Alegria Accessories Prayer Partners

Good morning dear sweet Joy Creators! I'm going to share a little personal update for May before I begin with our prayer request. First, my friend and Joy-Partner Vicki Bohleber finished her new store and moved in (with a ton of extra hands and help) in about 48 hours to open in her new location for the Downtown Sidewalk Sale the 2nd Saturday in May. Well I was a pair of those hands and not only got our fantastic new Alegria space set up in the store, but also helped her merchandise the boutique. That's what friends do. And opening day was fantastic for Posh and for Alegria in the store. But it took me off going live and working on social media to promote our May for A. Second May occurrence, my husband had surgery on May 20th and the surgery went great with no complications. However, his recovery included a complication that kept him in the hospital for 8 days post-op instead of the expected 2-5. Between preparing for surgery, staying with him every moment I could (2 nights in the recliner next to his bedside) and now caring for him at home and being his 'lifter' and uber driver, it's a lot of time I wasn't on social media and promoting our May for A campaign. So here's what I'm giving to myself as the boss - grace. And what I'm praying for today is a June for "A".  30 by 2030 means we want to be at 9 full time artisans by the end of 2026. We are praying to change the lives of 3 more women in the next 7 months. By keeping our operations lean and evaluating every advertising dollar to make sure it's working to create more sales, we will continue moving forward. Even with some extreme distractions, we still had a strong May. It just wasn't a month with extra to save a new salary.  But June can be that month!  Would you please pray for a fantastic last day of May today? Pray as we pop our June Joy Box that we keep all of our current subscribers and gain some new ones (it's a gorgeous set!) And pray that our June advertising yields incredible online sales and wholesale ordering. We will get there Joy-Creators! God has his hand all over Alegria and I trust His timing. We'll keep praying together because it does all depend on Him, but we'll also keep working because God loves, honors (and expects) our work!

I have far too many times seen something happen right on time, and in abundance. I know that God knows "A"s name, and her struggles and circumstances. She is His child and He is caring for her even in this waiting time. Now it is on the Joy-Partners and Joy-Creators to listen, don't turn a blind eye, and act. Orders = salaries.  And today, we have 541 pieces that have gone out in orders for May.  I look at what remains: 1,376 pieces, and I cannot write that check. But here's what I do know, we have 2,800 Facebook followers, over 200 stores that have purchased from us before, nearly 1,000 people in our Joy-Creator group, 700 followers on Instagram, and a growing number on TikTok. Let's just take the followers on Facebook - if half of them bought 1 piece today, we're done!  God has 8 days and he created a universe in just 6, so a job in 8 days is nothing for Him! So here is what I'm going to ask of you today: Please pray that our email, our posts and our ads get seen over and over this weekend. Pray that Joy-Partner stores and Joy-Creator customers will find gifts and accessories to purchase and they will not just add to cart and fall short, but complete their checkout. I'm asking you to purchase at least 1 piece today. If you shop the Memorial day sale, you can save up to 25% off. Or if you shop our other collections, you can pick free past joy box pieces with your order. Today is a day to pick out new accessories, or purchase a gift. Would you please go to your Joy-Points (pink button on the bottom of your screen on our website) and copy your referral coupon for $5 off, and then send it in a message to at least 7 friends? You can post it on your social media also, but those messages are more personal. And lastly, could you go to our social media and interact with 3 different posts. A like is good, a comment is better, and a share is the best! When you do some or all of these things today, you are getting to be a part of a miracle! God is good, and God is faithful! And I believe His children are listening to his voice today and will act to make this job a reality!

