“You make beautiful things,
You make beautiful things out of us.
All around, hope is springing up from this old ground.
Out of chaos, life is being found in You.”
-‘Beautiful Things’ by Gungor
Wow! This month FLOWN! We fly out late Wednesday morning, and we’ll have our little guy in our arms sometime that afternoon! 😀
I thought it would be fun to use the Periscope app to share parts of our (4-day) trip via (live) video.
I’ll also be posting photos to my Instagram feed, so I’d love to connect with you over there throughout the week too!
Today, Kevin and I are busy doing laundry and rounding up “trip stuff”. I’m bringing a bunch of scrapbook paper with me this time because y’all just wouldn’t believe what the women at Three Angels can do with the stuff! Check it out:
They’re called BIJOU beads, and they’re made out of long, narrow triangles of scrapbook paper or empty cereal boxes.
The BIJOU program was created by Three Angels to interrupt one of the primary factors involved in women relinquishing their child to an orphanage: lack of income. Most children in orphanages in Haiti are there because their mom was in a desperate financial circumstance. Three Angels is passionate about creating programs like these because relinquishment is a choice a mother should never have to make.
(Jabette)
(Lilliane)
(Rosaline and her son, Ralph)
I was so intrigued by the bead-making process. What a talented group of gals! Every day, beauty-full mamas would pass through the always-open guest house door and hang their hard work on colorful nails next to their names.
Alex (below), would carefully collect and inspect them every afternoon. She’d log in each piece, and make sure the women who created them were paid directly, that same day.
And can I just take a moment to talk about Alex? What an inspiration! She interned as BIJOU manager at Three Angels from February to June, so we got to spend some time with her while we were there in late February/early March. She wrote this on her blog right before she flew to Haiti to start the internship, “God promises not to leave us as He finds us. He will finish he work He starts in each of us and I must remind myself of this truth each time I begin to doubt”.
Such a smart and courageous (23-year-old) lady!
She’s back home in Canada now, but in putting together this post, I asked her to tell me about a moment that really stands out in her mind. She replied, “There was one moment, about 3 months into my stay. I was really homesick and mentally drained.”
(Alex on the roof above the guest house- March 14, 2015)
“I knew I didn’t have that much longer to finish my internship, but it was clear I wouldn’t be able to do it on my own. That night, sitting on my bed, I was teary and prayed over and over and over again that God would break my heart for what breaks His. As I prayed, He laid on my heart the story of a lady who had become so dear to me. I could feel my mindset start to transform and renew, and from that point on, it became increasingly difficult to think about leaving. Now, I’m homesick for Haiti and the 60 incredible BIJOU women I came to know and love. I can’t wait to get back!”
I feel so blessed to have seen, firsthand, how God is using all the folks at Three Angels to make a life-long impact on the children and families in the Delmas community. Hope really is springing up from that old ground, y’all. Can’t believe I’ll be standing on it with my baby again SOON! 😀
PS- Three Angels lists the jewelry for sale in their online store, and sends “BIJOU boxes” to folks who wants to host BIJOU parties in their homes. Local friends: I’m going to host a BIJOU party when I get back from Haiti. Hope to see you then! XO
*Edited to add: I’ve received a lot of messages asking about donating scrapbook paper (y’all are so kind!), so I wanted to post this email address: [email protected] for those interested in reaching out. Thank you!
Safe travels to see sweet P! Now I’m heading over to scope out the jewelry!
Can I donate scrapbook paper? I have a box full and would love for it to go a worthy cause. 🙂
I have a ton as well. Please let me know how to send it to these wonderful ladies.
Y’all are the sweetest! You can send them an email at [email protected] to find out where to send donations. XO
Love the jewellery. I wonder if they provide party boxes for anywhere in the world or have limited posting areas? If so, I would host a party with my friends here in Australia.
I always get teary-eyed when I read about Sweet P, but today I bawled when I read “Three Angels is passionate about creating programs like these because relinquishment is a choice a mother should never have to make.” Thank you for always sharing from your heart, Layla. Have a wonderful visit with your boy!
Layla – your blog has become my favorite of all that I follow. I love your decorating style , tips and ideas but more than that I love your heart and how openly you share with us. I can’t wait for you to have Sweet P in your home as your official baby boy. What a glorious day!!
So excited for you guys! Have a great trip! (Praying for safe travels) Thanks for sharing this inspiring story! I can’t believe what beautiful pieces of art they can make out of paper. Wow.
Hugs,
Lara
Thank you, Lara! XO
Best wishes as you travel to see your little one! I also wanted to share with you a group that has been around maybe more than 10 years: BeadForLife.org. They do the same thing. I’m not associated with them but I have purchased from them and the jewelry is pretty and gets nice remarks. Squeeze that little guy real good!
