Bead sorting and life sorting!

So today I met with the Cunningham Foundation (that's the group I traveled to Ethiopia with) to help sort beads! Bead artist from all over the US of A donate hundreds of beads every year to be made into bracelets for the Foundation. The beads are all so different and amazing. Basically we sat at a big table dumped all the beads on a table and then put around 7 beads we thought would look good together in a bag. These will then be sent to Project Mercy in Ethiopia where the bead artist down there will put the bracelets together and add the heart beads and other beads they make down there to each unique bracelets. They will then ship them back so they can be ready to sell for next Christmas. The bracelets sell for $100 each which is symbolic because $100 is the average salary an Ethiopian person makes in one year. The money raised goes back to support the amazing and talented bead artist in Ethiopia. I have actually seen some of these beads made down there and the art of bead making is truly beautiful. I can't wait to see some of the bracelets I helped with supporting the Ethiopians who work hard on them all year. I guess I will have to wait for next Christmas. (They make great gifts too!)

I have realized that the times I feel most alive are when I am living for everything but myself and doing things in the spirit of love. Helping out today gave me the reminder I needed to focus on my dreams and my goals over the things I often feel tempted by in my life. I was also reminded how important it is to do more with each spare second that you have. I only work 9 hours a week and am hoping I can find more charity's to lend my time too during this summer. There are so many people who could use my services let me know if any ideas cross your mind!

-Dre