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ethical shopping

How to Shop for Valentine’s Day | Promo Code (limited time)

February 3, 2020 by Sarah Neufeld Leave a Comment

I’m going to tell you a seemingly inconsequential story about some peach thread. 

Last Christmas, the staff at Mercy House Global had a white elephant gift exchange. As they have been partnering with Syrian refugees local to Houston, to create fair trade product, the family was invited, too.

Everyone had a good laugh when Muna, the oldest daughter, pulled some peach thread out of her gift bag. Apparently this bit of thread had been passed around the barn since the Spring of 2018. No one really wanted it, and there was no obvious use for it.

But this industrious young woman, who is one of the candlemakers, took it home.

Could it be that when everything has been stripped from us and we have little to show for ourselves, that it is then that we can find use and purpose in the most insignificant things?

The next week, during a visit, Muna showed them this piece of art that she had crafted. 

Photo Credit: Mercy House Global

Nails hammered into a piece of wood formed the shape of a heart. She then looped the thread around the nails into such an intricate design, that I cannot quite wrap my head around how she did it.

The Mercy House staff immediately asked if she could make more. It is now a featured product in the Valentine’s Day collection on the Mercy House Global Online Marketplace.

There is something powerfully symbolic here. Nails in wood reveal the heart of God. 

Without salvation would it not be us wandering through life aimlessly devoid of purpose? 

Without the nails that drove through Jesus’ flesh, holding Him to a wooden cross, would it not be us poised to be cast away forever?

It is through this holy and merciful process of redemption that we are privileged to be woven into the greatest love story ever told. 

The believer should have a love for repurposed unwanted things because this is our story.

This Valentine’s Day, choose to show love through honouring the redemptive love of Christ. 

By purchasing tokens of affection from fair trade sources, you are not only showing love for the gift recipient. You are showing women who are unwanted in their culture, and oppressed by poverty, misogyny and exploitation that they are not forgotten; they are valuable and worthy of love.

Mercy House Global is generously offering a 15% discount on the items in their Valentine’s Day collection with the use of the promo code: LOVEOTHERS.

Head on over there today. And remember, you are the one whom Jesus loves.

Photo Credit: Mercy House Global

Filed Under: Christian Living, Fair Trade, Mercy House Global, Social, The Issues, The Word of God Tagged With: ethical shopping, fair trade, faith, gifts, God, love gifts, promo code, shop fair trade, Syrian refugees, the cross, valentine's day

Handmade Mugs | Day 10 | 12 Days Shopping Fair Trade

February 2, 2020 by Sarah Neufeld Leave a Comment

At this point in the series, let’s bring things a little closer to home. Not all artisans are living overseas. There are some incredible over-comers here in North America.

This Mercy House Global Mug, for instance, is handmade by the women of Prodigal Pottery in Alabama. These women have faced homelessness, domestic abuse, and human trafficking.

Prodigal Pottery is a place of refuge for the oppressed. It is a place where they can escape to in order to heal and be equipped with employable skills.

The more I look at the hard situations in people’s lives, the more I see testimonies of hope and victory. In the details, I find gratitude and inspiration. In the stories of the broken experiencing healing and restoration, there I find my own healing.

As you cup this mug filled with hot tea, and feel the warmth, think of the hands that moulded this clay. Remember that you are partnering with a network of organizations with a mission to empower women. From Birmingham to Kenya, throughout Asia and back to refugees in Houston, God is using Mercy House to create bonds of unity that break the bondage of oppression and poverty.

🛍: $20USD

Link: “Shop Fair Trade”

📷: @mercyhouseglobal

#12daysshoppingfairtrade

Filed Under: 12 Ethical Shopping Ideas, Fair Trade, Human Trafficking, Mercy House Global, Social, The Issues, Women's Issues Tagged With: artisans, domestic abuse, ethical shopping, fair trade, fair trade shopping, handmade, homeless, hope, human trafficking, mug, shop fair trade, survival, tea

XO Earrings | Day 9 | 12 Days Shopping Fair Trade

January 30, 2020 by Sarah Neufeld Leave a Comment

It’s a common signature; x’s and o’s. They are classic symbols that represent love, care and affection.

