A TTV Welcome

I'm not sure if it was while on one of the trips or just before we left, when I found out that all Ten Thousand Village Stores across Canada are now carrying the cookbook. Of course, we are quite excited about this and it is not something we take for granted.Ten Thousand Villages is a non-profit fair trade organization that partners with thousands of talented artisans in low income countries to provide a market for them and the ability to earn an honest living to sustain their families.

One may wonder how the cookbook fits into the picture . . . seeing as we are not trying to make a living with this book. I believe what has attracted them to the book is that, as authors of the book, we have pledged our first year's royalties to go to a children's shelter in Ukraine.

So far we've had signings at five Ten Thousand Village Stores and all of them have been beautifully planned and very successful! I have to commend the staff in their creative advertising, decor and preparation for these events. In the above photo you may take note of the story behind the children's shelter that will be benefiting from the book sales. (click on the photo to enlarge) We have found some significant relationships between the story of the women who began the orphanage and that of ourselves . . . details we did not know about when we chose our project . . . which have simply astonished and humbled us.

Most of the stores took the initiative to prepare goodies. Customers were greeted with a simple but beautiful presentation of what is available on the blog or in the cookbook and had time to nibble while standing in line.

As customers came by our tables it was our pleasure to hear their stories . . . many stories of how these recipes reminded them of a grandma. Stories of how they stumbles upon the blog or who had given them the book . . . or whom they were purchasing it for.

After one of the signings we were given a little tour of the back of the store . . . this one visibly displaying the partnership that Ten Thousand Villages has with MCC, a worldwide ministry of Mennonite churches engaged in relief, development and peace efforts in the name of Christ. MCC workers around the world regularly connect with Ten Thousand Villages staff in their shared goals of working alongside artisan groups as they build better lives and futures for their families.
In this warehouse bolts of cloth were stored next to a row of sewing machines . . . where volunteers come in to sew blankets. In a world where we can get overwhelmed with needs and how they can be met . . . this scene was encouraging. Encouraging, because there are organizations that have proven their concern and can be trusted to continue to share the love of God in practical ways to those in need.

Today I am thankful for the opportunity and ability to play even just a very tiny part in the big picture.