Sorry about that. I found my trip to AP Stateside to be the icing on the cake and I think I came home in some sort of a coma. I have run hard the past few months.
I was lucky to get everything finished for Christmas. Between the 18 different events where I was
selling/speaking, etc in 12 weeks. Add the normal school activities for the kids - extra
church activities and a VERY busy Calligraphy season and I didn't know if I was
coming or going. We took off for NC the week between Christmas and New Years
and just relaxed. (I will blog about that eventually.) I was home for two days in which I managed to take down all
the Christmas decorations, repack my suitcase and I was off to Seattle for 5
days for the AP board meeting.
Once I returned home - and recovered from the jet lag - I have continued to just 'be'. Every time I would sit down on the couch, I would fall asleep. I've spent a lot of time catching up on organization, getting ready for our trip to Haiti in March, packing up the crazy amount of cereal boxes that came in over the holidays (thanks to all who helped with that - will blog about that soon too) and basically just processing and praying over everything God has shown me in the last few months.
With all the time and events that have past - I hardly know where to begin. I have so many things I want to talk about - I guess they will just have to be random, so bear with me.
Let's start with the Apparent Project Board Meeting -
I arrived in Seattle on Jan. 4 and met Marilyn (Shelley's mom) at the airport. It was so nice to finally meet her face to face. We have spent many hours on the phone in the last two years so meeting in person and getting to chat late into the night was a huge bonus! She is probably the most joyful person I have ever met. She truly loves the Lord and it shows.
We drove the 45 minutes or so to her home (also AP Stateside Headquarters/Warehouse) and I was reunited with Shelley, Corrigan and their delightful children. It was fun catching up and spending time together.
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| Shelley and Pene on the phone with Joed and Dawn |
The Board Meeting was set for the following day at 1:00. All were in attendance except two members but they joined us via conference call.
The phone was passed around to whoever was talking at the time so that everything could be heard clearly - it became quite comical.
I spent the majority of the time just listening and soaking it all in. It is fascinating to learn all that goes on behind the scenes to make this company run like it does and what is even more amazing that it is only 3 years old.
When I started volunteering and selling AP two years ago, Shelley only had 50 artisans on payroll - now she has over 200!
Last year, AP sold over $775,000 in jewelry, purses, etc. and nearly 75% of that went to artisan payroll!
Did you catch that? Nearly 75% back to the Haitian community! That is crazy! Apparent Project is definitely making a difference. Artisans are buying their own land and building houses. They are sending their children to school. They are feeding, clothing and sheltering their families.
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| Marilyn and Daisy |
I'm so excited to be a part of something that is making such a difference. The cycle of poverty is ending for these precious people. What an awesome thing!
It is not without it's struggles for Shelley and Corrigan. They have many uphill battles daily. Unfortunately, it often times comes from the Christians here in the U.S.
We talked a lot about this while I was there and Shelley took the time to put it into a blog this week. It has proven to be very discouraging for them. Please, take a few moments and read it.
If there is one thing I have learned it is that I have a lot to learn about my idea of "missions." Our callings are not all the same but it doesn't make one less/more important than the other. We here in the U.S. really don't have a clue and spending a week or two every year or so in a foreign country does not make us the experts. It's the people who are living there full time, have given up things most of us would never dream of and are willing to really KNOW the people they are with every day. Getting to KNOW the culture. What works - what doesn't work. It's not just "telling them about Jesus" and walking away. It's living with them - among them - working with them - helping them to better themselves. Teaching them things beyond Christianity and learning from them as well. It's thinking outside the box of our own culture - knowing that what works in the states will not always work in a foreign country. It's realizing that they are people - real people - not just "projects." What a huge step of faith that is.
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| Corrigan giving us an update |
So - what's new for AP for 2013? Some pretty exciting stuff!!!!
As they plunge ahead in obedience to God's call - he has provided two potters wheels! How cool is that? They will begin training the artisans to make pottery! Most of this will not make it to the states due to shipping logistics - but it you ever visit Haiti, you can stop by the boutique and pick up some AP Pottery!
Also - this will be the year for the "Don't Eat Dirt" jewelry. The artisans are perfecting the clay beads and they are gorgeous! I had a few pieces right before Christmas and sold out of them. The colors and styles are beautiful.
They are beginning to train them in the art of glass blowing - so that they can make their own glass beads to incorporate into the jewelry as well.
And they have a Scroll Saw! Oh - the possibilities with that are endless!
Shelley has begun to expand the market into Europe so that will open up entirely new sales opportunities. You can like that page on Facebook here.
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| Chatting after the meeting (missing from pics are Margie and Jim - sorry guys!) |
So lots of new things coming around the corner. Our trip is in March - only about 8 weeks away. I have a team of 10, including myself, Jarod and Russell. We have begun meeting on Sundays and are going through the book "When Helping Hurts" by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert. It is already providing much discussion and lots of contemplative prayer. It's definitely a must read as it applies to both foreign and domestic aid. I know it has opened my eyes to so much!
I guess I should mention that a motion was made while I was in attendance and I was officially and unanimously voted onto the Board. I am still in awe over it all - but excited at the same time.
Thanks again for your patience while I have been leveling back out to "normal" - whatever that is. I'm still processing and praying - but look forward to bringing you along.....
Next time - the AP Warehouse........
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