Review of Beaded Hope by Cathy Liggett

Beaded Hope is the story of four women who embark on a mission trip to Africa. Each of them has reasons to be sorrowful, scared, or friendless. The trip is taken by all of them to escape from their current life for a few weeks. What they didn’t expect was to find themselves in a land so foreign from their own. They are introduced to Jaleela, who despite having aides has a dream God, one she feels will come true because of these women. Jaleela and the other women make beaded jewelry. She is confidant God will provide the means through these women for the jewelry to be sold in America.

The seemingly small amount of money the jewelry would sell for in America would be a significant amount to these women and their families. Many of these families are made up of only women and children. Many are sick with the aids virus. When the mothers die the children are taken in by other mothers or raised by an older sibling.

Through helping and observing the women in Africa they discover and admit to their own weaknesses and they find a stronger faith in God. Each of them returns home with a stronger faith and new friendships. The plight of these families while sad does not overwhelm the book. I wasn’t filled with despair after reading it as I often am when watching some television commercials for feed the children.

While the circumstances are equally as bad as the commercials there is a light of faith shinning through the stories of these women. While the story is fiction, the reality is real. There is a Beaded Hope organization and you can purchase jewelry to help these women and their families.

I liked this book. I was able to learn about another way of life so different from my own. When I finished reading it once again I am reminded of how much I have and take for granted. Bravo Cathy Liggett for getting my attention without making me weary.
*Tyndale House Publishers provided me with a complimentary copy of this book.