Streams in the Desert JEWELRY

2012-02-01T19:04:00.001-08:00

Check out our catalog!Streams in the Desert Catalog for Customer U.S. Catalog PDF

Small Stuff

2012-01-22T03:15:00.000-08:00

She's working hard & eager to complete her very 1st pair of mittens.

She's almost done and a camera is ready to catch the moment.
Finished, with one minor flaw:

2 right handed mittens.
We enjoyed her laughter as she realized the mistake.
At Streams we try to celebrate the small stuff.

A sample of the work we do!

2012-01-15T19:04:00.000-08:00

Peacock Earrings
JW.STR.017

Re-purposed Mittens
Each Pair Unique
HK.STR.040

Make sure to check out our products page to see more!

Whip Braid Leather Bracelet with Button Closure
JW.STR

Folding Wallet
LT.STR.021

2011-12-27T20:15:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year 2011pdf

2011-11-14T00:12:00.001-08:00

We made

over a million togrogs

at the sale last Saturday.

Woohoo!! and

a Double Woot.

(that's almost $1,000)

It was a Bazaar Day!

2011-11-12T01:43:00.001-08:00

We're all in the Christmas spirit now, after spending the day selling our jewelry, mittens, and leather goods at the U.S. Embassy Christmas Bazaar. It's always fun to dress up a little, set a pretty table and watch people enjoy our stuff. The whole "I made that, and you want to buy it" phenomena is very therapeutic.

One More Precious Jewel

2011-09-24T02:38:00.000-07:00

It's all about numbers isn't it: expenses, supplies, products, prices, and profits? Or is it all about people: change, character, growth, relationships, love? With both ministry and business in the same pot; sometimes priorities get confused. Orders need to be made, packaged, and shipped. Hours need to be clocked, salaries paid, receipts written, and invoices e-mailed.

I say it all the time, when groups come through to visit. Yes, we make jewelry, but the real work happens as we sit elbow to elbow at a table all day sharing about our lives. Crises seem to come weekly to someone in our circle. How to deal with them? How can we support one another? How to hold each other accountable, pray for and encourage one another? These things get worked out little by little as we sit together assembling gems and wire.
If you put a collection of beads in a pile, a variety of shapes, sizes and colors, you'll likely end up with an ugly menagerie. But single out just one and place it under light on a piece of velvet and suddenly you'll discover you have something special.

The sex industry is ugly, everything about it. It dehumanizes. It degrades. It wounds and abuses. women of worth become objects for momentary satisfaction. But single out one woman, walk alongside her, get to know her, value her and she becomes something special. She's not just an item to throw on a bed. She is a treasure.
Our business is important. We want it to succeed in order to provide jobs for these women. But the highest priority will always be discovering, polishing, and gazing at the women who have come to work among us. Excel spreadsheets will be filled out and taxes will be paid. But may I never forget: it's about that one precious jewel. It's about persevering with her through ups and downs as she learns who she can become. It's about watching her glitter and shine as she discovers the uniquely created being she was meant to be. It's about her.

"The Better to See You with My Dear"

2011-08-22T01:57:00.000-07:00

Today, our ladies received donated reading glasses. In the States, these half lenses have a reputation of being worn only by 'old people'. Don't think I know a 20 (or even 40?)y.o. American who will wear them. But our ladies do fine work on tiny things. With them on, everyone could see better. Even Boss John said he'd like a pair. Thanks for a wonderfully practical gift Baker Team!!

Happy Children's Day

2011-05-30T06:19:00.000-07:00

Mongolia celebrates its children on June 1. Streams celebrated today with a party. We sang 'This Little Light of Mine" in both Mongolian and English, played Red Rover, and ate 'hot dogs' made with mayonnaise, bologna, cucumber & tomato, danced and gave gifts to the kiddos.

Feeling Beautiful

2011-05-27T22:05:00.000-07:00

A couple of visitors came to spend a week with us using their talents to take photos for a potential video and catalog. The highlight for everyone was an hour long photo session where all the ladies wore Streams jewelry and posed for their own photo sessions. Everyone laughed and giggled the hour away with a mixture of shyness, embarrassment and utter delight. As Brian put away his camera, he said "Now they all feel beautiful." His statement was right on and made us think we should duplicate the experience regularly to remind our women that they are indeed beautiful, inside and out.

Streams Staff

2011-05-05T04:45:00.000-07:00

Our Streams staff on retreat, May 4 & 5, 2011.

Notice the SNOW. This picture was taken as soon as we arrived. By the time we left, there was 6-8". So deep our car got stuck in the driveway. We wouldn't have been too disappointed to have to stay longer. It is somewhat unusual to get so much this late in the year, just outside UB.

Buy On-line!

2011-05-02T01:28:00.000-07:00

Some Streams Jewelry is now available for purchase at Eternal Threads' website.
Click on the link.
Go to 'Shop'
Then 'Jewelry'
On the sidebar on the left of the page, choose 'Mongolia' from the list of countries.
Ta daa . . . there you will see 6 of our designs.
We are all very excited to see our stuff on the shiny computer screen.
We hope you will be too.
Check it out at:
www.eternalthreads.com

Heavy Day at the Shelter

2011-04-22T01:55:00.000-07:00

One of our live-in ladies likely has decided to go back to her old life rather than continue with us. She is in love with one of her customers and just cannot pull herself away. Love, what is love? It makes one feel needed, wanted, precious, important, desired. Adding mystery, clandestine meetings in the dark, commanding phone calls and a bit of naughtiness seem to make false love all the more attractive.

But true and healthy love is about trust, giving, light, support, encouragment; it is about the other rather than about oneself. If someone has never experienced such love, how can they even know to pursue or wait or expect it?

And what is the balance between grace and discipline? Where do we draw the line on someone else’s behavior? When they themselves are being harmed? When others are being hurt or led astray? When they are under our roof or authority?

Choices. If only the experience of one could teach another. Age does seem to carry at least a small amount of wisdom if only from one’s collection of failures. It is painful to watch another fail, especially to see them take the first step onto the driveway toward that end. But step they must and watch we may. Letting go, knowing full well that they may not return to your arms is a necessary risk.

Hubbub

2011-02-28T08:07:00.000-08:00

Last fall, Liz and John (Streams director) agreed we could hire 2 ladies to work making jewelry. This past week, we have regularly had 11 women spending most of every day at the shelter. 4 have worked on jewelry, 2 on beaded embroidery, 3 learning to sew, and another practicing her new cooking skills. Its been a busy place with every corner of the 4 bedroom apartment full of people. The office is always a beehive of conversation & decision. The bathroom often has someone in it washing their hair or clothes by hand. A teacher keeps the living room occupied with adult students eager to learn to read and write Mongolian. Lots of activity, too little space, lots of ladies coming - we're not complaining. Great things are happening.

Welcome.

2011-01-24T00:01:00.000-08:00

Thanks for visiting our new blog.
We live in Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia.
We are called Streams in the Desert.
We work together seeking to better our lives.
Some of us used to be prostitutes and have left that life behind.
Others of us are still stuck but want to figure a way out, we come & go.
We all need money, some of us make money by making jewelry.
And our jewelry is what this blog is all about.
Our stuff is not for sale on the web YET.
If you're interested in buying some, selling some, or supporting us,
you can contact us at:
LizardGym@gmail.com or
MongolJK@gmail.com

Coming Soon. Thank you for your patience!

2010-12-28T05:11:00.001-08:00