Surprised by Hope strives to reach 50% self-sustaining and
50% supported giving ministry income. We’re not all the way there yet, but part
of that self-sustenance includes reselling handcraft products made by a few of
our ministry partners. I want to take a minute to highlight the work Tony and
Marti Mehari do to help achieve our goal. Here’s a message from Marti:
Tony and I were in Mason MI
today [Saturday, May 3] for an outside craft show. We have an EZ up tent
from last year, so thought we were prepared (that's your first clue!). The
day started out at 45 degrees and threatening of rain, but we got all set up
with winter jackets and gloves on, but no rain. People were coming by,
but hurrying through - a few sales. Then the rain started, but only lasted
about 15 minutes. Then about noon the wind picked up.
I had a stand to hang the
necklaces on and that blew over while I was holding everything else down.
So got that back up and all the necklaces untangled, put some weight on the
base (we had the tent weighted down, too, and tried again, but it blew over
again and broke part of it off. Put it up again and tied it to the
tent. Everyone around us is having great trouble too. I gave upon
standing up any bags or animals, and just tried to get them to stay on the
table. Then came a big gust and out tent went flying, with the weights
hitting the tent across from us, as she is trying to hold hers down.
Unfortunately, I was helping a customer and couldn't grab ours fast
enough.
So everyone around is scrambling
to pick up our tent (it didn't break), and pile everything back on the
table. Then someone two tents down brought over some stakes and pounded
down the tent in addition to the weights. While they were helping us,
their table with glass vases blew over and broke a lot. Then another
big gust, but I caught the tent before it took off with the weights and
the stakes, but all of the bags, animals, etc all blew away.
Well, that was the end - we put
everything back in the tubs while trying to hold everything together, and
finally got it in the car and headed home. Everyone else was having
similar problems except the one guy next to us who was selling painted
bricks! (Got any bricks?) All in all, it was an interesting
day. There was a lot of people traffic, but the weather did not
cooperate. Bottom line, we sold $211, but I think could have been a lot
more if we didn't have to chase everything around. I'm sure the weather
kept people away, too. Lots of NICE people. It will be a show we
remember! Not sure I can get my hair untangled - not sure I want to
try! Considering everything, I think we did really good!
What an amazing gift to Surprised by Hope, dedication that
surpasses even the postman!
If you’d like to have a handcraft party at your home or
workplace as a way of supporting Surprised by Hope and the ministries we work
with – a bit like a Pampered Chef, Tupperware, or Silpada party – please send
us an email at info@surprisedbyhope.org. Here are just a few of the beautiful handmade items from the women in the slums of Kenya.
