A few weeks ago, I was blessed with the opportunity to become part of the Fair Trade Friday blogging team. I was so excited, as the ministry, which provides women across the globe employment and empowerment, is such an inspiration to me.
Fair Trade Friday is a ministry of Mercy House, a home started by Kristen Welch to help pregnant teens and their babies receive medical care, education, life skills training…an all around nurturing environment where the young mothers can heal and learn to become mothers and empowered women who can support their family. The work there and the lives impacted can only be explained by the grace and power of God. I am inspired by how one person’s ‘yes’ can make such a huge kingdom impact.
It truly boggles my mind (ok, sometimes this isn’t hard to do, I admit;) that an ministry not quite a year old, employs over 1,000 women in 18 countries in making beautiful goods that are packaged into a Fair Trade Friday box and purchased by women here in the USA for $31.99 a month.
Many Americans spend more than that on coffee in a month!
Imagine my excitement to find out that as a member of the blogging team, I was shipped a personal Fair Trade Friday box! Yeah! I love fun mail!!!! So when this
showed up in our mailbox, it was like Christmas for me!
The picture above is my ‘artsy’ version of a picture of all of them items that were included. The purse from JOYN in India has become my summer purse. I love it!!! I also received a paper bead bracelet (so my Mother in Law…but don’t tell her! I’m saving it for Christmas! 😉 organic soap, a lip balm and a Mercy House prayer bracelet.
Not only does Fair Trade Friday offer ‘boxes’, but they also have the Earring of the Month club for only $11.99 a month.
This year for Christmas, I bought 2 ‘one time’ boxes and gave all of the contents to women in my life as Christmas gifts. It was a delight to give these gifts and explain that I was, in essence, giving 2 gifts, one to the recipient and one to the artisan. To know that I was blessing another family with my gift-giving made me even more joyful to give! And since each item comes with a gift tag, it makes them easy to share.
And today….I just received word that I was able to move off the waiting list and onto the mailing for the club! I can’t wait to received my ‘box’ the first Friday of August! I know that there might be items each month that aren’t my taste, don’t suit my lifestyle, or are just truly ‘so _______’….those I will give as gifts. After all, re-gifting items from Fair Trade Friday will be a triple blessing! The artisan, me and the gift recipient! And this ‘triple-boy-blessed-mama‘ LOVES triple blessings!!!!
Will you prayerfully consider joining Fair Trade Friday?
