This Roller Coaster Ride

In truth, today is probably not the best day to sit down and try to write this blog post. I'm kind of a worried mess right now. You know, crazy doubts and questions racing through my mind at unreasonable speeds. How's this going to happen? Was that the right decision? Oh crap, here's another bill to pay? Why are things not coming together faster? Are these risks worth it?

Have you ever been there?

So obviously I'm there right now. This journey of starting and growing SoloHope has been full of ups and downs--very similar to a roller coaster ride. At times, I want off the roller coaster. I want to throw in the towel and quit. I want to whine and complain and say it's too hard!

But then I take a step back and remember...

I remember the smiling faces of our artisans. I remember how vulnerable they were as they shared their stories last month. I remember the pride our artisans had when they showed me their new cookware. I remember them posing for pictures beside their new comals (stoves). I remember singing happy birthday in Spanish to our artisans and sharing cake with the kids from the community. I remember the laughter we shared over my inability to catch a guy (yep, that topic comes up in Honduras too). I remember the joy as they talked about having the ability to send their children to school. I remember their gratitude as they thanked me for starting SoloHope. I remember how so many have come along and stood beside me in this journey. I remember God is faithful.

And then I remember why I am doing this.

Is this journey easy? Heck no! It is by far the hardest thing I've ever done. But is anything of great value ever easy? I know, cliche but nonetheless, true.

Bear with me for a minute as we talk some Southern cooking. (I have a point, I promise.) In the South, our mamas can make the best homemade mashed potatoes. Maybe the same is true for mamas of the North. But you can't beat Mama's homemade mashed potatoes. They are the best but they do take some time to make. You have to peel a bazillion potatoes, then cut them up, boil them and then drain them. Then you have to add milk and butter, grab that hand mixer (or potato masher) and start beating those potatoes until they're fluffy creamy mashed potatoes. It takes some time but when you're done, those mashed potatoes are oh so good!

I can't really say the same for instant mashed potatoes. You open a package, pour "the contents" in a bowl, add water or milk and then put them in the microwave. Sure, they're easy and fast to make but I'm sorry, they just aren't the same. And believe me, you can tell the difference. I can't stand instant potatoes! But often times I find myself longing for that concept of instant potatoes to be applied to my life.

You know, Lord, why can't SoloHope be instantly successful? Why can't it be easy? Why can't it be a risk-free process? Why can't I have a little extra money in the bank so this process doesn't hurt so much?

Anything of great value takes hard work and time and patience and perseverance. It doesn't happen overnight. For all the people we like to call "overnight successes," we weren't there with them as they put their blood, sweat and tears into their businesses and organizations. We didn't see the inner workings of their minds to know how many times they almost quit. We weren't there with them to account for all the time, some of them years, before they became an "overnight success."

It's worth it.

I know that SoloHope is worth every frustration, every tear, every disappointment because I have seen the impact. I remember for what reason I started this journey and I'll keep running hard.

Lives are worth it. 

Hope renewed is worth it. 

Families empowered is worth it.

Women overcoming poverty is worth it.

Dreams resurfacing is worth it.

I'm not gonna quit. Does the thought run through my head at times? Yes. Obviously. But I thank God for the determination He's given me for SoloHope. I thank God for the opportunity to work with such amazing women in Honduras who are inspiring me every day. I thank God for sending people who are giving of their time, resources and talents to make SoloHope a success. I thank God for this idea that grew into a vision and then a reality. I thank God for not sending me out to walk this journey alone but going with me every step of the way. And I'm not gonna lie, I thank God that we will not always be in the same place as we are at this very instant. I thank God that things will keep growing and succeeding beyond my wildest dreams because in fact, they already have.

-Emilee

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to Him be the glory... Ephesians 3:20-21

Looking Up

For the few mornings, I've woken up to be welcomed to another full day in Honduras. Right outside my door is the wall that encloses this beautiful tucked away family owned hotel. It's a beautiful stone wall with lush green foliage growing about its foundation. A burst of color will break forth in the form of a flower on the wall. It's a beautiful wall. But it is a wall nonetheless.