I am so excited about you all going to see your boy!! I hang onto every word in your posts when you talk about Sweet P – enjoying the moments right along with you. I’m so thankful you will be bringing him back “home” before you know it!! What a blessed day that will be!!! (I ordered some of the bracelets a few months ago and they are beautiful. Need to order a necklace next.)
I used to make these with my grandmother out of colorful magazine pages. She grew up in the depression and this was a way they could afford to have jewelry. I like the scrapbook versions of them even better! And the shapes are really cool–different than how ours turned out. Thanks for bringing back such a fond memory. Safe travels! Can’t wait to follow along on instagram.
Layla, thank you for sharing about the Bijou program. I already sent an email to the link you posted and hope to hear back from them soon so I can help donate some lovely paper to a very lovely program!
Thank you so much, Karen. That is so very kind of you!
I guess I do not understand why you just can’t bring your child home?? All of these times you visit why not just bring him home now?? The jewelry is beautiful I am hoping to buy some soon
Hi Brenda!
Here is a link to the post I published about the process:
Meeting Our Son!
That will give you a clearer picture of all that’s involved when adopting internationally, and from an under-staffed third world country who is in the process of implementing brand new steps under the Hague Convention.
Layla, I don’t know if you will be having your BIJOU party in a public setting, but I’d LOVE to come and buy some jewelry to support Three Angels instead of a mass manufacturer in China! 🙂 Will you let those of us who are local, but not technically friends
🙂 know when and where the sale will be on the blog here?
Looking forward to seeing some of those beautiful, colorful pieces in person, and I will be glad to advertise to my friends here when you have the party.
I’ll be keeping up with your trip via Instagram. Godspeed and many blessings!
Hi Donna!
You are so sweet to ask about the party! I will definitely keep you posted on the date and place. Thank you for asking! XO
I just bought a bracelet! Can’t wait to wear it. Thanks for keeping us posted on your adoption journey. I’ll be praying for your family while you are there!
Layla,
Thank-you for starting my morning off with such happy news. I really hope that you have a wonderful trip to visit Sweet Pea.
I appreciate you sharing the amazing work these ladies do and I know someone who might be interested in helping out. Could you possibly email me when you have a chance I’d really appreciate it.
Sincerely,
Penny
Sure thing, Penny! I’ll email you now! XO
Thank-you so much Layla.
Enjoy your time with little Sweet P.
Thank you for sharing this story. I hear people comment that they cannot find work or have no money. They need to read this story to see that sometimes you have to make your own opportunities. There opportunities all around us. This is a great testimony on how you can take something so simple as a sheet of paper and make something beautiful out of it. There is beauty in everything, we just have to find it. Blessings and safe travels!
Bracelets, Bracelets, Bracelets!!!! Wish I could donate some paper.
I want some too.
Bless the hearts of these wonderfully creative women.
Layla and Kev……….vaya con Dios!!!!! Give Sweet P a kiss from all of us. he is soooo loved.
Enjoy your visit with Sweet P . Ironically that’s what I called my son and now my grandson. We will all be praying for you.. Gods speed…
Thank you, Maggie! Sweet P’s unite! 😀
Excited for your visit.
Impressed by this jewelry made out of paper.
Blessed by the beautiful women who make it, and the one who created it..
Moved to give..and thank the One who loves us all!
Hallelujah!
wildly excited about your upcoming visit!! squeeeeeeeeee!
wish i knew how big the bracelets are… my wrists are fat, along with the rest of me!…because i would love to wear these bracelets and advertise for this wonderful ladies.
Stop by the guest house. The coke is in the fridge. 🙂
So excited that you’ll be with your son soon! 🙂 Safe travels!
Enjoy your “visit” making many new memories! You will certainly need more than one box of BIJOU jewelry when you host your party. Many faithful readers will be ordering
from their selections after reading this post. (I want a strand of every color!) Thank you for sharing their story and reminding us daily of God’s goodness and faithulness.
Have a great time visiting your baby! Those t-shirts are so sweet, and that jewelry is amazing I can’t believe that’s made out of paper, those ladies are definitely talented.
Lauren Baxter | LB Designs
xx
I don’t even wear jewelry and I love these! I can’t believe they are made from paper! I would love to see a video how exactly they are fashioned. And it looks like they need to start stocking their site–you have really sparked an interest in their work.
Have a wonderful visit! Safe travels.
So happy for you as you travel to be with your son. What an exciting moment! Those beads are so beautiful, thank you so much for sharing such a beautiful cause. Safe travels!
I am local (Montgomery) and would love to attend the BIJOU party and stock up on meaningful Christmas gifts!