Every once and a while we come to the place where we're simply holding the pieces in our hands - starring at them and wondering 'is this working?'

If you've read any of our recent blogs or noticed our attempts at building transparency, you've probably gathered that Light Gives Heat is in a transitional stage. The last month has been restructuring and trying to be proactive (instead of reactive) - thinking about longevity for both LGH Stateside and particularly in Uganda.

A couple weeks ago Rachel & Randy called a meeting with the women of Suubi - a time when they could talk to the women about how things were going and offer the women an opportunity to evaluate Light Gives Heat and the Suubi project. After dispelling some rumors that Suubi was ending and that Dave and I were getting a divorce (it all sounds so ridiculous until you have spent time there and see the desperation and the jealousy of people who have opportunity - people say just about anything (or will do just about anything) just to take advantage of someone or ruin an opportunity for others), Rachel asked the question..."Is buying necklaces from you every week the best way for us to help you?"

We've never presumed we know it all or have the 'best' way of doing it - it's a journey. And our aim from the start was to love them well and meet real needs (not presumed needs). If a consistent weekly income is not their greatest need then we want to be humble enough to end the Suubi project tomorrow.

Their answer? "Yes!"

The reliable weekly income from Suubi is such a huge help because most of the women have no other sources of income and most of them are widows or have husbands who don't provide much for the families. Although a few women had gardens they tended to before Suubi started, none of them had jobs with steady incomes.

The Suubi meeting also addressed issues around the Literacy classes, English Classes, and FINCA accounts. It was encouraging to hear that the women still love having our volunteers hang out at their homes. When asked if it's an inconvenience, one woman responded "how are mzungus (white people) supposed to learn from our stories when they cannot see how and where we live?" I love the women! I love their open hearts and arms and the way the understand that they have so much to teach us about life - truly reciprocal relationships!

Rachel reiterated the importance of unity and suggested dancing after Suubi meetings once a month. The women were ecstatic, but there is one slight problem...many of the women do not know how to dance. My heart sank when I read those words. Some of my fondest memories in Uganda are when we were dancing - shoes off, feet in the dirt, drums banging, women singing and chanting...even though our homes were worlds apart, dance connected us and I knew it was the same blood running through my veins as theirs. After my most recent trip to Uganda I came home and had my neck tattooed with the phrase Wan Wenge Waribe Kacel (We're all connected together) - a constant reminder of my connection to the people of the world.

The 25-year long war up North has stole their culture and opportunity to learn and pass along their traditional dances. To top it off, the women were concerned that they have nothing to dance with - no outfits, no drums, no calabashes (gourds they bang on)! So, LGH is going to invest in some drums and gourds and find someone who would be willing to teach the women dancing a few times a month!

Upon reading the email recounting the meeting my shoulders felt lighter and I felt myself take a deep breath - reassurance. For those fleeting moments when we feel like it'll crumble, we are reminded of the even bigger picture - the importance, the influence, and the connectedness.