Sharing HOPE

When God said "NEW" I didn't quite realize that He would mean EVERYTHING!

In the midst of the transition to becoming a homeschooling family, we knew that would mean cutting back on a lot of things. After cutting out childcare expenses and fiddling with some other numbers in the "budget," I came to David with a number. To stay at home and keep our home, I would have to make X a week.

No problem! I was working at Borders one or two shifts a week and could probably pick up more shifts in the cafe and on the floor. {The fact that I was so sure is a sad irony in the light of "my" store closing in a few days.}

But to be safe, I wanted to do something that I could do that might be able to do from home. David suggested a few ads he had seen for working from home, but I didn't want to get taken by a scam, and I hoped I could find something I wound ENJOY, as opposed to mindless data-entry or fielding calls.  I asked God to give me wisdom, to lead me in the right direction.

I turned on my computer, logged into Facebook and the first post I saw was for the missional company my {amazing} sister-in-law works for. My heart leaped in my chest.


I've been following the development of Trades of Hope since before it was a reality. 

My friend Holly started the company with her daughter and friends after she moved from our hometown to Florida as a church planter. {Sneak peek: You'll get to meet Holly and hear a piece of her story tomorrow.} I loved the idea. I loved the heart. I knew I had found my new part-time job. But always being one to rush ahead of God, I have learned the hard way to pray.

As I prayed about this opportunity and asked God to slow me down if I was getting ahead of Him and asked Him to show me His heart for this decision, my {at that time} newly formed tag line came to the front of my mind:

Choosing Joy. Sharing Hope.

I burst into tears.

I mean a sobbing, ugly cry.

I had vowed simplicity. I had aimed and committed to simplifying my life to allow me to purposefully pursue those things that would meet the mission He had put on my heart- to teach others to choose joy, as I had been taught, and to share hope at every opportunity.

I am a Compassion Entrepreneur.

I sell fair trade products by artisans who have been given an opportunity to escape human trafficking, sweatshops, divisions in their families, and crime.


I am their VOICE, because they have no voice.


Over the next few Tuesdays, I'll be introducing you to Holly Wehde and some of the other amazing people that are a part of this almost one-year old company.

After part I of my interview with Holly, I'm going to ask you to leave YOUR questions, the things about Trades of Hope that you would love to know, or even about how you can get involved.

In the meantime, please check out the company's site www.TradesofHope.com  to see the beautiful products you have the opportunity to purchase.




*Obviously, as I work for Trades of Hope, I want the business end to succeed- the more products we sell the more women we help, the more opportunities we create. But I am not compensated to share my views or "advertise" for this  company.  These women have captured my heart. The opinions are my own. The passion is from Him.

Women in Nepal making beautiful leaf journals.