still
growing FAIR TRADE FRIDAY
a fair trade subscription clu
2022TRADE VISIONFRIDAY OF FAIR Our goal is to take you on a deeper fair trade journey by featuring a different room in the home every month. The room will be highlighted in your Fair Trade Friday box with items appropriate for that room in your house and will also include thematic unity, scripture, and intentional living inspiration with an overall goal of building deeper handmade collections within your home.
STILL GROWING "The trees, the flowers, the plants grow in silence. The stars, the sun, the moon move in silence. Silence gives us a new perspective.” —Mother Teresa Have you ever tried to watch a garden grow? No matter how hard or how long you stare at a seedling, it’s nearly impossible to detect measurable movement in one sitting. After all, the average plant growth is approximately one inch in a week. Growth is noticeable when we don’t notice. How many times have we returned to seeds we planted and been surprised at the sprouts? Growth happens in silence. Just as gardens need sun and water to grow, our souls need space and stillness for the Son to speak. Some things can only happen in the quiet. "We can only appreciate the miracle of a sunrise, if we have waited in the darkness,” wrote Sapna Reddy. Silence brings a new perspective: it gives us a chance to do the listening and waiting that help us grow. Stillness is not always valued in our busy, constantly-going culture. It takes intention and practice. Four steps to practice stillness today: 1. Find a sunny spot in your sunroom or patio. 2. Light your garden mint candle. 3. Read Lamentations 3:25-26; Psalm 27:14; Psalm 62:5-6. 3. Listen for the tintinnabulation of your wind chimes.
still
growing Engraved Wooden Sign
$22
MADE BY UNDER OVER FELLOWSHIP IN USA
String of Bells
$18
MADE BY RAHAB'S ROPE IN INDIA
Garden Mint Candle
$14
MADE BY REFUGEES LIVING IN USA
Engraved Wooden Sign MADE BY UNDER OVER FELLOWSHIP IN USA As we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18 This versatile piece—created by Under Over Fellowship, a homeless ministry in Texas— references the Mercy House Global scripture for 2022. Hang your art on a wall with removable picture hanging strips or lean it on a ledge so you can remember to look to the eternal things that are unseen.
Under Over Fellowship Under Over Fellowship is a church located in Conroe, Texas. The organization ministers to the homeless and marginalized in the community. Under Over Fellowship works to give its participants an opportunity to focus on their relationship with Jesus, to recover from addiction and mental health issues, and to have a chance to start over. Men are given career training and opportunities and taught about the gospel. The funds raised through the woodshop provide income, medical and dental care, and numerous projects around the church. It also offers chances to teach valuable work ethic and train men to use their hands and their tools for Jesus. They are so thankful for each home that has their products and for the many hands and hearts that support them as they reach the community with the gospel.
Casey
After a career in the Navy, one of Under Over’s program members named Casey battled drug addiction for the better part of a decade. His craving for a better life for himself and his family led to this ministry where he immediately joined the woodworking team. True to someone who has experienced the military, Casey enjoys the structure the workshop provides as well as working with a team towards a specific goal to create lasting things.
String of Bells MADE BY RAHAB'S ROPE IN INDIA These iron and brass bells hang gracefully on jute cording and give voice to the centuries-old tradition of crafting bells for livestock. With their rustic appeal and delightful sound, cowbells have gained popularity outside of their intended use. These bells have been made by this artisan group for three generations, and they are great for garden decoration or any outside or indoor home décor.
Shusheela
Susheela was married with three children when her husband was killed in an auto accident. Many widows in India are shunned and stripped of the life they lived when they were married. Susheela could not get a job and had to take her children out of school. She had reached a point where she couldn’t even buy food for her family. Rahab’s Rope heard her story and was able to get her employment. Susheela was able to return her children to school and provide for them.
Rahab's Rope
For its bells and chimes, Rahab’s Rope works with Creative International, a family-owned business now operated by the third generation. The factory employs more than 80 artisans. Through the sale of each wind chime and bell, Rahab’s Rope and Creative International can provide a safe, loving environment for artisans and their families to live and work. The sales support Rahab’s Rope with funding for the prevention, direct intervention, and after-care of women and children at-risk or rescued from sex-trafficking. This Fair Trade Friday order of bells provided two months of work to 12 artisans. Sustainable development is at the heart of everything Creative International does. Children of employed parents are more likely to stay in school, in turn leading to better employability for them in the future. Your purchase will help them to break the cycle of poverty and add value to their lives. These artisans have braved adverse conditions, yet create these beautiful bells. The women making the bells have been ostracized from the community for various reasons. Some have been widowed and others come from the devadasi system. In India, a devadasi is a female who was dedicated to worship and serve a deity or a temple for the rest of her life. Today it is nothing more than prostitution. The women are ostracized from all other communities and when they try to leave many will end up in red-light areas. This group's family artisans have brought many of these women to their factory and taught them the skill of bell making and painting. They now have a dignified source of income to support themselves.
Garden Mint Candle MADE BY REFUGEES IN USA This refugee-made candle captures the fragrance of a fresh springtime herbal garden. The wax is 100% soy and scented with crisp notes of mint that lead into an herbal, woodsy scent. This candle—infused with natural essential oils, including eucalyptus, cornmint and armoise oil—is perfect for this season of growth.
Ebtesam
Ebtesam is a mother of seven who moved to the United States from Syria in December 2015. She says that she had a beautiful life in Syria before the war forced their family to flee. It’s important to Ebtesam to raise her kids to be good students and good people. She is not only a hard worker, but a fast one. Ebtesam takes pride in what she makes for Mercy House Global. She is eager to learn new skills as we expand our refugee line of products.
Gift tag stickers Made in the usa
Our Fair Trade Friday boxes now include gift tag stickers for you to use when you share your #happymail.
Ways to share the gift of fair trade 1. Start a gift basket. In a closet, store items you receive but won't use yourself. Place them in your gift basket to share with someone on their special occasion—holiday, birthday, anniversary, etc. 2. Bless a teacher, neighbor, or co-worker. 3. Give generously to someone in need.
FAIR TRADE FRIDAY
a fair trade subscription clu WHAT IS FAIR TRADE? Fairly-traded products are made by artisans who work in safe conditions, are paid a fair wage, and work fair hours. No child gave up his education to produce your new favorite item; no mom was laboring in a sweatshop for 80 hours a week. We ensure that all of our Fair Trade Friday club items are fairly traded. HOW IS FTF DIFFERENT THAN OTHER SUBSCRIPTION CLUBS? We are not a for–profit company, or even a profit-for-good company — Fair Trade Friday is operated by Mercy House Global, a nonprofit. All profits from FTF directly support our maternal rescue center, Rehema House, in Kenya. You can learn more at mercyhouseglobal.org. FTF PARTNERS WITH FAITH-BASED ARTISAN GROUPS ACROSS THE GLOBE. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? While we are a faith-based ministry and partner with other faith-based ministries, religion is not forced upon artisans, nor is it a requirement for employment. Many women & their families have different religions than us, and that is okay. Our belief in Christ calls us to love, serve, and help others, regardless of their personal belief systems. WE HAVE AN APP! Use the code WELCOME20 for 20% off your first in-app purchase! #fairtradefridaybox Android
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