Redemption

Haitian prisons are not like what we are familiar with in the U.S.  Often there are dozens of men crammed into a tiny cell with no where to sit or even lie down.  They do not receive food or other basic essentials unless someone in their family brings it to them.  Because so many are poor, it is too much of a burden for their families and they are abandoned, leaving them with no hope.  Many die before ever receiving a trial.


Over a year ago Shelley was approached by a UN officer who was working in one of the newer prisons and asked her to help improve the lives of prisoners in Haiti.  He wanted them to do some job skills development with a handful of prisoners to give them a little money, some hope, and some dignity.

She gained permission to go in with a few of her employees and train them in rolling the cereal box beads.  Chavanne Timil, (in yellow) is the manager of the Prison Program for Shelley.  He is in and out of the prison several days a week.  He brings them the already cut cereal box strips, the sticks to roll them on and the glue.  He makes sure that everything is being made to AP standards and when they have finished their work, he brings back the rolled beads so they can be varnished at AP.

Chavanne, Marilyn and I outside the prison this morning.

Chavanne with one of the bead rollers.

After a year and a half, they have 70 prisoners in the program and we were able to pay them a visit today.  This was an extra special treat because it takes a lot of coordination and effort to be able to go in.  Especially since Shelley was bringing two extra people.  I will have to say that I was both nervous and excited as I did not know what to expect today.

After walking through several check points and down quite a few hallways, we climbed a set of stairs to a large room where the men were already working away.  They spend 23 hours a day in their cells and can roll beads there but they are allowed an hour to come and work together in this room.






These particular men were chosen to be in the program because most all have life sentences.  And all of them have been abandoned by their families.

This means no one is helping them.  They have no one bringing them the things they need and no money to buy them.  The bead program allows them to earn money and they are so very grateful for the work!

It was so fun walking around and seeing the awesome job they do on the beads.  They were just beautiful.  I learned today that a large percentage of these beads are used for our fundraiser bracelets!

I fought back the tears today as this man stood before Shelley and thanked her over and over again for the opportunity to work.  He spoke English and was speaking for all of the prisoners when he said, "Thank you so much for this work!  You don't know what this means to all of us.  It allows us to buy toothpaste, soap, food and other necessary items.  We are just so thankful and we do not want it to end."  Shelley let him know that the only way that she would stop the program was if the government made her stop.

This is another young man serving a life sentence.

Marilyn made her way around the room to personally thank each of the men for their work.

I've known all week that I would be visiting here today.  I was so worried that I would be overwhelmed by the circumstances of these men.  Worried that I would become one big emotional puddle.  

I worried about that the very first time I visited Haiti - 3 years ago.  I remember walking through Clarvil for the first time and being pleasantly surprised by the hope and the dignity I saw there.  They had jobs - they were proud that they could provide for themselves.

I saw that same hope today.  I wasn't fearful or overwhelmed with sadness.  I was overwhelmed by the dignity.  The hope.  The gratefulness that was in that room.

Shelley got their attention and publicly thanked them for all of their hard work and let them know that they were doing a great job.  As she turned to leave, the men stood up and were clapping for her.  

It is an overwhelmingly joyful thing to be a part of this redemption.  God is truly at work in this place.  Lives are changing!

Worthless

Today I had the wonderful opportunity to speak at the Clay County Women's Club.  They invited me to come, set up my jewelry, join them for lunch and share all about Apparent Project.  I am always excited to be a part of things like this and have had several opportunities in the last year.  I just giggle half the time because who but God would imagine that I would be the "Guest Speaker" at all these different events?

Before it was my turn to speak, the meeting was called to order and they opened with a devotion.  The sweet lady that stood up said that she had about five different things to choose from and had decided that she wouldn't pick until she got to the meeting.  She would allow God to show her which one.

When she came in and saw all the beautiful pieces of jewelry and found out they were made from cereal boxes, she knew immediately which one to share with us.

She began to read -

One of the items in Ripley's Believe It or Not is a picture of a plain bar of iron.  It is valued at $5.  The same bar of iron has a far different value, however, if it is fashioned into different items.

     --- As a pair of horse shoes, it would 
          be worth  $50

     --- As sewing needles, it would be worth $5,000

     --- As balance springs for fine Swiss watches, it would be worth $500,000

The raw material is not what is important.  What's important is how the raw material is developed!

As I was listening to her, I fought back the tears because I couldn't help but think of the thousands of seemingly worthless cereal boxes that I have packed in the past 2 years. 

Boxes that, once are emptied of their contents, become trash.

They have no value.

Worthless.


But take these boxes and put them in the hands of some very creative artisans and they completely change.






Cereal boxes are cut and twisted and fashioned into beautiful beads and strung onto string.  Simple clay is molded, painted and fired in a kiln. Suddenly the value increases.

     --- As a bracelet it is worth at least $5

     --- As a necklace, it is worth up to $40

These new values change everything!

And something else begins to happen as well.  This beautiful person who was once poor and desperate.  Who more than likely felt worthless.  And in some circles, because of their poverty,  were deemed worthless.

Now -  

They have a job.

Their value increases. 

     --- As an artisan, they are given the platform to be creative.

     --- As a person, they are given dignity.

     --- As a parent, they are able to feed, clothe, shelter and most importantly - keep their children.

     --- As a neighbor, they become a valued member of society as they are now able to help
          stimulate their own economy by giving back instead of taking.
 
All of this from a worthless cereal box.  When emptied and flattened, it becomes a vessel from which beauty and creativity flow.  Hope springs up.  Lives are saved.  Generations are forever changed.

No "value" can be placed on that.  That, my friends, is priceless. 




I am beyond excited to return to Haiti next Saturday!  To see the new items being created up close and personal.  To watch as they are created.  To sit by the artisans and absorb all their creativity and to return with more stories to share with you all.

Continue to pray for us as we finalize our preparations.  Pray that God will continue to prepare our hearts and our minds for lies ahead.  That we can take it all in and be changed because of it.

Until next time.....

Cereal Boxes Arrive!!!

Shelley posted this video today so we could see the excitement when all of the boxes arrive!

They are in constant need of boxes!  To find out how your church or community group can help -
Click here!

It's so simple!  You are going to throw your boxes away anyway - why not send them to Haiti?????