I wonder what it would be like to live within these physical walls all my days and the only hope of another world was to look up. To look up to a sky where birds fly freely and the stars shine brightly and the rain pours refreshingly. 

These last couple days in Honduras, I've thought about walls a bit (as you can tell) because I am learning about walls we sometimes feel trapped by. A couple days ago Ashley and I began meeting with the SoloHope artisans. They knew we were coming to capture their stories on video. We could tell it meant more than either of us could have imagined that someone wanted to know their stories.

Their stories were heartbreaking. Their stories spoke of walls that had held them captive. Walls of broken families. Walls of poverty. Walls of hurts and pains. But in midst of their stories were glimpses of looking up. Looking up to a place of freedom. Of peace and joy. Of hope. They looked up to see more than the walls they had known in their lives. And as they have looked up, the walls have begun to fall, no longer there to hold them prisoner.

One of our artisans shared how at one point she had become so discouraged and disheartened by her hardships that she walked through the doors of a church looking up. Looking for hope. The members prayed for her and told her a big blessing was soon to come into her life but she would have to fight for it, to continue looking up. As she recounted her story, the blessing came, she shared, two years after the church members prayed for her and it was a job with SoloHope. 

Walls of lack and poverty have begun to fall as their eyes have shifted from the walls that encircled them to look up to the skies of freedom and hope. These women inspire me and give me a determination to keep looking up beyond the walls of doubt and fear and failure. Their stories have greatly impacted me. I feel honored to know each of them and to have the opportunity to work with them as they are talented, loving, determined women who show me the power of looking up everyday.

Like & Share

We just reached 600 Likes on Facebook! 

I happen to think that's pretty exciting! More and more people are learning about SoloHope and our story to renew hope in rural Honduras and beyond.

In a little over two weeks, I'm headed back to Honduras and coming along for the journey is photographer, Ashley Stephen. This girl has been a God-sent for SoloHope! You know the gorgeous photos from our Summer 2014 Collection you've been seeing on all our social media channels? She did that! Talk about talent.

And a servant's heart.

 Ashley has blown me away with her willingness to offer her skills and talents to serve SoloHope and the women behind it. In May, we go for many reasons but our focus will be capturing the story of hope we are seeing unfold in rural Honduras through photography and video.

Fabulous photographer, Ashley Stephen, and myself

More people than I can count have told me "You need a video."

I could not agree more!

I want you to meet the women behind SoloHope. I want you to hear their voices. To see their faces. To hear what having a job has meant to each of them and their families. I want you to see the Honduras in which I have fallen in love with your own eyes. We can't load all of our Facebook and Instagram followers onto a plane but we can bring Honduras to you. Through photo. Video. And our beautiful handcrafted products.

We want to continue to tell the SoloHope story to the best of our ability but also have tools available that you can become a part of helping us share that story. A video is a fabulous way to just that! So then soon we'll be celebrating 1000 Likes! And then 2000, then 5000 and then...well, you get the point. :) You are part of this story!

So often I am asked how can I support SoloHope?

Here's some very practical things you can do right now!
1) Visit www.solohope.org and order your favorites!
2) Follow our social media pages! Then SHARE our pages with your friends!
        @solohopeorg on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
3) Tell a friend about SoloHope and our story to renew hope through intentional trade.
4) Pray for our artisans and everyone involved with SoloHope.

This is an exciting time of learning and growing! Thank you for your support and encouragement to follow after the King! It's all for Him. That His HOPE and LOVE may shine and shine bright!

Happy Easter, Friends!

The Canoa Bag

We were all laughing and having a fun time but the bus was soon to leave so we were preparing to say our good-byes and bring an end to our 2013 SoloHope Christmas Party at Dilcia's house. Lots of yummy food had been eaten. Even flan for dessert! Secret friends had been revealed and gifts opened. It had been a fun day and it seemed all but the hugs good-bye had been done.

Until...

Dilcia, our first SoloHope artisan, approached me and handed me a lovely Christmas gift. I stared in absolute shock as I realized what I was holding. It was a beautiful canoe shaped bag (thus the name "canoa" Spanish for canoe) designed by Dilcia herself. Complete with a braided strap and zipper, the bag I was holding was stunning and a true work of art.

