When I was in Africa in January my roommate, Kristen, and I spent a lot of time sitting in our room just talking because we weren't allowed to leave. Of course we were disappointed in the change in schedule, confused and concerned with the recent events, but we were good friends before she moved to Maryland and it was really fun to spend time just catching up and talking about life. One of the things we talked about was the book Hope Rising, which we were all to read before our trip. The book discusses how we, as consumers, have the power to end poverty through conscious Purchases through fair trade avenues. I asked Kristen if she had ever heard of Noonday, which she hadn't. I didn't know much about the company, I just knew I had heard of noonday a few years back and I browsed the website occasionally but hadn't ever made a purchase. I explained that the company buys handmade accessories from artisans in third world countries and pays them a fair wage in order to empower them to grow their communities. I explained that it is a direct sales business, relying on ambassadors to promote sales. Kristen was immediately intrigued and said she'd pray about it when she got home.
A few days later I was looking through some notebooks of mine and realized that the notebook I had given to Kristen for our trip actually benefitted noonday. I have a slight obsession with maybooks (www.maydesigns.com - check it out - swoon) and anytime I can catch a sale I think about who may need a new book. I ordered 2 notebooks with 'Burkina Faso 2016' on the covers and I let Kristen pick which she liked. What I hadn't really noticed at the time was that one of the notebooks was a design which partnered with noonday and a portion of the proceeds went to noonday. Kristen just so happened to pick that one. When I texted her to tell her, she told me she had turned the notebook over and noticed the logo on the back for the first time.
Later that week I was reading in my Bible and came across Isaiah 58:10, which I didn't know is the inspiration and vision for noonday. And, when I shared this scripture with Kristen, she told me she had come across a scripture in Psalms that very morning which used the word noonday. She also told me she had decided to become an ambassador. I was so excited! I was hoping that was where this was all leading.
However, what I didn't expect was that it would soon lead to me signing up as well. I'll be the first to admit I'm a sucker for direct sales parties. I love going, I love playing games to win tickets to try and win a door prize, I always want to spend my $60 (or whatever the limit is) to get a free/discounted product, and I rarely decline an invite. But. I hate the push of direct sales. I hate being asked repeatedly if I want to host parties or become a consultant - it's just not my gig. However, this one is just different for me. I believe in the mission so much and I am so excited to spread the word about fair trade and empowering people globally. Amazing how a different perspective changes your view on something, like direct sales. I am just excited to share this amazing company and these beautiful and unique products.
I don't plan to push this like a true sales person would, but I do hope to make an impact and succeed with it. If you would like more information about hosting a trunk show, ordering products, or partnering with Noonday please let me know! When I do host parties I may post links in case people want to attend but can't, and I'm sure I'll write about the journey as it is definitely not in my wheel house. I'm excited for the growth! as always, I am so thankful to have people on this journey with me and helping me grow along the way. I will obviously never understand the evil in this world, and I'll never know what caused the terrorists to attack Burkina Faso when they did. I also will never know, at least in this life, the full picture of God's plan in having us there that day. I do know, though, that Kristen and I would likely have never had that conversation if our trip had gone as planned. And while the trip wasn't what we wanted, I know that there were so many things God intended to do through it all and despite it all.
If you're interested, check out
Www.noondaycollection.com/AmandaWallis
This month is the end of season sale so a lot of items are discounted. And if you see me in pictures or in person with cute and unique jewelry, chances are its Noonday! Ask me :)
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