Not Enough to Return Home & Not do Something

Posted on September 3, 2020 | Posted by Mary Stoneback

Kathy Mannerberg has served on the Board of Social Outreach since starting the Fair Trade project in 2005. She is also an Online Contributor for Ascension Lutheran Church. She sat down recently to share her experience heading the Fair-Trade outreach.

I began the Fair-Trade Project after a second trip to Madagascar visiting our companion synods. I learned a lot about our brothers and sisters in Madagascar…their struggles and challenges, their gifts and talents, their resiliency and needs. I made friends and connections with many families and individuals who touched my heart and it was simply not enough to return home and just feel bad. I began selling items from Madagascar and with encouragement from Lorraine Spruth expanded the effort by partnering with Lutheran World Relief/SERRV International as I still do today. Selling Fair Trade is a way of ministering to a multitude of needs from enabling children to go to school, preventing slavery and sex trafficking, to lifting families out of poverty. I believe in being part of the solution.

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FEATURED MERCHANDISE

A: Twisted Sari Earrings
Recycled cotton sari fabrics are meticulously twisted and set in a spiral design lending colorful interest to goes-with0everything style. Fabric colors and patterns will vary. Brass hooks. Warm Hoops 1 ½” h x 1 ½” w $16

B. Painted Dragonfly Stake
Dragonfly: 10”h x 7 ½” w; Stake: 30” l $28
Butterfly: Similar in size to Dragonfly
Sunflower: approximately 15

B. Necklace
This beautiful necklace will go with almost anything! Glass bead have a variety of shapes and textures in rich jewel tones, contrasted with dramatic black and coppery earth colored beads. Hand tied with a lobster clasp. $18

For more information or to purchase Fair Trade items, contact Kathy at kanajama3@yahoo.com.