May 2014 - Grace Missions, Inc.

GraceNotes
Chez Moi Orphelinate de la Grace
Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Grace Scholarship Fund
Volume 3, Number 4
May 2014
Grace Missions, Inc.
PO Box 590
Griffin, GA 30224
www.gracemissionsinc.org
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Patricia Mundt, President
patricia.mundt1941@gmail.com
Ellen Granum
Karen Rider
Martha Dansby
Larry Schultz
Sherri Greer
Rev. Dr. Andrew Harnack
Valerie Weigt
Delette Matheus, Executive
Director, Chez Moi Orphelinate
de la Grace
Rev. Odmanne Matheus,
Chaplain/Advisor
Information Contact
Sherri Greer
gracecontact@yahoo.com
GraceNotes Editors
Karen Rider
Sherri Greer
To contribute
online, go to our
website and click
on Donations.
HAITIAN ART SALES SUPPORTING CHEZ MOI
Two recent sales events have not only heightened awareness of
beautiful Haitian art—both metal art and paintings—but they
have also done much to help us support Chez Moi financially.
On April 5, Ellen Granum and Patti Morrow, members of St.
George Episcopal Church, Griffin, GA, set up tables at St. John Lutheran Church’s “Chicken Q” and sold over $350 of metal art
works to enthusiastic purchasers. And a number of people
placed orders for more art!
Then on April 17, at the Concord Garden Club 90th Anniversary
celebration, Ellen and Patti again set up tables to introduce over
200 people to Grace Missions’ ministries and sell Haitian metal
art and paintings. Their effort was successful beyond expectations; Garden Club members bought over $650 of Haitian art.
The success of these events is due in large measure to David
McCabe, owner of Atlanta-based Le Primitif Galleries: The Best
in Haitian Art (Helping Haiti through Art). When he learned of
our ministry at Chez Moi, David offered to provide at wholesale
prices all the Haitian art we can sell. Ellen and Patti bought
many selected art pieces, both metal and paintings, and have
since sought out opportunities to display and sell them—all for
the sake of supporting the girls at Chez Moi.
Many, like Jeanene Fitzgerald
(holding her newly purchased garden
sculpture), added their email addresses to our list of those receiving
GraceNotes.
Grace Missions, Inc. will now help
anyone wishing to promote the sale
of Haitian art as a way of supporting
the orphanage. If you wish to join the effort to raise funds for
Chez Moi, contact either Ellen (202-365-8081) or Patti (770-228
-6421), and they will make sure you too can represent Le
Primitif Galleries to raise funds for Chez Moi.
GRACE MISSIONS, INC. SUPPORTING CONGREGATIONS USE
METAL ART TO ENHANCE THEIR WORSHIP
Servants of Christ Lutheran Church, Indianapolis, commissioned Haitian
metal artist, Jonas Belan, to create a pair of crosses to be made into a processional cross (at left). Board member, Karen Rider, picked up the crosses
on her recent trip to Chez Moi in Port-au-Prince. Fellow board member,
Andy Harnack, was so enthused about the idea that he purchased two
painted crosses to be crafted into a processional cross for his congregation
in Georgia. The processional cross used at Faith Lutheran Church, Lexington, KY was the
inspiration for this design. Here you see each of the designs.
Andy Harnack with artist,
Jonas Belan
If your congregation would be interested in creating your own processional cross, please contact Grace Missions contact person, Sherri Greer
at gracecontact@yahoo.com . Orders would be
placed through Stevenson Dimanche, one of our
scholarship students, who networks with artists. Proceeds from sales go to the Scholarship
Fund.
Faith Lutheran’s Cross
HAITIAN METAL ART: A UNIQUE CRAFT
Haitian metal art is a distinctive Haitian art enterprise. David McCabe, owner of Le Primitif
Galleries in Atlanta, GA, describes it this way and suggests how we all might enjoy it:
The designs are chalked out on flattened steel oil drums and then cut out
with a mallet and chisel. This art form began in the late fifties with a
blacksmith whose name was Georges Liataud. Many talented sculptors
have since followed. These works are perhaps the most innovative in
sculpture since Calder's Mobiles and grace such prestigious institutions
as the Museums of Modern Art in Paris and New York.
These sculptures are made to be displayed inside or outside. Outside they eventually
do begin to turn a beautiful patina.
Should your customers prefer the original
finish, they may choose to take it down
every 18 to 24 months and spray it with a
clear gloss varnish. This can be found in
any art store or hardware store. We
recommend Krylon Crystal Clear.
GIRLS OF CHEZ MOI AND THEIR STORIES
“My name is Saradyne St.
Victor. I am 13 years old.
I came to Marie Major’s
when I was two years old.
My mother died after childbirth and I don’t know my
dad. I would like to be an
eye doctor.” Sara is the top
student in her school class.
“My name is Natacha Demas
and I am 15 years old. My aunt
brought me to Marie Major’s,
my mother was not around and
could not take care of me. I feel
very well at Chez Moi and thank
God to be here. I have everything I could ask for; what we
need, we get. I want to be an
ear doctor because lots of people in Haiti have ear problems.
My favorite subject is math. I think Chez Moi
should have more children so more could be taken
care of.”
“My name is Charlanday
Francique and I am 9 years
old. My mother did not
know what to do with me,
so she dropped me off. I
was six years old. I love
Marie Major, my teacher,
Sophie, and being in this
house. I enjoy learning
French. I want to be an eye
doctor to help other people
who can’t see.”
Sunday breakfast before going to
church. Who says spaghetti doesn’t
make a tasty breakfast?
Each of the girls received Valentines and
pictures from Grace Missions Board.
Charlanday wanted her picture taken
with her bag and pictures.
Grace Missions Scholarship student, John Smith
Deshommes, is planning
to attend a Rotary International conference this
summer in Washington,
D.C. This experience will
enhance his training in
diplomacy.
Although he is registered to attend the conference and has an appointment at the U.S.
Consulate in July for his visa interview, he
must still raise funds for his transportation
and lodging in Washington, D.C. Perhaps
you can help send John Smith to D.C.? Contributions toward this effort may be sent to
Grace Missions, Inc. , PO Box 590, Griffin,
GA 30224-0016. Mark “John Smith” on the
memo line. Merci. Mesi. Thank you!
CENTERING PRAYER GROUP
PLEDGES TO SUPPORT Chez Moi
On April 15, an ecumenical group of
twenty-five who meet regularly on
Tuesday mornings for Centering Prayer
at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Griffin,
GA, pledged $5,088 as their annual support of Grace Missions, Inc. Currently
studying Martin Laird’s Into the Silent
Land: A Guide to the Christian Practice of
Contemplation, the group has been
meeting every Tuesday for three years.
Striving to live contemplative lives
characterized by strong commitments
to justice, peace, and the poor of the
world, this Centering Prayer group has
earmarked Chez Moi as its special opportunity to serve. Several in the group
have volunteered to visit Chez Moi during the next scheduled mission trip.
ROTARY
INTERNATIONAL
Grace Missions Scholarship recipient,
Stevenson Dimanche, one of our three
medical students at Quisqueya University, has been inducted into a local Haitian chapter of Rotary International.
Being a member of
Rotary will offer him
the opportunity to
work on various service projects as well
as attending conferences.
PROPERTY UPDATE
The Board of Grace Missions, Inc. is
diligently searching for property to
purchase as the new, permanent
home of Chez Moi Orphelinat de la
Grace. We see that as the door on
each option we investigate closes, a
new door opens. Eventually it will
be the right door for us.
We will keep all informed on the
progress, and on any plans for work
teams to help with necessary renovations.