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 6 - Overwhelmed

I'm going to be honest and upfront and just tell you that today was an overwhelming day for me.  Nothing particularly abnormal (for Haiti) happened today.  I ran a few errands with Marilyn and Z this morning, walked through the artisan house as usual and spent an hour or so with these little people:

Kervens, Wasaida and Sarah

Sarah is in the center - still interviewing moms so haven't learned the others names yet.

How can you not fall in love with these beautiful faces!?!  The thing is - I've been a part of Apparent Project for 3 1/2 years now.  Three and a half years of selling jewelry, telling the story and traveling here to see the artisans at work.  All the while, knowing that I was fighting not only for the artisans - but for these little people.  

Occasionally - I would see a few babies here and there at the artisan house - but somehow, this week, it has struck me deeper than before.  Why?  Because I see these faces.  I mean really SEE them. 

I've been interviewing parents for the Apparent Project Blog and I have watched the moms and dads come in and sit down with their children.  The kids are so happy to see them - so attached to them - and then I finish the interview, take a few family photos and the parents go back to work.  And the babies cry.  You know why????  Because they have a healthy attachment to their PARENTS!!!!

The children in the AP Daycare Center really only represent about 3% of the artisans.  Each one having a different circumstance - these children were most at risk.  They were showing signs of malnutrition and were in trouble.  One mother of twins, now enrolled, had come to Shelley asking her permission to put them in an orphanage because production at AP had been cut back (sales slow way down in the Spring) and her hours had been cut.  She wasn't making enough to support all 4 children and the 13 mo twins were suffering.  

Obviously, Shelley bumped up her work schedule and began the process of starting the Daycare.  An idea that has been floating around for quite a while.  Everything happened very quickly, and a month later, I'm here with Joyce and Erin trying to tweak things and help them run as smoothly as possible.  In a third world country.  Where they don't always trust the white people.  With cultures and customs that we have no clue about.  

What works in America - will not work here.  We have to constantly evaluate every change or "improvement" we are suggesting.  Weigh it against the cultural norm.  We want to improve their lives by giving them basics - food, shelter, clothing, a safe place to be while their parents work.  We don't need to make them into little "Americans."  

So how do you best do that?  How do you decide what is best when you don't live here and you don't completely understand the cultural dynamic?  

Well - first you have a meltdown in your room.  You chat with your hubby via Facebook Messenger and you cry because you feel overwhelmed and completely inadequate.  You wonder why you are here and you desire to just run away and not deal with any of it because it's way to hard.  Then you ask a few close friends to pray for you.  Then you pray for yourself.  Then you sit down and have a conversation with Shelley - who has great knowledge and insight because she lives here day in and day out and has gone through all of this same stuff with her own trial and error.  

Then you don't feel quite so crazy.  You realize that God has placed you here - he's given you the ability to bring in talented people like Erin and Joyce - who are not only willing to teach - but willing to learn.  That is so key!  We cannot just come into Haiti with our ideas and expect them to work.  We have to learn - we have to be educated in the ways - in the culture.  When we understand that better - we will better be able to help.

Joyce and Erin spent the entire day today just playing with the kids - observing schedules, routines, interacting with the nannies and the children.

Funny how bubbles and toys are understood in any language!

Dashka has not spoken to anyone since she started coming to the Daycare a month ago when it opened.  Very shy - she warmed up and played ball with Erin today.  

The ladies just watched, came up with ideas and then sat down and ran things past Shelley tonight.  Trying to figure out what would work - what wouldn't and the best way to implement the things that would.  So proud of these ladies.  They are hanging in there and doing great.   Couldn't say the same for myself today.  Ha!  This is their first time in a third world country and there is so much to process!

All I know is this - these babies are attached to their mommas.  Their mommas need a little extra help.  Apparent Project works hard to keep these families together - so these mommas don't have to make the hard decision of giving up their babies to an orphanage because they are starving.  I have had names and faces of artisans for 3 1/2 years.  Now I have names and faces of these beautiful babies and it just makes me want to fight all the harder to figure our how best to help them without making things worse in the process.  That's a hard line to walk on sometimes.  I must continue to learn - and remember that with this knowledge comes great responsibility. 

Lord - give us your heart.  Give us your wisdom.  Your courage.  Your strength.

How can you help?

Host a jewelry party

Have a fundraiser 

Don't need to raise funds for anything?  Raise funds for the AP Daycare!

Support AP on a monthly basis

AP needs $2400 a month to keep this program going.  Any amount each month will help!

Pray - 

pray for the AP Board, for the Nannies, for the children, for Shelley, for Marilyn, for the artisans - for Haiti.

Until tomorrow.........

Day 5 - Natural Springs and Oil Drums

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 

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 

Day 2 - Joyce and Erin Arrive

Today was a bit more relaxed. I visited the babies in the Daycare Center while I waited to go pick Joyce and Erin up from the airport.  Oh my goodness - so in love!  There were eleven babies today, all 2 1/2 and under.

