HELLO FROM AFAR friends. These words resonate deeper for us now more than ever as communities shut down, and people go into quarantine.

Times are hard and heavy as COVID-19 spreads through our global community.

During this season I’m praying that:

• Instead of FEAR, we help spread FAITH.

• Instead of focusing on the CRISIS, we continue to share enCOURAGEment

• Instead of PANIC, we PERSEVERE together.

Our small US based team, and our global partners have taken measures to continue to keep our families and community safe. I stay in contact with our global partners weekly, and currently no one from our Philippines or Guatemala based partners have caught the virus.

This is an incredible blessing!

So will you celebrate with us that no one is currently infected? And will you pray with us that no one GETS infected?

Our Guatemalan partner, Pixan, supports women weavers in remote highland communities who already had limited healthcare resources. Our Philippines based partner, Rags 2 Riches, employs individuals from Payatas, the largest slum in Manila; as well as supporting remote weaving communities throughout the Philippines.

We support these partners because of their commitment to provide sustainable and dignified jobs to the most vulnerable communities in their countries. And while health and safety are always a priority, it’s imperative now more than ever that these vulnerable communities are safe and healthy.

What ways can we support and encourage you during this time? Send me an email at Lauren@shoptravelpatterns.com. I’d love to hear from you.

And don’t forget to continue to send your own family and friends little letters of love and encouragement.

Because a hello from afar can make a world of difference these days.

Take Heart. Take Flight.

— Lauren Petersen // Founder & Creative Director

GIVEAWAY!

If you like these notecards, we’re holding a GIVEAWAY over on Instagram in collaboration with our friends Salt + Paperie. We’ll send three winners a set of these cards to help you continue to send love to friends and family from afar. Runs through midnight on Wednesday, March 25. Visit the Instagram post for full entry details.