I looked up at Dilcia standing there with her mama close by awaiting my reaction. And a reaction I had!

"Que bonito!" // How pretty!

"OMGosh!!!"

"This is amazing!"

"Me gusta mucha!" // I love it so much!

I could tell Dilcia was pleased by my reaction. And looking at her mom, I could tell how proud she was of her daughter. It doesn't matter how old we get, mothers are always proud of their daughters regardless of culture or country.

Right then and there, I knew what our next product would be and it wasn't long before Dilcia was teaching our other SoloHope artisans the design!

The Canoa Bag represents more than a fun and unique bag or a new SoloHope product. It's about hope. Poverty steals. It steals dreams. It steals peace. Joy. Creativity. Hope.

Hope renewed.

It's a process. It doesn't happen overnight. But I'm seeing glimpses. Dilcia designed this bag from her own creative mind. She's dreaming. Thinking outside of the box. And creating a product that has peaked quite the interest. I'm so proud of Dilcia. And Maribel. And Karina. They are beautiful talented young women and I am so honored and thankful that I have the opportunity to work with them!

Quick Facts about the Canoa Bag...

1) "Canoa" is Spanish for canoe.
2) In two days, the ladies can make 3 bags each. That's about 6-7 hours in each bag!
3) Yes, it made of pine straw!
4) The Canoa Bag is featured in 4 colors: Fuschia, Violet, Navy, and Sunflower.
5) This is the first SoloHope product designed totally and completely by one of our artisans.

Order the Canoa Bag at www.solohope.org.

Injustices

I debated long and hard as to where this blog post belonged--on my personal blog (which feel free to check out at emileeconnell.blogspot.com) or here. The content of this blog does not directly describe (though it does to some extent) the conditions and experiences of those working with SoloHope but it does directly describe the reason why I started SoloHope.

For 10+ years now, I have had the opportunity to be a part of missions in Honduras and a couple other places and I have come face-to-face with the ugliness of the broken world that we live in. I see children dressed in dirty rags with bloated tummies from malnutrition. I hear accounts of abuse and rape that leave me heartbroken and angry. I see sickness that I do not understand. These are injustices.

A few days ago, I went with some fellow mission friends to a home in a remote area on Honduras's beautiful mountainside. I've seen some really bad places over the years but this one had to be the worse. The home was more like sticks crisscrossed together to form walls. The dirt floor was scattered with rotting vegetables and dirty rags. On the floor, sat a piece of metal on top of a few blocks with a small fire beneath; this served

as a stove. Black smut caked the walls and ceiling. There in the midst of it all sat a beautiful little girl of 11 years. She sat alone at the time. A neighbor said her father had probably gone to find liquor as he is known for drinking too much and too often. Her mother died a few years before. This little 11-year old is not the only child trying to fend for herself. There are a few older siblings who work outside the home and then two younger children. I have since thought about that home and the little girl over and over again. The sad truth is she is one of many living in such conditions in this world. It is an injustice...

This past week seems to have also been a week for people to share with me deep heart hurts. The stories of abuse that have been entrusted to me make my heart ache and at the same time, infuriate me. In Honduras, who do you tell? Who do you report abuse? Or rape? This is never spoken of. In many ways, abuse is considered normal here. People in positions of authority, respect and yes, even those supposedly representing the Father, have stolen life, innocence and childhoods from their victims yet have received no punishment for their actions. This should never be. A child, a teenager should never be forced into a life of abuse. A child should never be beaten or sexually abused anywhere in the world. Under NO circumstances is this okay...EVER! Allow this to be public service announcement as well: research the organizations to which you give money. Do NOT under any circumstances assume that because someone is doing a "good thing" that they are a good person. I can tell you firsthand that such a belief is a falsehood. Judge the fruit. The horrifying reality is that many have suffered abuse by the hands of those doing a "good thing" and this can only be described as one thing...injustice.

