money she can insure there is enough for all her children's school fees.

After we had this conversation I thought for a while...."wish I could give her more extra business with sewing." I lifted her and her family up to the Lord with out a clear understanding of how I could be helpful to them. A few weeks later the Lord placed an idea on my heart. Something that only could come from HIM, I just love how He know the best way to plant His will into my heart and mind.

Just some of the fun and colorful fabric my friends will be working with!

Colors of Hope, the idea the Lord gave me, is just is the growing stage.....trusting in the Lord to lead it, as He sees fit.

The idea is that the ladies I know, who sew, will work on making African Tablecloths and Napkins. I will pay them a fair wage for each item. This will help insure their family can pay for school fees ( they pay school fees three times a year). Then I will turn around and sell the tablecloths and napkins. This will help me cover the cost I spend to pay the ladies and buy the materials. Also it will help me buy more fabric so they can make more table clothes.

Education is important, as we all know. But also it is so important to help people rise up, not just give hand outs. So, this is a way to support the ladies I have been blessed with getting to know while allowing them work for a better tomorrow! They will only make what they can, NOT becoming a sewing company or  NGO. Keeping it small, personal, and meeting needs.

Well what do you think?  If you are interested in buying a tablecloth and or napkins please contact me! It would be so encouraging to the ladies to know people are already interested.

All of us ladies also ask for your prayers. Prayers for wisdom and guidance. We are only looking to do His will and not our own. Thanks for your prayers and comments for Colors of Hope!

Ladies, Crafts, and Smiles...

If you enjoy crafting then you know the feeling that comes over you when a project is done. You also enjoy looking around for new ideas. Like-minded friends are always share tips with you. Often you get together with other to work on things and share some laughs. (Come on crafters.....raise your hand hand HIGH!) If you know these feelings you are not alone!

Last Saturday was the first "Ladies Craft Fellowship!" It was so fun!!! Over the last few months my heart has been feeling for ladies working on the mission field, specifically the ones that are in Kampala. Everyone is busy. They work 24/7 most days and are giving  giving giving. Now personally I know the feeling, due to the fact I have lived in the field for over a year, of being alone in a crowded city! So after thinking and praying for many months I asked ladies to come together! Asked them to join a fun filled afternoon with other ladies. We shared some craft ideas, ate together, and most importantly connected!

We made necklaces out of old T-Shirts! Not a stitch needed!

The turn out was small, due to the fact many could not come even though they wanted to. After everyone left and had mentioned how nice it was to get together I felt lead to do the fellowship monthly!

One of the lovely ladies that came on Saturday!

So now once a month we will gather together in my home to share ideas, recipes, crafts, and life. We are all excited! Your prayers would be a blessing at this point. We are trying to work out a time each month that works well for most of us....with our schedules you can image how crazy hard that it. Also if you have any craft or recipe ideas please share! We would love grow our idea list. Just leave a comment below.  We also promise to take photos of your idea if they come to fruition and post them for the world to see!

Crafty Becasue I Have Too...

Africa can be hot…most of you are thinking it is always hot. Not true. There are many comfortable days here in Kampala. The best description I have of Uganda is...Hawaii. Both are green and lush. Great fresh fruits all year long. Rain that comes and goes. The only thing that is different is Uganda is land-locked!

Some days are hot and Lack Victoria is close by it can be humid some days (some days not all). One thing I have learned is that body dusting powder is helpful.. Not the kind Grandma used. This is homemade and smells sweet!

Here is the recipe I use to make it. It is easy, smells great, and works amazing!

Dusting powder:

1 cup of rice flour (soy flour will work just a well)

½ cup of baking soda

½ cup of cornstarch

1 cotton ball

few drops of your fav essential oil (I use vanilla)

Sift all powders together into an airtight container. After all the powers are sifted together add some oil drops to the cotton ball. Place the ball with oil on it into the powder and keep closed for 24 hours. After the 24 hours shake the container and let sit for another 24 hours. After 48 hours use and enjoy!