and...SNAP!

Life can change in a moment's notice.

I haven't the heart to rewrite another version of this current announcement...it saddens my soul at the moment. 

So I am just going to post a LINK HERE to an important announcement that we sent out today.

If you want the short version:

We no longer work for Apparent Project.

While we've had a million thoughts & emotions related to this abrupt & unforseen turn of events, God has granted us perspective & peace for the moment. We are sad without a doubt & a little confused.

PRAY for us.

PRAY with us.

We need clarity, guidance & provision -

we have the same attitudes,

the same hearts,

the same calling,

we have a home that is paid for the next 10 months,

a car,

a community,

a life

& a vision that we've been given here...

that we have just finished preparing for...

and we don't intend to make any SNAP decisions ourselves. 

I'm thankful to my cousin who tagged us in a facebook message earlier today with this scripture:

He will rescue the poor when they cry to him; he will help the oppressed, who have no one to defend them. He feels pity for the weak and the needy, and he will rescue them. He will redeem them from oppression and violence,for their lives are precious to him.

Psalms 72:12-14

He had no idea of this announcement, but the passage has been a salve of encouragement today as we pondered on our next steps. It confirms that we have been on the right track in seeking to put action into areas close to His heart. More importantly it reminds us that HE is the one in charge of the needs here in Haiti. We hope to be able to continue on here, but rest assured that HE has a plan either way!

Read today's announcement letter HERE.

10 reasons to engage with Apparent Project in Haiti.

1.

Apparent project has helped create jobs for 250 artisans...

                                                       this is no SMALL thing in a place like Haiti!

Children remain with their parents, are being nourished & sent to school by them, and are no longer "at risk" for abandonment.

The others speak for themselves...

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

These are only 9 out of 250 stories...

When you consider the outcomes just among these few...there are 28 children who are NOT having to grow up with out their parents in one of the many overflowing and under-supported Haitian orphanages.

Multiply that times the life stories of the other 241 current employees of Papillion Enterprises and you can see why we are SO excited about the work that Apparent Project is committed to.

We are blessed to be able to use the talents that God has given us to help CREATE additional businesses & jobs for the parents of at-risk children and to HELP keep these SAME moms (and dads) as well as others in the community ALIVE through safe childbirth and good medical care! 

Join us in watching God's work continue to FRACTURE the cycle of poverty in Haiti!

Consider partnering in ministry with us and Apparent Project in 2014!

GIVE

Volunteer

Jewelry Parties

Cereal Box Donations

Maternity Care Supplies

Business Development Support

PRAY

Giving Thanks...AP's first success!!!

Recent posting/announcement from Apparent Project...

AP - Successful Business Incubator!

A business incubator is an organization that specializes in taking ideas or start-up companies and encouraging them until they become full-fledged businesses that are able to produce profits and stand on their own. Typically, incubators are programs sponsored by donations from large corporations or colleges. They take on several start-up companies at once and provide them with the necessary resources to run their business.

Papillon Enterprise: A social enterprise and production facility in Haiti born out of the efforts of the Apparent Project in order to create jobs and help keep kids out of orphanages. Papillon is run and owed by Shelley Clay and has sold to other buyers such as Donna Karan, Disney, Choose Haiti, The Gap, and more. 

Apparent Project is the business incubator for start up businesses that help aid in the economic situation of families in Haiti. Apparent Project also does community development, education, job skills training, medical relief, prenatal care, and also continues to market and promote Papillon goods as well as other Haitian artisan goods through it's party sales and fundraisers. 

This fall with now 230 employees, Shelley Clay decided to step down as the face of Apparent Project and focus solely on running Papillon Enterprise. Everything will continue as usual in terms of the function of the two organizations and for now, our stateside operations director, Marilyn, will be the director of Apparent Project. This will allow Shelley to oversea the growth of the business without having to co manage a nonprofit in the United States. In short, one person can't do it al!! 

Well done Apparent Project. The first business incubator attempt was a smashing success! 
What now?
We have hopes that along with the normal support that Apparent Project contributes to the community here in Haiti, that another business would soon be born out of APs efforts to further employ and empower the Haitian poor! Everything will pretty much stay the same. We will still be selling great artisan products made by the same great artisans, and celebrating what their creativity is accomplishing. We are hoping that AP will now be able to grow and move to the next level. Some of our brainstorms for more business incubation includes: graphic design, computer training, micro business assistance, and more. We thank you for your support of providing jobs and restoring dignity to the Haitian poor! 

Excerpted from

http://apparentproject.blogspot.com/2013/11/ap-successful-business-incubator.html

Sixty seconds in Haiti...

that puts ALL of our previous "glimpse of Haiti" videos to shame!

ENJOY 

Thank you to Kohl Threlkeld @ Artefact Haiti for generously sharing his delightful film.

So much talent in such a little country!

for Coffee lovers!

There is exciting news this month...

a new online company is importing and making locally grown Haitian coffee available in the US!

Every serious coffee drinker visiting Haiti invariably makes sure that they have an adequate stash of REBO in their checked bags before boarding the plane home. 

While we love filling Haitian coffee orders for guests and toting it to family & friends when we visit...this is very exciting news for the Haitian coffee industry itself! We all know that anything that helps the economy here is a GOOD thing. SO hopefully this will give you an even better excuse to buy your coffee from Kafe Pa Nou (translated: "our coffee")

Just in case that isn't convincing enough. I'll add that the coffees that they sell here are competitively priced and considered a "direct trade" product. Read about it here. We are strong advocates of this alternative model.

Ted's pick???      

Cafe REBO Deluxe