The ApParent Project Visit

                                      

Wisler rolling suitcase of boxes

My visit was amazing...so amazed, spellbound and awestruck was I, that I hardly took any pictures. Never fear Tim and Cindy Irish were on the ball--so yes there are pictures--lots!
But let's go back to amazed, spellbound and awestruck for a minute. I was speechless--the lump in my throat, as I gazed upon the faces of the moms and dads working so hard for their families, threatened to spill out into tears of gratitude and humbleness at being allowed to play a small part in this amazing ministry. 







   My first visit to Haiti in June of 2010 changed my life forever. Of course the obvious catalyst for that change was meeting my then five year old son. While there, God peeled away layers of oblivion that had shrouded my heart and eyes and showed me true suffering and poverty (oh and don't forget the devestation of a major earthquake). I could not look upon such pain and not be changed forever. I close my eyes and see the houses piled like pancakes, the starving kids, the mud pies the tent cities. I see our world--here in the good ol' USA so differently. The excess and extravagance remind me constantly of my own selfishness...my desire for things and discontent with what I have-- that to a mom sitting outside her tin shack holding her starving baby -- would be a luxury. For months I prayed-


God show me how to help. I want to help. I want to encourage. Help me to understand. Help me not to be a cultural buffoon. Help me to help. Show me how to give a hand up with dignity and honor.

Beautiful artwork in the courtyard all made from "junk"

God answered that prayer. Through the course of events I came across the Apparent Project. I knew this was the answer. I knew this was how God wanted me to help. I contacted AP and recieved my first box of fundraising bracelets in early February. To say they sold like hotcakes would be an understatement. People were moved by the amazing stories--reading through and buying bracelets because of the stories--not because of the colors or bead work (although the bracelets are beautifully crafted). 

Take a close look and see what "trash" you can identify!

My second box arrived in mid- March and since then I have taken them on the road. I have given

about a half dozen presentations. I tell our adoption story and how we found AP, show pictures and sell bracelets. I love it. I love talking about Haiti. I love sharing how God has pulled us through our adoption ( two years and counting). I love talking about the spirit and beauty of the Haitian people. I love talking about AP and how mums and dads get to keep their kids--and feed them because of AP--and how AP re-purposes trash for such beauty. I love that each piece is uniquely made- an extension of the artist--each bead --tightly wound hope for their future and family.


Visiting AP has made me more passionate about advertising their products and selling bracelets for them and us (as most of you know the bracelet fundraiser is not only instrumental in supporting AP but has been helping us raise the last bit o'money for our adoption of Wisler, pronounced the French way Wislay). I have some plans up my sleeve but am not quite ready to reveal just yet...but stay tuned ...
In the meantime here's a tour of AP in pictures... 




                                                    Hard at Work....

Photo credit T&C Irish

Photo Credit T&C Irish

    

Photo Credit T&C Irish

Photo Credit T&C Irish

  

 












 

Loved these bracelets on the end of the table

This pile will last a week...so please donate--especially if you can bring it down yourself!
Another note here I know a wonderful little girl  (my niece) who has started a FB page- Boxes for Bracelets--so if you are local and want to help out--check out her page on how to donate boxes and/or cash to mail the boxes!

the sewing room girls--these ladies were so sweet and had such beautiful smiles

Amazing new beads made from mud pie mud--instead of having to eat  the mud--they can make beads and eat nutritious food

Photo Credit T&C Irish

                                                           SHOPPING!!!

Photo Credit T&C Irish

 Photo Credit T&C Irish

And speaking of SHOPPING!

 for those of you who are interested I have exactly 38 bracelets left from my second box. If you would like to purchase some please let me know via email (louisej12@gmail.com) and we can meet up! Also visit the Apparent Project website for more shopping and ways to help. They also have a facebook page...ApParent Project.