Each day since I've been back in this beautiful country, I have gone to check on a good friend who loves the Lord with all her heart. For the past few weeks, she has laid in bed with sickness. She can barely speak. Each day a fever comes and she is tired. This friend has been like my sister and reminds me so of my mom. She has a heart after her Lord. She has a smile that lights up a room because within her lives the Light of the world. She has faith that moves mountains. And yet she has battled this disease that wishes to take her voice and her life for years now. I don't understand. We have prayed. We have seen her well and then a relapse or flare begins. We read Scripture that says she is healed because of the Son's sacrifice. I don't understand. She loves the Lord. She has served Him faithfully and wants only to be well so she can continue to serve the King and share with the people of the mountains the Good News. But still she is sick. Injustice.

All over this world are injustices. Truthfully it's easy to get overwhelmed and feel that you can do nothing of impact or to try to fix everything at once which is not good course of action. But we can all do something. That's why I started SoloHope. I wanted to do something. I can't do everything but I can do something. I look at the women I am working with and I have seen how much they have overcome themselves. The pains, the hurts, the loss that they experienced and yet they have overcome. I say it all the time but I am truly humbled that God would give me this opportunity. I am honored to have watched an idea in my head develop into a vision for the future and that vision gradually become a reality. It excites me to no end  to see Dilcia, Maribel and Karina begin to catch the vision of SoloHope and begin (on their own) a list of women they hope to see eventually come to work alongside them with SoloHope. I love seeing their eyes sparkle at new possibilities, new hopes, new dreams. I see a joy there that I didn't see before. There is only One who can bring that joy. No, life is not perfect but maybe, just maybe, life doesn't look so scary now.

No, I can't fix all the world's problems but I can't and won't sit back and do nothing. And neither should you. Go to the King. What is He speaking to your heart to do to fight the injustices of this world and to bring joy? It just takes a willing heart.

"He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. 

And what does the LORD require of you? 

To act with justice and to love mercy and 

to walk humbly with your God." 

Micah 6:8

Visit www.solohope.org to learn more about how we are fighting injustice, renewing hope and bringing joy.

Coming Back

I wish I could explain what this place does to and for me. It's like coming home. Everything is so different from my life in the States but oh how I do love this place. Something happens to me the second the airplane lands and I look out the small window to see the tiny adobe buildings scattered about lining the runway and the lush green plants that invade my view. It immediately puts a smile on my face and a calm over my whole being. What most people don't know is that almost every time I get ready to leave for a trip, I don't want to go. People ask am I excited and honestly I don't know how to answer so my response usually ends with not much more than a shrug of my shoulders. But the second I'm here, all that disappears and a peace and calm overcomes me.

That in itself is fairly ironic for this place that feels like home is usually anything but peaceful and calm. Honduras represents such unrest and poverty that peace is rarely a word used to describe this beautiful nation. Poverty tries and has succeeded for many years to wrap chains around the people. Violence has rocked this nation to its core. The evidence of that is in the heavy military presence that once wasn't there. But I suppose it's those things that assure me that I am right where I am supposed to be. I am feel peace, calm and safe knowing I am right in the middle of God's will for my life.

My arrival yesterday was non-eventful (except for that one flight attendant thinking that bump was something breaking off the plane mid-air but it wasn't). When I got off the plane and walked onto Honduran soil, everything began to click over to my Honduras life. Yes, one of my first thoughts was "Don't flush the toilet paper." followed closely by "Don't get in hurry." That pretty much summarizes life in Honduras. Okay, maybe not quite but close. I got through customs, found my bags, switched phone chips, bought a baleada for lunch and then went to find a taxi, which wasn't hard to do. I felt truly accomplished when I was able to tell him where I needed to go in Spanish and then haggle down the price for the taxi ride because I already knew the going rate.

When I arrived at the bus terminal, I found my bus fairly quickly and was able to shoot a text to my mom to let her know I was here, something I was afraid I wouldn't be able to do. In an effort to interrupt communication between gangsters/drug lords in prison with those on the outside, the Honduran government has basically cut cell service. Most Hondurans have been without cell service for 15 days but somehow smartphones still seem to be working (thank God for my iPhone!).

