He's Not Finished

Our amazing view tonight!  We were able to take some time away from the city and enjoy one of Haiti's beautiful beaches for the weekend.  Such a great place to unwind, chat, and do some brainstorming.

It seems I have become rather reflective this trip.  I have often found myself pondering the last 4 years.  It's a bit overwhelming.......

So.....

Apparent Project began in the fall of 2009 with 4 women.  Now there are over 300 artisans who have steady employment.  Shelley has a goal to one day employ 1000 people.  I honestly believe that can happen.  Actually - I believe she will go beyond that.

But how?  How do you keep growing?  Keep providing jobs?  Keep the products new and marketable?  Shelley spends a lot of time figuring all of that out.  Trial and error - hit and miss.  Navigating in and around a completely different culture.  Dealing with things that we cannot even begin to imagine.

So how can Apparent Project come along side Shelley and help?  How can we promote the artisans?  How can we help her help them?  We already have the party boxes.  And the fundraisers.

Last year we began the Daycare Center.  Providing a safe place for the most at risk moms to put their children.  We are watching the babies grow and flourish!

We also began API (Apparent Project Institute).  Giving the managers an opportunity to learn English, grammar, typing and other basic computer skills.  Both of these help the artisans to not only grow personally - but strengthen their marketability and make them even better employees.

So - what's next?

What does 2015 look like?

That's one of the reasons that Marilyn and I are here this week.  To see how things are going, how they can be tweaked and what we can do next.  Lots of prayer and conversations happening.  Lot's of "what ifs" and "how abouts...."  Lots of listening to Shelley's heart.  Seeing where she is taking Papillon Enterprises and how we can help her get there.

Such exciting stuff in the works.  It amazes me that each year just gets better and better.  Yes - there are difficulties but growth never happens without pain.  4 employees to 300 doesn't just happen.  It's a God thing.

I am so thankful that I was chosen to be a part of it all.  When I look at the big picture - it's nothing short of mind blowing.  God is a big God and He loves details.  Apparent Project was birthed from God's heart  -  it's His baby.  We are just the vessels He uses to care for it and help it grow.

Four years ago - I was just poking around on the internet wanting my Christmas money to count.  Looking for ways to make a difference with my purchases.  I "stumbled" upon Apparent Project.  I ordered a party box.

My life changed forever.

I am overwhelmed to tears tonight as to where this has brought me.  The places I've been to speak.  The amount of jewelry I have helped sell.  The deep, life long friendships that are being cultivated.   But most of all - the way God has used it to grow my faith and change my perspective on so many things.

I am a different person because of it all.

God had a plan.  I followed.  It's been amazing.

He's not finished.  With me or with AP.


We are seeking His face this week as we move forward.  Won't you pray for us?

I know that whatever it is - it's going to be awesome!


Related Posts:

Day 1:  Sweet Return

Sweet Return

This trip for me only came about 3 weeks ago.  One of my jobs for Apparent Project is to write in the blog and help manage their Facebook page.  I had not been here since last June and was feeling disconnected.  Things grow and change so rapidly here and it's hard to write about it all if you haven't been around for a while.  Marilyn was coming and asked me to join her.  I knew that I needed to come and reconnect with the artisans and all the new things going on here.

So I spent today enjoying all the sights, sounds and smells of all that is Apparent Project and the surrounding community.  Lots of landscape changes as they are paving all the roads in the neighborhood and putting in sidewalks.  So everything looks different.  It doesn't matter though - as soon as I step off the plane, there is a piece of my heart that feels like it is home.  Each time I have come here, God has done amazing things in my heart.  There is a love that I have for this place that cannot be expressed with words.


As I was walking around Apparent Project today, taking lots of photos and seeing all the new additions and changes, I couldn't help but think about the very first time I came here.  How God opened my heart and my mind to the idea of giving people dignity through work.  Shelley only had about 70 artisans then - now they are busting at the seams with more than 300.  