These earrings from Karama Collection add subtle chic to any look. They can be given as a sweet romantic gift (nudge-nudge, hubby, wink-wink).

They can serve as a reminder that we are loved and thereby prompting us to show love to others.

In Nairobi, three artisan women are employed in the crafting of these earrings from metals and beads. Through Karama Collection, their lives are being changed.

The lead artisan, Eunice, is the main jewelry maker as well as a designer. Once unemployed, after losing her job as a social worker, she is now moving up through the company. She enjoys her work as it allows her to be creative.

How proud she must be to be earning an income from creating these stylish studs earrings, forged from recycled brass.

There is something beautifully symbolic here. Because of Christ’s love for us, He submitted to go through the flames in our place. And through this redemption, we have been repurposed from a life of sin without God, to an abundant life restored to the Father.

We reflect this love when we remember the oppressed and the downtrodden. We can show marginalized women around the world that they are loved, not forgotten, when we do something as simple as give them our business.

🛍: $22USD

Link: “Shop Fair Trade”

📷: @mercyhouseglobal

#12daysshoppingfairtrade

Filed Under: 12 Ethical Shopping Ideas, Fair Trade, Mercy House Global, The Issues Tagged With: artisan, artisan-made, ethical shopping, fair trade, fair trade accessories, fair trade fashion, fair trade jewelry, fair trade shopping, hand-made, kenya, repurposed jewelry, shop fair trade

Fair Trade Bracelets Are Changing Lives in Kenya

January 28, 2020 by Sarah Neufeld Leave a Comment

I don’t know about you, but I’m am slowly growing a collection of fair trade bracelets! And I just love these sticking ones that are made with glass massai beads from Kenya. It creates such a unique look!

But more precious still is that these fair trade bracelets are an answer to prayer to the women of Have Hope.

fair trade bracelets

Have Hope was originally a community outreach program lead by Mercy House Global in 2010. Twenty women from the slum would gather together for bible study. This beautifully developed into an artisan group.

They began making jewelry to earn a sustainable income for their families. Because of the desperate need for work, these mothers are eager to learn and grow in their skills.

fair trade stacking bracelets

As we have hopes and dreams for our own family, they do for theirs, too!

So when you buy a product from Have Hope (there are many to choose from), you are partnering with a strong and ambitious group of women in Kenya.

Your purchasing power helps a mother, like you, send her children to school, put food on the table, and rise out of extreme poverty.

And here is one little hack! These fair trade stacking bracelets are on sale right now. If you buy 2, you can break them up into smaller sets. Then as you share these gifts, you can share their story!

Did you know that shopping fair trade can help prevent human trafficking? Read this article for more information.

🛍: $10USD

Link: “Shop Fair Trade”

📷: @mercyhouseglobal

#12daysshoppingfairtrade

fair trade stacking bracelets

Filed Under: 12 Ethical Shopping Ideas, Fair Trade, Mercy House Global, Motherhood, Social, The Issues, Women's Issues Tagged With: artisan, bracelets, ethical shopping, fair trade, fair trade fashion, fair trade shopping, hand-made jewelry, jewelry, shop fair trade

Market Tote Bag | Day 6 | 12 Days Shopping Fair Trade

January 25, 2020 by Sarah Neufeld Leave a Comment

I am going to be transparent here for a minute. I am terrible at remembering to bring reusable bags with me to the grocery store…

I’ve never been a fan of the big boxy plastic ones, that for some reason always have bits of dried onion peel at the bottom.

I’ve realized that I need a system that I can run on autopilot.

Enter in the fair trade market tote bags from Mercy House Global!