Riding the bus is always a fun experience. I don't think you've truly seen Honduras until you've seen it from a bus (and the back of a truck). I sat by the window and let the wind tangle my hair. I took in the sounds, the smells (the smell of sugar cane was the best) and the sights. Every time I see these beautiful mountains, I am overcome by the fact that I serve the God who created them. There is one scene of this valley in the midst of all the mountains and the rays of sun seem to highlight it perfectly, I can't help but wonder what the people who had the privilege of being the first to see it must have thought. I am certain they stood before it staring at the majesty of it all and said to themselves or aloud "This is where God must live." It is that beautiful and there's no picture I could take to show you that; you'll just have to set eyes on it yourself.

I arrived in La Esperanza right before the sun was beginning to set. I caught a taxi to the hotel I'll be staying at this month. It's in front of my good friend, Margot's house and the owners are so very sweet. I unpacked my things and organized a bit and truly I love my little room--nothing fancy but simplicity is so....simple and refreshing.

Today I've visited with friends, bought a few things to make sandwiches and have so enjoyed walking in this beautiful sunshine! Tomorrow the SoloHope work (or fun) begins and I am confident that God will again as He always does bless this time and use it to draw me closer to Him as well as those who work with SoloHope. Pray for us. We have lots to do and now I can truly say I'm excited about this month. Pray that we don't lose focus but keep our eyes on Him and remember to see the beauty and peace of His presence all around us.

I lift up my eyes unto the hills--

where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord,

the Maker of heave and earth.

Psalm 121:1-2

1 Year!!!

It's December 1st and not only is just hard to believe it's this time of year again but it's even harder to believe that today SoloHope celebrates 1 Year in business! 1 Year of adventure! 1 Year of learning and growing! 1 Year of hope! 1 Year of many years' dreams becoming reality!

A year ago, I was speaking at a youth event in Cairo, GA sharing my heart for missions and also announcing the launch of this new business that was about so much more than business--it's about hope! It was amazing to see the beginnings of this dream becoming reality. The next day, I put on my Verizon uniform and went back to work at my full-time job and even I didn't know what the future held for that upcoming year.

I didn't know that a year later, I would be sitting in Honduras writing this blog having quit a secure full-time job with the best co-workers four months earlier to take the biggest risk of my life. I didn't know that I would at times feel like I had no idea what I was doing. I didn't know that I would have this amazing team of people come on board to help grow the vision and mission of SoloHope. I didn't know how much work creating a new product would take or how much I would love the process. And more than anything I truly had no idea how much SoloHope would impact the lives of the women who make the products--Dilcia, Maribel and Karina. I didn't know the impact it would have on their families. I mean, that was and is the whole point but I just didn't have a clue.

Our new products!

This God-adventure has been more than I could have ever imagined but isn't that what was promised.

          "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according
           to his power that is at work within us..."   ~Ephesians 3:20~

This year has been that more than I could have thought to ask or imagine. I think about the beautiful blessings that have come from this year.

Maribel being able to continue her son, Fernando's education
Dilcia and Maribel installing hornilla (form of wooden stove) in their homes
Adding a third SoloHope lady, Karina
Being able to share the vision of SoloHope with multiple churches, groups, chance meetings
Launching a website (twice)
Creating two new products this year 
Dilcia (and her mother) getting to Skype with her sister who she had not seen in a year
Backyard Bible study in Dilcia's backyard for the kids in the community
Lela, who manages SoloHope Stateside, visiting and getting to know the ladies behind SoloHope
Hope being renewed!

The list could go on and on and I'll probably post this blog and think why didn't I mention this, why didn't I mention that. I can't mention everything. I don't even know if I know how to communicate it. But know, please know that this year has been special. We have loooonnnnng way to go and sooooooooo much to learn but I trust that I serve a God who can totally handle it. May this God-adventure continue and I am so excited and curious to see what the 2nd year for SoloHope will hold!

Remember to pray for us. Also go check out our beautiful website www.solohope.org! We have some amazing sales going on this weekend. Perfect time to do some impactful Christmas shopping (I think I just made up a word--impactful?) It's all about renewing hope.

Blessings from all of us at SoloHope! Thank you for making our first year AMAZING!