Since my first visit, an entire ceramics/pottery line has been created and just in the last month new jobs were added as more new potters were trained.  A recycled glass production line is under way and beautiful things are coming from there.  The daycare has been created - it was bustling today with 15 babies!  I also got to sit in on the new Apparent Project Institute.  About 23 managers are learning how to type, learning English and Grammar and today I was able to witness the first instructional class in Excel.  Talk about exciting stuff!  So many changes and so many possibilities!

Walking around - seeing so many familiar faces.  Artisans that have been here for years - whose lives
have drastically changed.  Also seeing so many new faces - faces whose lives are beginning to change. There is so much dignity and possibility in this little section of Port-Au-Prince and I am so thankful to be here and be a small part of it.  And the exciting thing is - it's only going to get better!

Things will calm down for the weekend - we are actually going to go to the beach for a few days!  But I look forward to coming back on Monday and interviewing more of the moms and the API students so that I can share their stories with you!

Day 5 - Natural Springs and Oil Drums

Sunday - typically the best day to travel in Haiti and get there in a normal amount of time.  Most other days you can get caught in traffic and it take you hours to get somewhere that should only take 20 minutes.  It is getting better in some ways though - I cannot believe the progress of all the paved roads.

Well, we ventured out somewhere new for me today.  So fun!

About an hour east, almost to the Dominican Republic boarder is a group of natural springs.  It's called Sous Zabet.  So lovely!  It's Haiti's version of a National Park.  

The drive took us out into the countryside.  It was so neat to see how the houses change from concrete structures and tents to mud houses with thatch roofs.  Mostly farming communities out in the Province, it really was nice to see everything spread out and more natural.

Once arriving at the springs, just a small hike through the woods - with a cute little self appointed "tour guide"  

Led us to this:

They have worked really hard to build up around it and create a swimming area.  The locals get in for free and can get water and bathe.  

So beautiful - and refreshingly COLD!

Love the little lady in the Santa Hat getting water!  She walked off with a big bucket of water on her head so I guess the Santa Hat helps.  

This little guy was also getting water today

We drew a crowd of onlookers.  Marilyn has a way with the kids and her camera.  They were all striking a pose after a while!

On the way home, we stopped at the Metal Art Market in Croix des Bouquet.  My favorite, next to Apparent Project.  So many unique things all made from 55 gallon oil drums

Erin and Joyce getting the full experience!

There were not a whole lot of artisans hammering today but we did see several tracing their templates on to the flattened oil drum

Or painting their work - beautiful!!!

 And I just had to get this photo of Marilyn negotiating!  She looks angry in the pic - but she really wasn't. Just timing on my part.

Tomorrow it's back to work!  Joyce and Erin will spend the next 2 days in the Daycare.  They will be evaluating both the nannies and the babies and seeing how or if they need to tweak anything to make it better.   Please pray for them as they walk through the next few days.  I know God hand chose them to be here as they are both so good at what they do.  I'm excited to see what lies ahead.

Until tomorrow.........

Day 4 - Change is Happening.  In all of us.

Day 3 - Daycare Training

Day 2 - Joyce and Erin Arrive

Day 1 - THIS is Why We Do All That We Do

Chikungunya and Faith 

"And God is Able....."

"And God is able to make every grace overflow to you, 

so that in every way, always having everything you need, 

you may excel in every good work."    

2 Corinthians 9:8

I LOVE this verse. This was part of Russell's sermon yesterday.  I love how God's word comes alive.  You can read a verse for years and then one day it strikes you deep.  Differently than all the other times before.  It parallels so nicely with  Ephesians 3:20, our life verse.  I'm kind of amazed that  it's never caught my attention so deeply before.

For a few weeks, I have been feeling like I am on the verge of something.  God has obviously been working but I couldn't put my finger on anything specific. 

I have been praying about returning to Haiti.  Discussions were floating about a Board Meeting at the Apparent Project House.  When Shelley and I were in New York, we discussed bringing a team back, but the dates we were looking at were already taken.  Nothing else was really working.  I've always had clear direction when it has come to this and it just wasn't clear yet.  I felt like I was continually trying to put a square peg in a round hole.  My mom used to always say - "When in doubt, don't."  So, I waited.

