joy
ABIDE
This year, Mercy House Global joyfully embraces the theme Abide with a focus on the fruits of the spirit. Through your monthly subscription to MHG Clubs, you are not only contributing to the creation of meaningful jobs for artisans around the world but also cultivating a bountiful harvest symbolized by the growing array of fruits in our illustration above. Together, we are sowing seeds of positive change and reaping the sweet fruits of empowerment for global communities.
“Joy is the serious business of heaven.” —C.S. Lewis joy
It is the middle of the Lenten season, a time set aside for Christians to remember Jesus’ journey to the cross, culminating with His resurrection on Easter Sunday.
Hardly a season for joy, right? What with our self-denial, penance, and love-hate relationship with fasting to help us remember.
Sometimes it’s hard to be joyful when the shadow of our collective grief of living in this world touches everything.
But joy isn’t an emotion any more than self-control or patience is. It is a character trait of Jesus, and it grows and develops in us as we abide in Christ. The Bible calls it fruit. John 15:5 reads, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” Galatians 5 tells us exactly what the fruits of the spirit are: “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”
Tish Harrison Warren says, “Joy is not ‘toxic positivity.’ It does not insist that we pretend things are better than they are. It does not refuse to face grief or sorrow. But it does say that they are not all there is and that they are not all that needs to be faced.”
We choose joy—not because we feel it—but because we know Easter is coming. The resurrection of Jesus brings hope that God will raise us from the ashes too.
natural shampoo bar $14
MADE BY SACHA DEL IN THAILAND
wooden soap saver $12
MADE BY NOAH'S ARK IN INDIA
organic cotton shower pouf $12
MADE BY KALKEDON IN TURKEY
turkish hand towel $10
MADE BY KALKEDON IN TURKEY
kitenge ribbon $4
MADE BY STREET HOPE IN KENYA
joy
NATURAL SHAMPOO BAR
MADE BY SACHA DEL IN THAILANDThis 100% vegan shampoo bar is your ticket to soft, shiny locks without any harsh chemicals. The refreshing scent of orange comes from pure essential oils. From root to tip, it nourishes your hair with a pH-balanced formula, promoting growth and strength. Plus, it's a hydration powerhouse, leaving your hair smooth, shiny, and full of bounce.
The appearance of the shampoo bars may vary slightly due to the fact that they are hand-molded and crafted individually. Your shampoo bar has a shelf life of one year.
sacha del
Sacha Del is a soap business in Thailand specializing in handmolded, hot-pressed soaps. Their range of soap offerings ensures both safety and efficacy for both body and hair care. Sacha Del takes pride in being one of the pioneers of bar shampoos. The company plans to extend their line of face and hair products, as well as adding eco-friendly home cleaning products. All their products are 100% biodegradable and contain no chemicals, silicone, parabens, or sulfates— in addition to being animal cruelty-free. Sacha Del actively contributes to society by creating employment opportunities for marginalized individuals, striving to foster dignified jobs and a more inclusive workforce.
WOODEN SOAP SAVER
MADE BY NOAH’S ARK IN INDIA
Noah’s Ark expertly handcrafted your wooden soap saver to complement your natural shampoo bar. Extend the life of your bars and soaps with style by ensuring proper drying between uses.
noah s ark '
Noah’s Ark was established in 1986 with the sole objective of artisans' welfare and education in Moradabad, India. The group supports artisans through fair trade practices and provides training in the production of quality products for overseas markets. Noah’s Ark uplifts the downtrodden of society, using their profits to invest back into their community with many social projects related to education, health, water, and sanitation.
This order of wooden soap savers for MHG Clubs provided two months of work to 30 artisans. They were able to earn money for their families and to save for the upcoming festivals.
ORGANIC COTTON SHOWER POUF
MADE BY KALKEDON IN TURKEY
In a small village in Western Turkey, the talented women of Kalkedon handmade your luxurious shower pouf using 100% organic Turkish cotton. It takes two to three hours for one woman to hand knit each shower pouf from scratch. This order for MHG Clubs provided three months of work for four artisans.
Your pouf may start with a gentle lather, but after a few uses, it will create a lovely foam with your favorite soaps. Machine washable and designed to last, your pouf is a sustainable addition to your shower routine. For best results, hang to dry.
TURKISH HAND TOWEL
MADE BY KALKEDON IN TURKEY
This Turkish cotton hand towel is hand-woven with luxuriously soft, naturally dyed 100% cotton. It can perform tasks from the kitchen to the bathroom because it’s absorbent and quickdrying.
Before first use, soak your Turkish towel overnight in cold water. This will help with its absorbency and softness. After soaking, wring out and hang to dry. After that, you can use it regularly. Machine wash on cold and tumble dry on low.
kalkedon
Kalkedon Towels launched their business to honor traditions and culture. Turkish cotton towels are unique, traditional pieces. Sharing this part of the ancient Aegean culture is the main reason Kalkedon Towels began. Their towels come from a little town in the Western part of Turkey. Kakedon Towels believes that the artisans they work with are valuable and that people should care about each other. Their towels are weaved with Turkish cotton ring-spun yarns on traditional jacquard looms and dyed with organic and traditional dyeing techniques.
Although the GDP per capita is not so low in Turkey, unemployment is high and the income level is low in the villages where Kalkedon’s artisans live. The orders for MHG Clubs create opportunities and affect the women’s lives significantly.
The women of Street Hope in Kenya handmade your ribbon from kitenge, a vibrantly colored cotton fabric commonly used to make clothing and accesories in Africa. With their jobs in Street Hope, the women have worked their way off the streets of Mathare Slum in Nairobi.
WHAT DO WE MEAN BY ETHICAL?
Ethically traded products are crafted by artisans who work in safe conditions, receive a fair wage, and maintain reasonable working hours. No child sacrificed their education to create your new favorite item, and no parent toiled in a sweatshop for 80 hours a week. We ensure that all of our MHG Clubs items are ethically sourced.
HOW ARE MHG CLUBS DIFFERENT THAN OTHER SUBSCRIPTION CLUBS?
MHG Clubs are operated by Mercy House Global, a 501(c)3 charitable organization. All proceeds from MHG Clubs empower vulnerable families in Jesus’ name with opportunities that provide hope.
MHG CLUBS PARTNER WITH FAITH-BASED ARTISAN GROUPS ACROSS THE GLOBE. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
While we are a faith-based ministry and collaborate with other faith-based ministries, religion is not imposed on artisans, nor is it a prerequisite for employment. Many women and their families practice different religions than we do, and that is okay. Our belief in Christ compels us to love, serve, and assist others, irrespective of their personal belief systems.