It's a calm and warm Sunday morning, with a steaming cup of coffee and my computer. The 'guys' (Randy and Detoo) in the house are still asleep, I've had time with my Bible and the Lord, and some fun texting with one of my daughters. Sundays are my favorite! In a little while we'll get ready and go fellowship with our church family, worship and be taught from the Word. Do you know church is usually attended on Saturday night in Honduras? Maybe because it would be much cooler, but also because the usual work week in Honduras is 6 days. So Sunday is the only day to rest. (our artisans very rarely work on a Saturday, and usually only so they can have extra week days off during school holidays - another perk of working at Alegria!) Yesterday, Alegria was blessed by the northern Indiana/Michigan GB Women's event and we now find ourselves with 407 of our 1917 piece goal in the hands of customers! Do you believe that God is calling women to shop? I do! I believe that women are thinking about it...how do I know? We have abandoned carts. And we've had increased traffic on our website. And I also believe in the power of prayer. Here is mine this morning, and I would love if you would pray it with me. Lord, you are good and you are faithful. You promise to finish what you start, and to work all things together for good for those who are called according to your purpose. God, I know I heard your voice on December 2nd to start Alegria and hire the women from Faith Home. I know you have been prompting me and Erika about the time to hire and who to hire and you have confirmed it through others. And you know sales are required for salaries. You love and honor work, Lord, so I'm asking for the strength and wisdom to work these next 14 days. Send me to the right leads that will choose to put Alegria on their store shelves and then make it attractive to customers so it will sell and they can restock. Move in the hearts of the stores that need to restock their Alegria displays so that our Joy-Partners can have the privilege of being a part of "A" being hired. And most importantly Lord, move in all of our customers' hearts to fill them with joy as they add jewelry to their carts and check out. Let our ads reach the right people and give us an abundant return on that investment. God, without you, this number is impossible. But you know "A" by name. You see her, and you care for her. Move your children, Lord. Move us to shop generously. 1510 pieces of jewelry in 14 days. I don't know how you will do this Lord when we have had such a slow start to the month, but God, you are God. You can do it, and I'm praying on behalf of "A" and our other artisans that you will.

When the director of Faith Home contacts you, asking if you have the ability to hire another artisan, you set a high goal and get to work to create her job. Which stores need to restock? Where can I go set up a trunk sale, or a pop-up? How can I increase our online sales with emails and posts and ads? Growth is the only way to sustainably create a new job. And Joy-Creators, it's hard work!  Today, would you please pray for "A"? She needs this job 3 months ago.  Please pray for her as we cannot hire her today. We MUST hit the goal this month if we are to hire her and keep the jobs secure for all of our artisans. And as of this morning, we have sold 174 of the 1917 pieces we must sell this month to make this goal.  29% of the month is gone and we are at 9% of our goal.  (To be frank, we are behind even meeting our baseline for the month.)  I am still believing for miracles and for each and every one of you to shop big this month for this goal.  Pray, because without God moving hearts, and bringing people to action, we will not meet this goal.  We are giving away jewelry with big cart goals because we need extravagance this month. We need splurging on ourselves with Joy Box subscriptions and full sets.  Cashing in Joy-Points, but spending way above those free gifts.  Using gift cards, but making them a portion of the shopping, not just free gifts going out without money coming in to create "A"s job. This IS possible with a God who know's "A"s name, and hears her prayers. And He is prompting His children to buy their gifts and their accessories with the company who He created to give her a safe job with a living wage. 

Happy Sunday Joy-Creators and Joy-Partners! The sun is shining and trying to chase away the spring chill in southern Indiana this morning. A warm puppy on my lap and a cup of hot coffee are helping too! I'm anticipating being with my church family this morning and I think about the comfort and security that I have with gratitude. We'll pick up our grocery order later and fix a meal for our family that's coming over tonight to celebrate birthdays. Then I begin to think about our goal for this month. Honestly as the marketer and sales rep for Alegria, it's daunting. But behind that goal is a young woman. She grew up at Faith Home and she's been out on her own and working. But the factory where she worked had lay offs and now she's struggling with basic needs. Searching for a job, and not finding anything. Then the number 1917 gets smaller, because we can look at her through the eyes of God and see a daughter that He created and cares for. He HAS a job for her - at Alegria, in safety with a salary. And WE get to be a part of that by purchasing the jewelry made by our artisans in Honduras. Wow! So today, my request for prayer is simple. That God would continue to move the hearts of women in the US to join in this story, to shop for Alegria for Mother's Day this week. To find a beautiful graduation gift, or a new style for our summer look. 127 pieces have found a new home in the first 2 days! Just 1790 to go! After you've prayed today, which is our biggest ask, would you consider shopping? Be a part of changing "A"s life with a job at Alegria!