Some very exciting changes are happening with Apparent Project right now - but I'm not at liberty to share all of that just yet.  But these changes have made it clear as to why my taking a team wasn't really feasible right now.  The Board Meeting didn't fruition either but I still knew that I was supposed to go again.  I feel that I represent Apparent Project best when I visit.  Things are growing and changing quickly there. Visiting makes it so I can better answer questions and explain things when speaking to churches and groups. 

I spoke with Shelley about some dates and began looking at flights.  It still had not become clear to me as to how I was going to fund the trip.  Last year, all three of us (Jarod, Russ and I) went with the team so raising support was needed.  Our savings account has been depleted this year because of car repairs.  I was willing to do whatever (letters, using AP's Fund Raising Bracelets and Christmas Ornamants, etc) but wasn't sure yet.  I had not even really mentioned the trip to anyone.  I just continued to pray about it and wait.

A few weeks ago, we had a "Family Gathering" at church.  (Basically a quarterly business meeting) and I got up and gave an update on Apparent Project and all that was happening with our cereal box shipments, the bridge we were collecting for, etc.  I had to break the news that we were not taking a team in the Spring - but would look at it again in 2015.  I BRIEFLY mentioned that I would be going in February and that I would give more details about it at a later date.  (I really did not have anything narrowed down.)

It was never really discussed again.  I continued to pray about it and stayed busy with my Open House preparations this past week.  Last night, completely out of the blue,  we were told that my entire trip would be covered by a family in the church!  Needless to say, all I could do was cry!  Completely and totally overwhelmed by God's grace and provision.  Amazing how I didn't even have time yet to "worry" about all the financial details!  He just took care of it.  The verse above immediately came back to mind.  He has poured his grace out to me, providing all that I need to continue in his work.  And for now, that's my next trip to Haiti. 

One thing that I have learned over and over in the last three years is that everything I do with Apparent Project is the building blocks for the next thing.  Always growing, learning, stretching my faith, moving forward.  I am continually overwhelmed that God has chosen me to be a part of all that he is doing in and through AP - both in Haiti and here in the states.  It is humbling and amazing at the same time.

This really has been a wonderful week!!!  Friday and Saturday was my 3rd Annual Apparent Project Open House.  People came from all over Jacksonville and my house was a buzz!  I moved furniture and completely morphed my house into an Apparent Project store and in two days time, raised just over $4000!  What a huge blessing!!!

Many of the "shoppers" brought cereal boxes that they had been collecting and on Sunday afternoon, several volunteers at church came and help me pack another 29 boxes to ship to Haiti!  All of that in about an hour and 15 minutes!  What a great team!  They are becoming pros!!!!  Putting the new boxes with ones that were previously packed - we have another 43 boxes to ship.

And to top everything off - I received a call this morning that we collected the remaining balance of the bridge yesterday!!!  For details on that - click here!  Goodness!  God is so good!  He truly is "able to make every grace overflow to us, so that in every way, we will have everything we need to excel in His work."  He has proven that over and over this weekend! 

All I can do is weep.  I am overwhelmed again and again by His great love and care for ALL of us.


To Him alone be the glory!!!!!!

So - exciting stuff is happening!  I look forward to filling you in on all that lies ahead.  I KNOW it is going to be good because God is ALL OVER IT!!!!!


Until next time......

Planes, Trains and Automobiles - Literally!

So after a fun wedding weekend at the Jersey Shore, I took the commuter train into New York's Penn Station.  Having never ridden a train before (besides the one at Disney or the Zoo) I was very excited for this experience.  It would be a four hour ride into Boston. 

Since I was already up North, I decided to combine my trip and head on up to New Hampshire for my annual Fall trip to Emily's.  What a fun and relaxing way to travel!  Not to mention spacious.  I had a nice window seat with electrical outlets and WiFi.

