Update: Since the time of this interview, Melodee Miller and her family are living out a great, new adventure! For the next ten months, they're traveling across the United States in an RV and taking time to build memories as a family and experience new places and friendships along the way! You can read about their adventures on their personal blog: milleradventure.blog/ Welcome to the blog, Melodee! Tell us a little about yourself! I live in Shoreline, WA. It’s just north of Seattle. I’ve lived here all my life. I’ve been married to my husband, Josh, for over 13 years. We have 4 kids, Caleb (11), Lydia (9), Asher (7), and Eva (5). I’m (mostly) a stay at home mom. My husband runs his own electrical company. We are very blessed to be able to have me stay home and not have to work. That being said, I do work part time with a local non-profit theatre group called Dandylyon Drama. We work in the local schools running after school theatre programs. I direct the school musical once a year at my kids school. It’s a lot of fun and a great way for me to get my creative outlet while getting to have a positive impact in kids lives that live in my community. How did God lead you to the Child Ambassador team? I’ve always had a heart for children and missions. When my youngest was a year old I was really crying out to God wanting to do more but not sure what I could do with 4 young kids. We were already sponsoring our little boy, Mubarek, in Ethiopia at the time. Then a postcard came in the mail asking for people to join the Child Ambassador Team. It was as if the heavens parted and God spoke. I knew this is what God had for me to be a part of even while in the midst of raising my kids. What are some of the ways that you've shared about sponsorship? I mostly share one on one with people or on Facebook. I have had a table at my church a couple times too. You've shared quite often at tables at the Farmer's Market. Do you have any favorite stories about ways the Lord worked and/or connections made? I love having a table at the local Farmers Market! I’ve had a few people sponsor at the market but it’s mostly a time of getting people familiar with who WV is and planting the seeds for sponsorship. I’ve had wonderful conversations with people not only from the community but with people from all over the world who have come to live in the Seattle area. One of my favorite stories is from the opening day at this last summer’s market. This lady was snapping pictures of her son’s booth across from mine. She was getting tired and saw I had chairs and asked to sit down. Of course I said yes and the instant she sat down she looked around my booth and said, “Oh! World Vision! Here all these other people are here to make money, my son included, and you’re here doing God’s work! Well sign me up!” I was so surprised! I asked her if she wanted to sponsor a child and she said yes and to just pick a child out for her. I was so excited to pick a little girl from Ethiopia that I had been praying for a sponsor for. The lady stayed for a while and I learned that her family were refugees from North Korea to South Korea when she was a little girl. Then when she moved to America with her husband he died while she was pregnant with their 3rd child. She kept saying how people in America just don’t get it and she was so happy to help others struggling around the world. I was in complete awe with how God orchestrated that whole interaction! How do you engage someone walking by your table? We (anyone who is a vendor) can’t call out to people as they go by. We just have to wait for people to come to us. So I try to make my booth look as inviting as possible with chairs and colorful displays. I have a table set up with coloring pictures and crayons. I have a little basket of candy from around the world too. I make sure to stand near the front of my booth, not behind anything, and smile and say hello to people as they walk by. Sometimes people come over to check out my booth and sometimes people just keep on walking. I pray a lot as I’m standing there for God to bring the people He wants me to talk to. As for tips for sharing in that setting, I’d say have your “elevator speech” down. Also listen for ways to engage with the person your speaking to based on what they share with you. Ask them questions and show you’re genuinely interested in them as a person and not just as a potential donor. They need to know they’re valued just as much as the children you are trying to get sponsored. Thanks so much for sharing with us, Mel!!! We are all so excited for you and your family as you step out into your newest adventure. May God grant you and your family His abiding peace, joy, and love as you develop new friendships and discover new landscapes. 2/22/2022 02:54:31 am
This is a very informative—edifying article to all. Thanks a lot! Continue to post! 12/20/2022 09:34:31 pm
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