As I sit at my kitchen table this gorgeous April Sunday afternoon, listening to a baseball game and sipping iced tea, I'm pulling my nose out of analytics and goal setting spreadsheets to jot an update to our Prayer Partners. The Lord has been gently reminding me this week that we are all so precious to Him. He delights in us, His children. And He cares so deeply for His daughters who grew up at Faith Home. What a privilege it is to be part of His plan for their lives through Alegria! Yesterday, I prayed as I went to set up at an event that He would bless Alegria with $1,000 in sales. So many wonderful people came by, ladies who had never heard of Alegria, and others that stop and shop every time they see me at a pop-up. As we were winding down, I glanced and realized we were at about $750. I told God that was OK and we might have others shop online that didn't shop at the event. It was still a good event for a spring market. And then a family came in and I told them about Alegria...mom was in love and did some mother's day gift shopping...now we're at $965! Oh Lord, you are good!  And the day ended, tear down started, but one more young lady stopped in and picked out a bracelet...$1000.66 is how we ended. Boy doesn't He just love to hear and answer our prayers when we are praying in His will for His daughters?! Today I'm finishing up the strategy for May, and our huge goal.  Prayer Partners, when He answers this prayer and we hit this goal, we will be able to hire a new artisan!  Oh wouldn't that just be the best way to end May?!  I want to ask you to pray specifically for this. It would require that we sell approximately 1,917 pieces of jewelry in May (that's almost as much as we sold in the entire year of 2021). At the end of that goal, a life, a family will be forever changed! We are going to call her "A" and I'm asking you would pray specifically for her this month as we work so hard to be in the position to pay her salary and benefits. Before the first ad runs, the first post is made, or the first email goes out, we lift this up to you Lord. We are asking on behalf of "A" and our other 7 women in Honduras that currently are employed by Alegria that you would help us to hit this goal together of 1,917 pieces of jewelry sold.  You know the dollar amount needed for this to be a sustainable job. Without you, God, this is impossible. But with You, nothing is impossible. We see a mountain, but you are the mountain mover. We have faith in You. Move on behalf of your daughters in Honduras. Move on behalf of "A". 

As I drove this weekend, I was struck by the color of the trees, the green that is again filling the midwest countryside with new life. Farmers were in their fields. I saw deer, wild turkey, and geese. The cardinals are playing in the trees. Spring is on display! And my heart is pleading with the Lord this morning, please God, bring this same growth in Alegria. Give me wisdom to invest in the right places with our ads to get in front of new Joy-Creators and inspire them to join our story with a purchase. I want to be the farmer who plants in season and works as unto the Lord. And I am praying for the Lord to bring the rain and cause growth so that we have a harvest that will create more jobs. I have a specific young woman I'm praying to get to hire. And our artisans in Honduras are praying too.  We have young women who could start internships right now at Faith Home so that we can provide a next step for them as they age out into adulthood.  But after these internships, I want to have a job for them. Thank you for praying when you are inspired by spring this week. Pray for Alegria's growth. Pray for the women that God would prepare a job for them at Alegria. Our harvest is sales. Those sales lead to jobs. So after you pray today, have you been on the new summer collection page and chosen something new for you for the season? Every bracelet or necklace or earring adds up to salaries paid for our current artisans, and growth toward the next job!

This week is an exciting one in the US and in Honduras.

I'm reading John's account of discovering the empty tomb this morning and in his account, Mary Magdelene first discovered the stone was rolled away from the tomb and his body was missing. She ran to tell John and Peter and they came and saw too. But after they left, Jesus chose to appear to Mary... Why would Jesus choose to appear to a woman who's past was so dark and wrecked by sin? Why a woman? I was taught to ask questions of scripture as I read so that the Holy Spirit can speak through the Word, and my heart and mind will be open to what He is teaching me. Why a woman? The gospel tells us that it was predawn on Sunday morning. Sunday was the first day of work in the Hebrew world because Sabbath was from sundown Friday until sundown Saturday. So she was getting up early to go and finish the process of preparing the dead body because it was put in the tomb so hastily for Sabbath. She was getting up early to do her work. She was the one coming to care for his devastated body that had been tortured just 36 hours earlier. She was the first one to see the stone rolled away. She was the first one to look in and see his body was gone. And Jesus may have honored that she stepped up first. She was also close to the disciples as she had been a follower for Jesus' entire ministry too. So He may have chosen her because He knew she would immediately start the spread of the news of the resurrection to just the right people. And we also know from scripture that because she believed He was Messiah, and now He had sacrificed Himself for our salvation, she was a new creation, white as snow, without sin, because He had paid it all. So her past was erased from His memory as far as the east is from the west. On Easter Sunday, let's above all be thankful and full of worship for our Saviour, Jesus, who came, lived a sinless life, related to us in human form, and then went to the cross and bore the horrific punishment for all of our sin, died, was buried, and on the third day, defeated death and the grave! Hallelujah! He is risen! And as women, let's look to Mary and be ready for the work ahead of us. Let's go where He leads us, because He is already there! We are praying huge things for Alegria this year, and I am believing we will see our little company grow so that we can create more jobs. We have come through the winter, and we are on the verge of Mother's Day and then the summer. God is working and moving on behalf of His daughters in Honduras and I'm so grateful you are praying with me today!  Happy Easter! He is Risen!

