When She Speaks, Chains Break

Sometimes God asks us to carry something that feels bigger than us. A story we didn’t create. A mission we didn’t plan. A calling we could never accomplish in our own strength. And in those moments, we have a choice: trust what we can see, or trust the God who sees it all.

Who am I to deny what the Lord can do?

He is more than able.

Last week, I packed up our jewelry and headed to our very first conference, She Speaks, hosted by Proverbs 31 Ministries. As I loaded everything up, I felt every emotion possible. Excitement. Gratitude. And honestly, a whole lot of nerves.

I was nervous the entire drive there.

We had poured so much into this moment. So much prayer. So much time. So much love. And these women were counting on us. I wanted to represent them well. I didn’t want to let them down. As I drove, I listened to worship the entire way, reminding myself of the truth I already knew: this was never about us. It was always about Him.

When we arrived, our booth came together beautifully. Seeing everything set up for the first time was a moment I will never forget. But nothing prepared me for what happened during the very first worship session.

I walked into the conference room and heard the song I had taught the children in Kijabe during our time there.

Tears filled my eyes.

God is intentional.

He was reminding me that every detail matters. Every step. Every connection. Every story.

Over the next three days, my life was changed. Honestly, I don’t even have the words to fully describe what happened.

I have never been surrounded by so many women who were so genuinely passionate about advancing the Gospel and encouraging other women. There was something so special about being surrounded by hundreds of women who came with open hearts, ready to listen, learn, and remind each other that we were never meant to do this alone.

Our booth was filled again and again.

Women stopped to hear our story. They listened as we shared about the women we serve in Kenya. They didn’t just see bracelets. They saw people. They saw stories. They saw an opportunity to come alongside women they may never meet this side of heaven.

Women purchased bracelets, sacrificed, prayed, and took our Maker Cards to add to their prayer walls. They wanted to remember the women behind each piece and continue praying for their stories.

One moment I will never forget was when Cindy Bultema stopped by our booth. After talking with her for a while, I realized she was one of the speakers on the main stage and an author. She allowed me to style her with our pieces for her time speaking at the conference.

I stood there in tears watching our jewelry on that stage.

Throughout the entire conference, I kept looking around and seeing our pieces everywhere.

And for the first time, I wasn’t seeing them on our “obligated buyers” like my mom, my sister, and our family. I was seeing women we had never met choose to carry these stories with them. Women who didn’t know us personally, but who cared deeply about the women behind each bracelet.

Two women came up to our booth and said, “We have to tell you something. We got in the car last night and wept.”

They told us they wept because they couldn’t stop thinking about the women behind the bracelets. They were overwhelmed by the reminder that these are not just beads. These are not just products. These are women. These are stories. These are lives.

There is something so beautiful about serving five. Because those five women each have a name, a story, and a life that matters.

Their stories deserve to be known. Their work deserves to be honored. Their lives deserve to be celebrated.

I will never forget that.

God does not measure impact the way the world does. He sees the one. He sees the five. He sees every woman, every story, and every life that we have the honor of stewarding.

Radiant Hope was never meant to just be about bracelets.

It is about reminding women that they are seen. That they are valued. That their stories matter.

God uses our hands to hug, our tears to show compassion, and our hearts to steward the stories He has entrusted to us.

These bracelets are gifts from God. These stories belong to Him.

And what an honor it is to carry them.