I could have easily napped but I was too afraid of missing something.  We traveled out of New York, through Rhode Island, Connecticut and into Boston where I caught a bus to meet Emily in New Hampshire.  I was a month earlier than usual so the leaves weren't changing yet, but it was still beautiful and a fun experience.


Bruce and Emily purchased a new home back in the spring and I was excited to be able to see it first hand.  They have been busy painting, decorating and making it theirs for the past several months.

It's perfect for their large family.  Lots of space inside and out.

So happy for them to finally feel like they are settled in New Hampshire.  Owning your own home helps to put down roots and create a feeling of permanency.  God has provided so many things for them and continues to confirm that their move was His plan for their family.  It's been amazing to watch them trust Him through this journey and see all the blessings unfold.

So, I spent the first part of my week just chillin with Emily at the house.  It was so nice to just relax, chat and catch up.  Bruce took Thursday and Friday off so we could go play as usual.  The last two years we have headed into Boston and had a blast.  This year we wanted to do something a bit different.  Bruce suggested a road trip into Maine.  When we discovered we were only an hour from Kittery - we got so excited!!!  We got on the internet and figured out a day trip - we could travel up the coast, never more than about 2 hours away and search for lighthouses!  Eeeeeeek!!!!!

I love this kind of travel.  Russ and I do it all the time.  Just hop in the car and go explore. So that's what we did.  We took off on Thursday morning and headed to Maine.

 After a stop at the Visitor's Center to pick up maps and get directions along the coast, we stopped here in Kittery to see out first Lighthouse of the day.  The Whaleback Light. Such a beautiful area.

We took off driving again and came across this area near York Harbor.  We decided to get out and walk a bit.

We had lunch at an adorable restaurant on the water at York Beach.  The weather was perfect and the ocean beautiful!

 View of Boon Island Lighthouse from our table.  It's about 6.5 miles off shore.

Cape Neddick (aka Nubble lighthouse) 

Also from our table

After lunch we took off for a closer view of the Nubble Lighthouse

Like the others, the Nubble is only accessible by boat.

 

So many fun things to stop and see along the way.  We loved this church. So pretty.  I'm a sucker for stone architecture anyway.  Would love to have it incorporated into a home one day.








Our next stop was Ogunquit, Maine.

 Beautiful area.  And the beginning of The Marginal Way - a mile long walking path along the coast.

I had to walk down and put my fingers in the water.

We enjoyed this area so much.

Next, we headed into Kennebunkport.

Lovely little town with lots of shops.

And just outside of town is President Bush's home.  How cool is that?

Our last Lighthouse of the day - Didn't catch the name of this one.

 We knew that we had to try Lobster while in Maine.  I had never had it before - at least not like this:

Ya - a bit overwhelming.  Couldn't quite get past the thing staring at me.  Suddenly I felt like I was in Science Class again.

At least we looked cute while trying something new, right?

While the lobster was good - we both decided that all of that was way too weird and too much work.  I'll stick to my shrimp.

So - we had so much fun on Thursday, that we hopped in the car and headed back on Friday to hit all the shops.  This time we started in Kennebunkport and headed South.

I was the navigator on our trip and I did manage to get us off course a few times.  But sometimes those are the BEST times.  We got off the map a little and wound up at this beach area at sunset and had the best time exploring!

 I ventured out on the rock and soon discovered I was in the middle of wildlife!

These little guys covered every rock

The bigger they got, the prettier their shells.

And we soon discovered that they traveled!

 They are quite talented, don't you think?

We made one last stop where we began the day before.  At the harbor in Kittery.

Beautiful -

Between the layovers, the wedding, the train ride and our journey into Maine, I was in 10 different states this trip.  Kind of blows my mind.  The New England area is so beautiful and I am really thankful I was able to experience more of it this time around.  It really was hard narrowing down all the photographs.  I hope you enjoyed them.....

As always, time spent with Emily is so special.  Very thankful to have a friend like her in my life.

 We decided that next year we might want to try Whale Watching.  How fun would that be????

Until next time.....