Can you stand it?

 

I spent my morning interviewing all the parents to find out how much this has affected their lives in the last month.  Boy - do I have some really neat stories to share.  But you will have to wait for that - I'll be posting those on the Apparent Project Facebook page and Blog.

Joyce and Erin made it safe and sound about 3:00 today.  We met up with Shelley, got our plans in place for tomorrow and took a walk in Little Clarvil again.

They got to walk on the bridge!

And Joyce got to hold Monet's sweet twins too!

Joyce and Erin start the trainings with the Nannies tomorrow morning at 9:00.  Working on Infant CPR, First Aid, etc.  They are so excited to be here and I can't wait to see all that unfolds this week.  Please pray for us as we begin this process tomorrow.  It's going to be great!

Until tomorrow..........

 

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

THIS is Why We Do All That We Do!

It's been a whirlwind few days!  I flew into Seattle late Saturday night so that I could attend an Apparent Project Board Meeting on Sunday.

What a wonderful time that was!  It was so nice to all be in one room instead of on a conference call.  We just sat and shared our thoughts and ideas and before we knew it, four hours had gone by!  God continues to do exciting things!

This also gave me the opportunity to see the new Apparent Project Shipping Center!  It's completely and totally awesome!  More on that later as I interviewed each of these lovelies so you can get to know them a little better -

We were missing two office staff in this pic - but these gals are what keeps Apparent Project going all over the United States and they do a marvelous job!  Can't wait to tell you about them!

This amazing guy right here is Pierre.  He is an artisan for Apparent Project and he is visiting Marilyn for 3 months.  He is learning the ins and outs of all that goes on in the US office as well as improving his English, grammar, typing and computer skills.

When I say he is amazing, I'm not even kidding!  I'll tell you more about him in the future as well.








One of the best things we did was go into Seattle.  Since neither Pierre, nor I had been there, it was a new experience for us both.  I think it was more fun experiencing it with him!  He was in New York this past winter helping Shelley with the Trade Show and I remember thinking how awesome it would be to experience things in America through his eyes.  I'm so thankful I got to do that!

 

Ferry Ride into Seattle

This was his favorite part!  He had been on a boat once when he visited the Statue of Liberty - but this time, he got to experience our driving the car on the Ferry.  He had so much fun!

Our happy tour guide - Marilyn

Coming into Seattle

Of course, we visited the famous Underground Tour AND

Pike's Place Market - where they throw fish back and forth.  Now that's an experience!

Now what is a trip to Seattle without going to the Space Needle?  This was the other favorite part of the day.  I loved it when Pierre looked at us and said, "We are going up in that?"   He loved it!

And I can't forget the fact that we introduced him to his first Bacon Cheeseburger and Onion Rings!  I think he was finished eating before us!

On Tuesday night, I flew out and arrived in Haiti this afternoon.  What a trip!  I like the short hop from Jacksonville a lot better.

Zidor picked me up from the airport, I got somewhat settled at the Guesthouse and went to see Shelley.  After dinner, we took a walk in Little Clarvil.  This community is so amazing.......

I got to see the bridge!  Everything has grown up around it and it's just become part of the community.  Monet told me tonight that they love it because when they have a big load to bring in from market, they don't have to carry it so far because the moto-taxi can get across the bridge and bring everything right into the community.  So awesome!

I hiked to the top of the hill behind Little Clarvil with this gang!  So much fun!!!!

Keziah discovered a skull - we think it was a goat......

View of Little Clarvil from the hill.  Love the Apparent Project house in the upper left corner.  Now its red roof is covered with Solar Panels.  So very cool.

We visited with the ladies sitting around and roasting coffee beans

We watched this young man skin and gut a bird for dinner.  Definitely drew a crowd!

 We visited with old friends (we helped this man paint his house last year) 

 He always has the rubber boots on - I LOVE it!!!

Made some new friends - These little guys kept wanting a photo and then they would laugh hysterically when I would show it to them on the back of my camera.  So cute.

But this......

This took my heart.  THIS is why we work so hard.  THIS is who we are fighting for.

These are Monet's baby twins.  6 weeks old.  A boy (right) and a girl (left).  Right now the baby boy has Chikungunya.  Poor little guy was in so much pain when if you moved him very much. 

Monet is now the mother of 6.  She works for Shelley and is currently on maternity leave.  When that is over, these two will come to the Daycare center while Monet works. 

 I can't imagine them being anywhere else.

THIS is why we are here this week.  To better train the nannies and help get things organized.  THIS is part of helping to keep families together - by not only providing jobs.  But by providing a safe place for the babies to go until they are old enough to go to school.

Pray for Joyce and Erin - they fly in tomorrow around 2:30 and they will be doing trainings on Friday.  Keep checking back - I'll be blogging all week!

Until next time.........