What’s perfect about these bags is they fold up neatly, making them quite compact.

For myself, I can say I will be forgetting my bags far less if I always have a few of these in my purse!

They are also extremely versatile. Bags like these also lend themselves as a library book bag, winter hat & mittens catch-all, gym bag, diaper bag, sewing bag, anything really.

This bundle comes in a variety of bold and colourfully patterned fabrics. All of these bags are fair trade and help Kenyan women provide for their families.

Beyond the fact that they are functional and versatile, these bags serve as a tangible reminder to be intentionally grateful, and to take advantage of every opportunity to share these women’s stories.

You can use your voice for the voiceless in the glorious mundane.

If you have any concerns to the quality and durability of these totes, you can head over to Mercy House Global Online Marketplace and read the 28 customer reviews (all 5 star)!

🛍: $18USD

Link: “Shop Fair Trade”

📷: @mercyhouseglobal

#12daysshoppingfairtrade

Filed Under: 12 Ethical Shopping Ideas, Fair Trade, Mercy House Global, The Issues Tagged With: bags, ethical shopping, fair trade, fair trade accessories, fair trade shopping, kenya, reusable bags, totes

“Trash” Soccer Ball | Day 5 | 12 Days Shopping Fair Trade

January 25, 2020 by Sarah Neufeld Leave a Comment

There is debate on whether or not parents should use the “children starving in Africa” ultimatum to get their kids to clean their plate or be more grateful.

It’s an old strategy. When my mother was growing up in the 40’s & 50’s, my great-grandmother would find occasion to remind her about the starving Armenians.

I agree that we shouldn’t use someone’s suffering as a means to manipulate our children. However, there isn’t a doubt in my mind that if we do not educate our sons and daughters on how other children live, they will develop and come of age with an eschewed perspective of the world.

We are the top 1% of the world. Our lifestyle isn’t reflected by the majority. We are the fringe. And I think our children need to understand this as they pass through their milestones; even if it is only at a high level to begin with.

Children definitely learn best with a hands-on practical example. This “trash” soccer ball is an excellent tool that we can gift our children with.

Each soccer ball is made from garbage bags by women in Kenya. They use this income to put food on the table for their children.

It’s an interesting cycle of events. We, as mothers in North America, can purchase a fair trade soccer ball from another mother in Kenya. We buy it because we’re trying to keep our kids from becoming entitled. She makes them because she’s trying to keep her kids from starving.

If you are serious about training your kids to be grateful adults, I highly recommend these books by Kristen Welch:

“Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World” by Kristen Welch

“Raising World Changers in a Changing World” by Kristen Welch

And I highly recommend buying the “trash” soccer ball for the young children in your life as a gentle and relatable way of introducing this topic to them (if it is a new concept). Mercy House Global Marketplace also has a collection of children’s items you can choose from as well.

🛍: $6USD

Link: “Shop Fair Trade”

📷: @mercyhouseglobal

#12daysshoppingfairtrade

Filed Under: 12 Ethical Shopping Ideas, Fair Trade, Humanitarian, Mercy House Global, Social, The Issues Tagged With: artisan, child poverty, ethical shopping, fair trade, gifts for kids, grateful children, parenting, raising children, shop fair trade, soccer ball

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OUR BLOG

Sarah Neufeld Co. serves as a resource for women who want to go deeper in their spiritual walk, who seek after truth, and have a passion to empower women in their community and around the world. We’ll direct you toward the opportunities, as well as the tools and information through the lens of grace and truth.

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OUR SITE

Sarah Neufeld Co. serves as a resource for women who want to go deeper in their spiritual walk, who seek after truth, and have a passion to empower women in their community and around the world. We’ll direct you toward the opportunities, as well as the tools and information through the lens of grace and truth.

  • Christian Living
  • Fair Trade
  • Humanitarian Issues
  • Mercy House Global
  • Motherhood
  • Politics
  • Social Issues
  • Women’s Issues

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