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Greetings!
Greetings from the Holy Land! Our Glad Tidings Community is growing and you are a part of us. Whether you are a long-time customer, a first-time buyer, a supportive friend or a dedicated volunteer, we appreciate you!
During the course of a month, so many interesting things happen that cause us to say, "Oh, we'd love to tell this to our friends back home." Thankfully, we've signed up for a new service that will allow us to do just that - give you little snapshots of what is happening here in the Holy Land with the workshop and the disadvantaged and disabled young men and women whom it serves. It will also give us the opportunity to share news of the larger Glad Tidings Community of friends, volunteers, and faithful customers!
This is our very first "InTouch" NewsLetter. We'll take turns writing regular updates to keep you abreast of our Glad Tidings Community news:
*What's happening in the lives of our workers and their families
*Upcoming new olive wood and Damascus Silk creations
*Cultural insights and experiences
*Schedules of Glad Tidings events
*Volunteer opportunities
*GT Community Feedback
We really do want your input and feedback. Let us know what you think of the newsletter, any suggestions you might have for new products or places to carry our products, etc. We'd love to hear from you!!!
Blessings,
Dan, Elizabeth, Lisa, Lynn & Paula
The Glad Tidings Holy Land Team
NOTE: If you can't see the pictures, you may need to click a button on your internet browser that says something like: Show Images and Enable Link |
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Our Workshop |
 Our workshop is located in the hills of the Roman city of Philadelphia, now modern day Amman, Jordan.
For centuries, Holy Land artisans have expressed their creative talents through such natural media as stone, wood, sand and wool. Today Middle Eastern families continue to carve, weave, stitch and dye a variety of articles reflecting the culturally rich, yet often harsh world of their surroundings.
Glad Tidings Holy Land Designs helps provide an avenue of economic support and stability for over thirty families by making their one-of-a-kind handcrafts available. |
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Our Values |
A foundational principle of Glad Tidings is to work for the good of the community, making certain that the workers who produce its unique handcrafts make a "living wage." This means that an average salary is sufficient to provide housing, food and education for a family of four.
The workshop's goal is to train local men and women in skills such as woodworking, carving, painting and sewing that broaden their opportunity for economic stability and professional development. |
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Our Staff Spotlight - Nawal |
Each month we want to highlight one of our more than thirty workers. As Nawal has been with us since the time our "workshop" was basically a table on Lynn's front verandah, we thought she should have the honor of filling our first "spotlight."
Nawal is now the director of the women's section of our workshop. Although her formal education ended at 7th grade, Nawal is an amazing woman with great insight and wisdom. Much more of a shepherd than a taskmaster, she constantly works to create an atmosphere of support and encouragement among the women. As nearly all the young women who come to the workshop are deaf, disabled, or disadvantaged, they often have very low self-confidence and weak communication skills. Nawal patiently and lovingly seeks out ways to develop their potential and build a sense of community among the women.
Nawal comes from a bedouin family of seven sisters and one brother living in a small village with an incredible view of the Dead Sea. Her father was head of his tribe until he recently passed away. As the only remaining daughter at home, Nawal has great dedication to her family. Rather than thinking of herself, she has used her entire salary to support her mother, install indoor plumbing into the family home, and send her brother to university.
This July we participated in a week of celebration as Nawal's brother, now employed at a local bank, married and brought his bride home to live with Nawal and their mother. The main day of the wedding, the family slaughtered nearly 35 sheep and goats, serving them on huge trays of rice to an ocean of guests sitting under tents in 100 degree weather! Singing, dancing, and gunshots added to the celebrations as everyone ate their filll!
We wish Nawal and her family "alf mabruk" or one thousand blessings on the marriage of her brother! |
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Our Products |
From heirloom-quality nativity sets and Christmas ornaments to tabletop items and gift bags, Glad Tidings produces a wide variety of high-quality handcrafts.
Please visit our website at www.holylanddesigns.net to see our complete product line. And don't forget to tell your friends about us! Every single purchase makes such a difference in the lives of those whom we serve! |
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Our Contact Info |
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Glad Tidings is small and personal! We'd love to hear from you! You may contact us via:
*Tel: Toll Free: 1-888-692-0171 / Local: 205-661-6762
*Fax: 205-655-1096
*www: holylanddesigns.net | |
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