During a mission retreat in Kenya in 2012, Expansion International's Medical Director, Dr. Marietta Thompson, was sleeping in a room with her sister, Jeanette. Marietta woke with a start and asked her sister, "Did you hear anything?" Jeanette did not, so Marietta picked up a pen and began to write everything God spoke to her that night. "He told me that the young people I saw in Kenya are His precious pearls, then reminded me that we women have other types of pearls buried deep in our closets. He asked me a simple question. 'Are you willing to donate your treasured possessions to provide hope and a future for My precious children?'"
God reminded Marietta of the story of the mustard seed in Matthew 17. Providing education for someone otherwise unable to attend school is like planting a mustard seed. "When He brought that story to mind, I thought of those tiny seeds growing into a great tree. The gift of education, when fully grown, becomes a tree of opportunity that can lift an entire community out of poverty."
An idea began to form. Marietta wanted to talk with her friends about putting on a sale to help send not only one teen to school but many. The sale would be called Two Mustard Seeds. One seed would represent a Kenyan teen receiving a high school sponsorship from their local church, and the other would represent a matching sponsorship provided by women donating their very best things.
Marietta ran this 'God Plan' by the Expansion leadership team. They agreed and began to
plan for the first ever Two Mustard Seeds women's resale event. So, the small but committed team has held an annual sale since 2013 at Eagle Nazarene, a local church in Eagle, Idaho. They've mobilized hundreds of volunteers, accepted countless donations, and sold treasures to thousands of shoppers. Since then, Expansion's high school sponsorship program, which includes Two Mustard Seeds funds, has provided nearly 2,000 high school sponsorships for Kenyan teens, a testament to the growth and success of the original vision.
As the years went by, Marietta realized that the full vision had yet to be realized. "Originally I saw a shop where women's treasures were sold year-round." Finally, the dream of a year-round Two Mustard Seeds store is coming true. In late 2023, a property in Meridian, Idaho, was purchased and is being remodeled into the Two Mustard Seeds Shop—An Upscale Resale Boutique. This boutique will not only provide a sustainable and affordable shopping option for the community but also serve to provide much needed education in Kenya all year long.
While we eagerly await the opening of the storefront, the 2024 Two Mustard Seeds sale will be held as usual at Eagle Naz church on August 15-17. Volunteers are working hard to prepare this year's many treasures for the resale event. You are invited to volunteer, donate, then come shop the sale this August. More information available here.
By shopping at Two Mustard Seeds, you will not only find unique treasures but also play a crucial role in this great vision of providing education for Kenyan teens eager to attend high school. Your participation is invaluable and greatly appreciated.
Follow Two Mustard Seeds on Instagram and Facebook for the latest about this year's sale and the grand opening of the Two Mustard Sees Shop in Meridian. We hope to see you there!
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