Day 2

Friday morning arrived too early (some of you who have been to KKO can chuckle here and close your eyes for a minute and savor this next moment)- around 3:30 with the roosters, a little later with the dogs and then with stubborn determination at 5:30 when the church bells began tolling. Anyway my consolation for more sleep deprivation was this amazing sunrise...

Day Two in Haiti was busy!!! For the first time I was going to school with Wisler. I chose my orange shirt so I would match my boy (I know call my dorky). We chomped through breakfast and were ready to go. I followed Wisler (and his friend Sebastien and his parents Tim and Cindy) through the maze of alleyways that he uses to walk to school everyday. I felt like a mouse. We speed walked/ jogged through alleys no wider than two people--foot traffic squeezing past each other--open doorways on either side peered into dark homes. Vendors squished into doorways selling snacks, meat and breads. Some of it smelled amazing...it was quite an onslaught to the senses--this light jog through to school. 

the only picture I snapped while racing through the alleys--
I was worried that if I stopped for too
long I would lose my guide!

School had a party atmosphere. It had been National Children's Week in Haiti-- a week long celebration of children and President Martinelli's signing of the Hague Agreement. (Note: Nobody at this point really knows what this means for adoptions in Haiti.) School Friday began in the church with an assembly. I honestly could not tell you what it was about (it takes me a few days of listening before I can understand again)--only that there was lots of singing, dancing in their seats and screaming. After a bit the kids were dismissed to their classrooms.

Wisler listening at the assembly.

Wisler's classroom is on the second floor. The hallway to his classroom runs through three classrooms before his--his is the dead end. The windows face the courtyard below. His teacher is a tiny lady--who I initially thought was a student...yikes. The kids started out class with recitations. As their voices chanted I took a moment to look at the board--  it was covered with grammar lessons and math equations. (As a homeschooling mama I am constantly trying to figure out what Wisler is learning and what being in second grade in Haiti means. Children in Haiti go to school starting as young as three and attend through till they are 21.) After about thirty minutes or so I headed back to the orphanage to wait for the next adventure...our trip to the ApParent Project. 

Wisler was much the center of attention from his friends because his mum was there--too funny --he seemed embarrassed. (part of why I left after about 30 minutes)

Haiti Trip Number Three

On June 7th I left for Haiti for the first time since August of 2010. Almost two years. My heart raced with nervousness. Would he still like me? Would be be angry that it had been so long? I prayed. You all prayed. God worked an amazing miracle--it was THE BEST visit we have had. There were many what I would call pivotal moments during our visit that I would like to share. I want to give each one its own limelight, so I am going to write a series of posts about this one visit. The first pivotal moment of course was our reunion.
                                               

  The Arrival

We arrived in PAP made our way through customs and baggage retrieval. Then we regrouped and prepared for the onslaught. We knew once we left the safety of the terminal and began our walk down the outside corridor towards the parking lot we would be met with a barrage of helpers. Porters desperate to help you in hopes of payment. We gathered our group and prepared to say our "no mesi's".
I led the way out and instantly they were grabbing my suitcase trying to pull it away--"no mesi, no mesi" (Creole for no thank you)  my grip tightened. Suddenly there was a commotion towards the back of our group--they were trying to pull suitcases off our baggage cart. We were saved further "help" when Jacnel our driver showed up like a knight in shining armor. Brandishing his Creole like a sword, they backed off. As I turned forward once again my heart skipped. There he was. He had been standing right in back of me during this whole altercation. He had on a bright blue polo shirt and a big smile. I squealed and hugged him as best I could with all my baggage. I squeezed and kissed those adorable cheeks. His hand found mine and we continued on our walk to the vehicles. Jacnel had brought two vehicles- a flat bed and passenger car. Wisler wanted to ride in the flat bed. I must confess I did not mind- after being cooped up in a bus, two airports and two airplanes since 4 a.m. fresh air- even fresh air choking with exhaust fumes and other unpleasant Haiti smells was better than squeezing into yet another stuffy vehicle.
We arrived at Wayoum Timoun about 30 minutes later. Hauling our bags to our rooftop rooms we were re-aquainted with a permanant state of being in Haiti- sweat. Dripping. Slimy. Sticky. Always sweating. Anyway we started unpacking donations for Marta (our incredible amazing super awesome cook) and Mimose (head mama extrodinaire). Wisler was pleased with his surprises-legoes, crayons, markers, some stencils, books, some small balls, a toy motorcycle, dried fruit, peanutbutter crackers (staple treat) and organic fruit snacks. Of course his absolute favorite thing to play with on visits is a small digital camera that I bring along just for him to use. He loves to take photos and videos and I love to look through his lens and see his perspective of our visit when I get home. Dinner and bucket showers, and bed soon followed. It was a miraculous reunion.