Good Sunday morning Joy-Creators and prayer partners! Whether you are reading our prayer partner blog for the very first time (welcome!), or you have been praying weekly with us since it started (thank you!), I am so grateful you are taking this time to lift up Alegria and our work in Honduras to the One who holds us in His hands and heard the cries of his daughters, and is answering. As we head into Holy Week with the celebration of Palm Sunday today, I was doing my usual thing near the end of the month and the quarter: checking our goals against our analytics. This year didn't start off great, we were down in our sales over the same period last year. This isn't surprising considering the news about our economy and consumer confidence. But God... Why do I talk endlessly about sales here? Well, the reality: sales = jobs. And there is a waiting list in Honduras of women who really need these jobs. Young women who without a job at Alegria might have to work in an unsafe environment or for less than a living wage, or worse, beg on the streets, or something more unthinkable. These jobs are changing lives! So yes, I am constantly looking at our sales numbers. When they begin to trend up consistently and our demand increases, we can add another job. And when we trend down, I fear a layoff. It breaks me to think about that and I fight for it every day. This morning, after another wonderful day of sharing Alegria with a women's conference, and a small group of women doing some spectacular shopping, we are now up enough in March to overcome the deficit of January and February! But God!!  We are getting traction online with some major retailers in dropshipping. One of our best stores is about to move to a bigger location and carry more Alegria. God is moving! He hears the cries of His daughters. This morning, the number of days left in the month and quarter was not lost on me. Three days.  A lot can happen in 3 days.  Jesus triumphantly entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, but three days later, the plot to end His life was brewing...Thursday, He celebrated the Passover with His disciples, and then within 24 hours was lying dead in a grave. But on the third day...an empty tomb and our salvation complete! Death defeated! What a week we get to remember and celebrate this week! In Honduras, Holy Week is celebrated like Christmas! The kids are out of school. Thursday, Friday and Saturday are part of the official holiday with businesses closed. Alegria is closed this week in Honduras and everyone will be enjoying time with family and kiddos. Pray for rest for our artisans, and refreshment. And the three days here? I'm praying for the end of our Charmed March campaign to bring in online sales to put us back on track with goals and not just even with last year. I'm praying for new subscribers to our Joy Box tonight when I reveal the April Joy Box online. And I'm praying our Live tonight will also produce great sales as I run through the Spring pieces that are almost sold out. Thank you for praying for our last 3 days of March, and of quarter 1 of 2026. Let's pray that many women step in and join the story in these last 3 days. The story of us, using the strength of our shopping for accessories and gifts to create safe, living wage jobs for women in Honduras, interrupting poverty, the orphan crisis and trafficking. Three days...what can God do? Everything!

Here we are 81 days into 2026 and I just couldn't be more grateful for you! I've been publishing this blog weekly (most weeks) for over a year now, and it's actually our 2nd highest landing page. That means you are coming here intentionally and you are praying with and for Alegria. This year, you have been praying us through a dark winter, and we are on the other side of it with Easter and Mother's Day around the corner and tons of women's conferences on the calendar where I get to introduce Alegria to new Joy-Creators. Thank you for this constant support in prayer. Alegria only exists because of the partnership with women in the United States who will shop and share, and pray. This morning, when I woke up at 2:33am, I was reading my Bible and it was the last chapters of Deuteronomy. Moses was giving his final speech to the nation of Israel just before he handed off the leadership to Joshua and they entered the promised land to begin the fight for their new home. In chapter 33, he blesses each tribe. Would you join me this morning in praying these blessings over Alegria? That we would live and not die out, though we are few in number. Hear our cry and bring us together as a people. Give us strength to defend our cause and help us against our enemies. Bless our ministry and accept all the work of our hands. Recognizing we are loved by the Lord and live in safety beside him, surround us continuously and preserve us from every harm. May our land be blessed with dew from the heavens, water from beneath the earth, rich fruit that grows in the sun, rich harvest produced each month, and the favor of the one who appeared in the burning bush. May we prosper in our travels and at home. That you would enlarge our territory and give us leaders that carry out justice and obey You. That we would be rich in favor and full of the Lord's blessings. That we would be esteemed by others and secure all our days. There is no one like our God! I'm praying for these blessings on you and your family also - thank you for praying for Alegria today. - Sarah