The Season of Preparing

Good Sunday morning Joy-Creators and Joy-Partners!  If you've been praying with us for a while now, you know we have some ongoing requests, and one of them is still to create our first job in our 30 by 2030 campaign. Currently 7 women work for Alegria in Honduras, 6 artisans and 1 admin. The need is great for more jobs. And those jobs are created by sales - to our Joy-Creators (customers) and our Joy-Partner stores.

If you know me, I'm not the greatest at waiting, patience is not something I am good at or that I pray for. But the God we serve is, and He will patiently prepare us for what we need in the next season. I know and believe that growth in Honduras is coming, and it's coming soon because He sees His daughters there and He knows the need for safe, living wage jobs. It's why He planted Alegria in our hearts. We're working on systems in the US and in Honduras, because scaling to larger production is needed for larger sales, and we have to up our game in other areas too, like packaging and shipping. So even when we're waiting for that next step and more growth, we are working.

Thinking back, isn't it already amazing that God has provided through your shopping a steady salary for 7 women for so long?! 5 1/2 years! (That's a lot of jewelry!! 48,301 pieces to be exact!) And it sells 1 or 2 or 20 pieces at a time to customers and stores. You're keeping me very busy showing you jewelry, sending emails, visiting stores, and posting on social, as well as setting up at markets, like my last day at Frog Follies today.

Today, would you pray about making a purchase? In the season of preparing, we need sustainers. Christmas shopping will be picking up soon, and our Joy Box Subscribers will be receiving their new September box in a few days. We have a packed September...but August has been quiet, and we need a little boost of our online shoppers to finish this month well.  Alegria's artisans have created a stunning fall collection and you would look amazing in a new set! Or maybe someone you know needs a little pick-me-up with a new pair of earrings or a necklace or bracelet. And even thought the purchase will be a blessing to you or your gift recipient, the blessing it is to the hands that made it cannot be overlooked - you are investing in a woman's career in a country where the barriers to a living wage job were impossible to overcome without Alegria. Yes, you can order on Amazon and it will be cheaper...but who made it? Did they earn a living wage? Is a big corporation taking your money and exploiting the maker? You know exactly who made your Alegria pieces, they are the models on all of our social posts and online. And I assure you on payday, their salary will take care of their needs and give them enough for also having dreams and goals for maybe owning a car, or a house. 

Pray for us in this season of preparing. And also pray about financially supporting this mission today with a purchase.