Patti Joyner of Auburn, AL, remembers having a love for creating things from the time she was a small child. She remembers making felt eyeglass cases for everyone in her family one Christmas; “Not everyone in my family wore glasses, but everyone got an eyeglass case that year because I loved to make them so much!” As time went on, Patti’s love for creating things grew into different areas such as cooking, painting, and eventually making bracelets.
One year, when Patti and her husband were traveling in another state, she ran across a shop that was selling bracelets made out of old belts. In Patti’s words, “shopping” means gathering ideas with the thought “I could make that!” Sometime later, when her son was cleaning out his closet and donating clothing to Goodwill, Patti spotted several old belts in his donation box and the rest is history! What started as a hobby soon grew into selling bracelets in several local makers shops in East Alabama, West Georgia, and as far away as North Carolina. In addition, Patti teaches workshops to other makers, as well as people desiring to make belt bracelets for the first time; a service she still offers in-person and online today!
After Patti learned the process for making bracelets out of belts, she began using the proceeds of her bracelet sales to support her daughter’s ongoing mission work in Honduras. Eventually, supporting daughter’s mission work in Honduras was no longer a need, so Patti began to think of other ways she could use her gifts to support kingdom work around the world. Around that time, Patti and her husband, Whit, visited Mescal’s on a partner support trip to Kenya and the Joyners were immediately drawn into the mission and ministry of Mescal’s!
Upon returning from Kenya, Patti made the decision to donate the proceeds of her bracelet sales to Mescal’s. Patti shared that the proceeds from the sale of 4 bracelets can pay for one month of a teacher’s salary at the Christian primary school that is set to open at Mescal’s in the near future. When asked what motivates her to support Mescal’s in this way, Patti shared, “It takes so little for me to do something meaningful for a ministry on the other side of the world, and it’s fun! I love to do it!” Patti also loves the vision that Ruth has to see, not only the children at Mescal’s, but the entire Luanda community impacted for Christ.
We are so thankful for Patti and her willingness to use the gifts and skills she’s been blessed with to be a part of what God is doing through Mescal’s Children’s Center of Hope in Luanda, Kenya. Her story reminds us that everyone is called to care for the vulnerable and everyone has been given gifts to use for the building of God’s kingdom!
Check out Patti’s Instagram page or any of these shops to purchase one of Patti’s awesome bracelets, and support Mescal’s in the process!
Auburn, AL - @LocalMarketAuburn Opelika, AL - @WakefieldHome Dadeville, AL (Lake Martin) - @LakesideMercantile Prattville, AL - @EverythingAlabama Carrollton, GA - @Southern_Home_and_Garden Roswell, GA - @RedSealCraftStudio Wilmington, NC - @ShopHallelu
For more information about Mescal's Children's Center of Hope, or to donate to the ministry, visit our website at mescalskids.org.
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