All I Want for Mother's Day

I was out grocery shopping last Saturday and noticed all the Mother's Day "stuff" for sale everywhere--cards, flowers, boxes of chocolates, journals, books on motherhood--the list goes on. As I perused thinking of my own mom I wondered what do I want for Mother's Day? Inevitably my husband always asks--and usually all I want is a few more minutes in bed and maybe a day off from breakfast duty. But this year was different. This year my heart sighed. This long adoption journey has taken us down roads we never dreamed of. God has lead the way teaching us lessons in patience I never thought existed. Teaching us that He is Bigger than All This .

 And so I started to sing a song (in my head of course the folks at Wal-Mart would have given me strange looks had it been aloud)--"all I want for Mother's Day is for Wilser to get a number, Wilser to get a number. All I want for Mother's Day is for Wisler to get a number. Gee if I could only have a IBESR number...you could wish me a Happy Mother's Day" (all this to the tune of All I want for Christmas). I sang that song all day last Saturday.


Sunday the phone rang. God is bigger. It was the stateside adoption coordinator. She was calling to let us know we had a case number.   All I could say was "you got to be kidding." I was in shock --although now that I look back I don't know why. Did I think God wasn't listening? That he couldn't do it? I dunno. But He did. Now the amazing miracle of waiting 21 months for a case number isn't really the truly amazing part. The crazy amazing part is this. The new director of IBESR (Haitian DHS) made the decision to close IBESR until July 29th. This is an effort to clear out the back log of cases.

 This meant that only cases with numbers would be worked on until then. IBESR closed May 7th. We got our number on May 6th. (Imagine that kid racing the ball to home plate.) Now what does getting a case number mean? Well it means our dossier is proceeding through IBESR and acquiring the signatures it needs for approval. After that it will make it's way to the president's desk so he can give us a dispensation. (We need this because Haitian law does not allow families with bio children to adopt unless they get a presidential dispensation.)  We will then go to court where Wisler will be legally adopted. Then we will need to wait for visas, passport and final medical exams. There is still no timeline--no dates in our future. We will wait-- knowing and believing God is bigger than all this.

New Bracelets

Here are some new bracelets for sale...please check them out and let me know what you like. For an additional two dollars I will ship them to you. The bracelets are $8-- four goes the the artisan and four goes towards our adoption account.

batch 1

batch 2

batch 3

batch 4

batch 5

God is Bigger

Last night I presented the Apparent Project bracelets at my first official-not in my house party. (by the way I sold all 150 bracelets from my first box and am working my way through the second box of 200) It was an awesome party. I presented information about the Apparent Project and told our adoption story. It felt really good to talk about Wisler--therapeutic in a way. Of course every time I share our story it leaves me  contemplative--musing--dreaming about someday--what will it be like? Anyway this night was no different. As I drove home alternately thinking about Wisler and listening to the radio a story on the radio suddenly pulled me from my dreaming. A man was describing his experience of speaking to a group of 3000 fire fighters at a funeral for one of their own--a fallen comrade. He started off his speech with the words,

"God is bigger than all of this..." 

