HAITI :: Seeing Stars buys 600 meals!

3-Dimensional stars by Cris Letourneau, CZT

Time and time again we share stories of our team's interactions with disabled children in China, Haiti and the USA. We post photos of mission trips showcasing volunteers working on behalf of these extraordinary kids. We continually tell how your donations make a difference in the lives of children. And we love, love, love sharing the creative ways that people support The Red Thread Promise and inspire others to do the same.

Here is a follow up on our post from Christmas Eve, 2013 where one of our long-time supporters had a great idea and ran with it. 

Cris, a Certified Zentangle Teacher in central Ohio, heard about the food crisis at St. Vincent's. She saw a need and wanted to make a difference. In December 2013, she published Seeing Stars, an ebook of instructions and templates for creating 3-dimensional star ornaments. Inside the book she wrote about St. Vincent's and promised to help feed the children with every book sale. The rest, as they say, is history! 

The Red Thread team recently did a mini-interview with Cris. We asked why she felt compelled to help and how she arrived at the idea of writing a book. 

* * * * *

When I thought about the kids at St. Vincent's sitting in the dark, hungry at Christmas time, it just about broke my heart. Hearing the news on my dad's birthday was even more upsetting. My father was a physician whose motto was, "All God's children get sick. And when they are sick, I will help them get well, whether they can pay or not."  

At first, I thought, "What can I do to help?" I am not a physician; I am an artist. Normally, I am a "write a check and be done" person. But since my husband is between jobs right now, we aren't able to donate as much as I would have liked.

I took a quick skills inventory:

• I have writing experience, having written Made in the Shade last year
• I get a lot of compliments about my art
• I had just taught a very popular class on making 3-Dimensional star ornaments

So, I decided to combine the three and write an instructional book on how to make star ornaments. I did all of the art on the stars so you don't have to know how to do Zentangle to enjoy the book. When the book went up for sale, I asked all of my fellow Zentangle teachers to let their students know about it and they did!

I donated 100% of the profits from the book to TRTP up until Christmas. After that, I'm sharing with them so that each book sold will feed a child for a day. That will go on for as long as people continue to buy the book. My goal was to earn $500 for the kids and I just sent that check to them today!

* * * * *

Sending a hearty THANK YOU to Cris and all who ordered her book. 

Together, you have provided 600 meals for St. Vincent's kids!

HAITI :: Seeing Stars buys food!

Original Zentangle Inspired Art (ZIA) by Cris

Posting so many thanks today is making Christmas Eve feel more like Thanksgiving. 

In that spirit, thanks to Cris Letourneau for her creative idea to support the food drive! She recently published an e-book and is giving a portion of the sales to TRTP. 

"My goal is to raise $500 and we are almost there! To date, I have $396 to send to the kids. That includes book sales to people in 27 different states, 5 countries, and 3 continents!" ~ Cris

If you are interested in seeing (or ordering!) Cris's book, click here and help feed the kids!

HAITI :: The visible red thread

Sonya and one of many aspiring art students

Art connects people. Without so much as a single word, colors on a canvas or lines on a page can bring strangers together. In some instances, art creates a unique foundation on which to build relationships. 

Art, like love and hope, is a language all its own. It knows no boundaries. It is something to be shared. Regardless of who you are, or where you come from. Irrespective of size, shape, color, race, gender, religion, economic status or language. What a gift—a gift that Sonya was more than happy to share with many during our last trip to Haiti. 

The art of Zentangle, a form of meditative drawing, was the conduit for connecting with people throughout the week: from children in a remote mountain schoolyard, to highly competitive street vendors peddling their wares in the city, to students at St. Vincent’s Center for Handicapped Children. 

Some of the beautiful Zentangle tiles created during the trip
(Sonya's on the left; Locson's first attempt on the right)

The Duplan schoolyard

It began with a single teenager whose curiosity got the best of him during recess on the team’s first day in Duplan, a rural mountainside village. Sonya spread out her art, sat down on a concrete bench and began to draw. She looked up to find him intently watching her every pen stroke. Of course, she invited him to give it a try and the rest, as they say, is history. 

Throughout the week, Sonya’s impromptu class grew from one to 12—using every pen, each pencil and all the paper she brought—with more than 20 observers at any given time; each anxiously awaiting their turn. These normally aloof teens showed an amazing curiosity for Zentangle, their interest increasing daily. It was wonderful watching the kids progress from tentative drawing and dissatisfaction with their work to complete confidence and asking for more paper! 

The first art student

His intense concentration was impressive

Locson

As Sonya worked with the kids on that first day, a sprightly 20-something arrived at the school in hopes of selling his artwork to our team. What a blessing this young man turned out to be! Not only was he a fantastic painter (per Sonya: “possibly the most talented artist I’ve met in Haiti”) but, more importantly, a kind and caring person.

Locson and Sonya during a Zentangle lesson

Although the two just met, a strong bond quickly formed between the two. In turn, the pair reviewed one another’s art, discussed techniques, materials, cost and value. Over time, they set aside the small talk and delved deeper, talking about inspiration, their individual art instruction and Locson’s aspirations to open his own studio in Haiti to nurture the artist in every child.

While the students were in class, Sonya taught Locson Zentangle. He was a natural! When they were done creating art together, they spent time in the Haitian tradition, haggling over the price of some stunning paintings.

Sealing the deal sale (lucky Sonya!)

During breaks when the kids came back for more drawing lessons, Locson voluntarily translated Sonya’s instructions for the growing student body. He encouraged kids who were ready to abandon their drawings to continue; he made suggestions for others to improve their work; he encouraged them to practice drawing.

Learning to Zentangle

He was SO proud of the final product!

Unforgetable gifts

On our final day in Duplan, Locson returned and spent the morning with Sonya and the students. Before the team’s departure, he entrusted her with three gorgeous paintings. He asked for no money or agreement. His only request was for her to see if anyone would be interested in them in the States. 

He gave these three gifts with no guarantee that Sonya would return. 
No guarantee of payment. 
No guarantee of returned artwork. 
Only trust that she would be a woman of her word.  

Locson's generous spirit will never be forgotten. His gifts to our team were more than three beautiful paintings—but also gifts of time, talent, and his love of the Haitian people. 

We look forward to our return to Duplan and reconnecting with Locson.

Some of the local children, like Basmani (above)
and her brother below, don't attend school in Duplan,
but were regular visitors during our week at the school

Pure concentration

Duplan students showing off their masterpieces