When I was looking for things to take for the kids for our basketball camp - things that didn't weigh a ton, since we were already taking 16 basketballs, and 60 tee shirts, and cones, and whistles, and name tags, and all sorts of other basketball paraphernalia, not to mention donated clothing and shoes - I thought about friendship bracelets. My kids had made them working at a camp over the summer, all of us going, and the teens at Fathers House, all knew how to make them, and best of all, the yard/floss was cheap and light. So we brought 200 skeins and set about making a bracelet for every child (44) and volunteer (a dozen) in the camp. 

On the day we gave them out, we told the kids that I had had at least one friendship bracelet made for me on every trip to Uganda, and wore it til it fell off. It was a constant reminder to me of the people there, the projects God has sent my way, and my love for the country. So we were giving them out to them, having made them with love, so that they would think about us. Think about the camp, and all they learned there. And pray for us, as we were praying for them, even when we were back in the US.

When I got home, I got to thinking some more (always dangerous!). What if we asked people to make them and donate them to Ten Eighteen for something we'd call Project Friendship? We could give them away at events for anyone who made even a small donation, and we could take as many as we could carry back with us on our trips to give away there.  

Well, the idea is catching on! We have small groups making them, we have groups forming just to make them, we have college and homeschool students making them. I'm making them!  So how about you? Will you make them too?

They're cheap, quick and easy, but will mean so much to whoever wears it, whether here or in Uganda. We'd love to have all you or your group can make! Just send them to us. And thanks!

We will be taking two hundred friendship bracelets with us in May, 2012, which we will distribute at our basketball camp reunion party, the lunch for the ladies of Nawezakana, at the Arise Africa orphanage, and to those we meet when we go out on a patient care run with Hospice Jinja. These bracelets have been made by volunteers all over NC, and donated to us for this purpose. We will also be giving away Project Friendship tees.

This is such a great way for our friends in Uganda to tangibly feel your love and care, even when you're 8,000 miles away! We'd love to have you donate bracelets, or donate funds to help us with the events and transport.