Wow. These words hit me HARD.
GOD IS BIGGER THAN ALL THIS (imagine my hand sweeping over the last two years of waiting for our adoption to have some movement--for some word --for just a glimmer of hope-- even just a word of yes we have your dossier and it is being looked at.)

GOD IS BIGGER THAN ALL THIS.

He is bigger than this process that seems to have no finish line. God is bigger. Through his power, our adoption could be complete tomorrow--it would be an incredible God miracle.
But God is bigger. And my point is this: in that one moment when that man spoke those words on the radio I saw our adoption walk not as a singular event--not as the finale --but as maybe the first Act in an incredible production starring God and a beautiful cast of extras--adoptive families, children at KKO and so many others.
God works all to his good-- SO this waiting--it is GOOD. NOT EASY. JUST GOOD.

I prayed long and hard after our first visit to Haiti in June of 2010. I was so broken for the folks of Haiti. I had never seen such suffering, such heartache and yet so much joy and hope. I hurt for them. I prayed for God to show me a way to help--a way to help without hurting or adding to the problem. He answered that prayer. Of course not in the way I ever expected. An almost two year and holding adoption process was not what I had in mind. But now through the course of events and people I have grown to know and love I am selling bracelets to fund the last chunk for our adoption and to help several artisans keep their families together. And because of my decision to serve Him while I wait others are stepping in--selling bracelets for our adoption and for the artisans in Haiti, and just recently my niece stepping up with Boxes for Bracelets.

God works all for His Good. This is good. So now I can look at this wait and see--no it is not easy. I do not understand it. But I can embrace it --I can serve while I wait --for the curtain to part and reveal the next Act in our adoption story.

If you would like to help--please contact me louisej12 at gmail.com.

PLEASE VISIT THE APPARENT PROJECT WEBSITE. 

Hope In A Bracelet

                                                                             

Adoption is only one step in the journey God has for our family. He has also placed a heart of compassion and love for the people of Haiti-for the mums and dads who struggle to live and to feed their kiddos every minute of the day. Our family has prayed about how to help the folks in Haiti--how to give a hand up not a hand out----how to help without hurting- and how to fund the remaining portions of the adoption. The answer came about a week ago when Spring, who is adopting Wisler's brother posted pictures of bracelets from the Apparent Project... (please take a moment and visit their website!)

The Apparent Project artisans guild uses discarded materials such as cereal and cracker boxes, oil drums, and trash paper to create beautiful “upcycled” pieces of jewelry, journals, and stylish home decor. While redeeming the Haitian landscape, these artisans are also bringing new hope to their families, employing themselves for a brighter future and earning the means to pay for their children's food, shelter, andeducation. That means less orphans, less crime, less garbage, less stress, and a whole lot more beauty.

The Apparent Project artisans' guild 
addresses Haiti's orphan crisis at the root. 

                                                                             -The Apparent Project

 

 The organization works with Haitian artisans to help them sell their work --thus making money to put food on their table--to feed their kids--to keep their families together. I love that these artisans use re-purposed and recycled materials to create their art. It is truly a win win situation. So how does it work to fund our adoption? Well I recently received a box of 150 bracelets. I have one month to sell these bracelets. The bracelets sell for $8, half the money to the artisan in Haiti (each bracelet is labeled with a picture and description of the artist)  and half goes to our adoption bank account. As we head into the final stretch (yes it is the final stretch --other dossiers are moving so I have new hope that this year we will see our dossier move too) we are facing about $6000 in final adoption costs. Hence this awesome fundraiser!

There are several ways to buy a bracelet. You can just set up to meet with me individually, you can host a jewelry party ( I have a video to play and some flyers to give out at such an event), or you can meet up with me I will give you and order form and some bracelets to sell on your own. Whatever you choose to do is incredibly helpful!

  

  

How do they fit? Check it out...(there are different sizes and I have a small sandwich bag of little girl sizes--not many about 10)

 

What do the mini bios say? (in a nut shell?)