3 Cords and The Fight Against Ovarian Cancer May 10 2013, 0 Comments

3 Cords recently had the privilege of being a part of an ovarian cancer fundraiser. First we were contacted by Sarah, an ovarian cancer survivor. She told us her story of fighting through cancer and her love for 3 Cords. We were thrilled when Sarah asked if 3 Cords could make some teal cords (the color that represents the fight against ovarian cancer) to raise awareness about ovarian cancer. It was a honor to be a part of this event, and we are thankful for the chance to partner with Sarah in raising awareness about ovarian cancer.

Here are a couple of our favorite photos from the event:

 {jumping for joy after a successful event!}

In one of her e-mails, Sarah compared cancer to natural disasters and problems in Haiti: “ At the time of the initial diagnosis and at the time of the initial disaster, the support floods in, but then the support dwindles.  Therefore, I am very interested in developing ways that cancer survivors and the Haitian community can support one another.

What words of truth! We all need long-term support and care. As you support your family, friends, and 3 Cords, we pray that you will see the difference that committed love, dedication, and faith can have on those around you.  Thank you for continually supporting 3 Cords and helping to make life long changes in Haiti. 

Friday Feature: Pleated Clutch April 26 2013, 0 Comments

Have you seen our pleated clutches recently? They couldn't get much cuter! If you are looking for the perfect clutch this Spring or Summer, you should consider taking a look at all of our clutches. Beautiful fabric, great size, and your purchase will help employ Haitian men and women; you can't go wrong with the pleated clutch.

3 Cords Product Design Internship, Haiti, Summer 2013 April 03 2013, 0 Comments

Are you interested in living and working in Haiti this summer, designing and sewing new products for 3 Cords?  Are you studying fashion design and/or do you have exceptional experience in this area?  If yes, we’d love for you to come alongside 3 Cords and share some of those mad skills you have with us.  Here’s the nitty gritty:

Responsibilities:

·      Produce product samples for new products

·      Strive to use locally sourced materials for production

·      Create detailed patterns for product samples

·      Teach Haitian employees to sew new products

·      Train Haitian quality control manager to inspect new products

 Qualifications:

The ideal candidate would be someone who is pursuing a career in fashion design, which much experience in sewing and pattern design. 

 Internship Details:

-Internship Dates: May 4- August 17

-This is an unpaid internship.  Room and board costs are negotiable based on experience. 

-College credit is available and recommended for the internship.  We are happy to fill out any necessary paperwork to ensure that you get academic credit for your work. 

Please email Diana@3cordshaiti.com for an application.

Application deadline: April 15.

April Begins With... Celebrations! April 01 2013, 0 Comments

Today was a special day here in Haiti!  

We were blessed to celebrate the birthdays of two beautiful 3 Cords Employees...

Becca & Darline

What a great day to turn 23! 

We thought it would be fun to share some 'birthday sign language' with you today! 

Bon {Happy} 

  {Move your right hand from your chin to your left hand in a downward motion.}

Anivèsè  {Birthday}

What Joy, new 3 Cords Smocks! March 27 2013, 0 Comments

Happy Wednesday! 

3 Cords would like to say a HUGE thank you to Becky Gassaway, for embroidering our new seamstress smocks!

 Everyone absoutely LOVES them... and what a blessing to have each one personalized by name! We are so blessed and thankful for you, Becky! 

Mèsi anpil!

Feature Friday: Pleated Clutch March 22 2013, 0 Comments

Are you looking for a great Spring clutch? Look no further, our pleated clucthes are the perfect carry all. The pleated clutch is great for storing all of your smaller items: cell phones, make-up, all the things that get lost in the bottom of your bag. Keep a look out this spring for new fabrics and clutches headed your way!

Get excited for Spring and pleated cluthes! 

Happy Friday from 3 Cords.We hope you enjoy your weekend and this short Haitian proverb: 

"Piti, piti wazo fe nich li". Little by little the bird builds it's nest! 

graphic design internship March 17 2013, 0 Comments

Do you have some pretty sweet skills in graphic design and also long to be a part of creating sustainable work for men and women in Haiti?  Do you want to join this beautiful team but can't just pick up and go to Haiti at the moment? 

If so, we’d love to work together!  We are looking for a nifty individual who desires to combine their love for creativity with their passion to serve.  Throughout the course of your internship, you would be responsible for the following:

·      Create visual graphics for a postcard

·      Create web graphics

·      Design a 3 Cords t-shirt

·      Design advertisements to be used in social media outlets

If you are interested or if you have any questions regarding the internship, please email diana@3cordshaiti.com. 

Join 3 Cords Prayer Team March 13 2013, 1 Comment

Divine Hope March 12 2013, 0 Comments

This post was written by our design & production coordinator in Haiti.  

Last week I spent some precious one-on-one time with Jasmine, one of our fabric cutters. We worked with our new pattern pieces that are made of polypropylene - and played with different ways to cut, trace, and place the fabric as I attempted to do my best at explaining how to use them through sign language.

I wasn't surprised when she caught right on, and ended up showing me the best way to do it. She is very creative -- and an amazing seamstress as well. 

As I sat and watched her I began to think about her name. 

Jasmine.

In Thailand, the flower symbolizes motherhood, and is considered to be a symbol of the selfless virtue of a mother who gives life to her children.

In Hindi jasmine represents divine hope.

The spiritual meaning for her name… a gift from God, ability, and grace.

I love names. 

And, I smile as I come to the realization that Jasmine is fully living into the meaning of the name that the Lord has given her in every way possible…

She is a mother to three beautiful children.

Garnody(11), Rose Mina (9), and Joanna (5)

A deaf mother raising hearing children. Ability.

 A single mother who can provide food, shelter, education, and loving affection daily. Selflessness.

In her community, she sews school uniforms for her neighbors, family, and friends using only a manual vintage singer sewing machine. Grace.

A friendship in Jasmine is life giving.

She reflects grace.

She shows ability.

She embodies selflessness.

And, OH, friends… yes! Jasmine is SUCH a gift from God!

Fridays Feature: Triple Cords March 08 2013, 1 Comment

This Friday we wanted to showcase our Triple Cords. A "true" 3 Cord, the Triple Cord is the perfect reminder of 3 Cords. The Triple Cord is beautiful and is a statement piece with any outfit. We have a few stunning triple cords in stock this Spring, and we hope that you will enjoy them as much as we do!

Neeley Triple:

Eleanor Triple: 

Happy Friday from 3 Cords. We hope your weekend is filled with rest and joy.

 "You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you." - St. Augustine

when boys become kings and girls become queens February 22 2013, 1 Comment

This is an incredible music video by Audio Adrenaline filled with images of Haiti that make our hearts happy.  We hope it does the same for you this weekend.  Enjoy :).

Happy Valentines Day February 14 2013, 0 Comments

 What is LOVE?

it's patient

it's kind

it doesn't envy

it does not boast

it is not proud. 

It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with truth. 

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 

It never fails. 

-1 Corinthians 13:4-7

We hope your day is filled with the celebration of love and those whom you love most. 

Happy Valentines Day from the 3 Cords family!

Choose Joy January 31 2013, 0 Comments

Somedays we all need to laugh. Take a cue from Elphine today, let loose and laugh a little. She may be at work, snipping away at some fly-aways on cords, but she's happy. Laugh today, and think of Elphine.

"Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it everyday." - Henri Nouwen

Fridays Feature: Haiti Greeting Cards January 25 2013, 0 Comments

Have you been checking the 3 Cords website for more clutches and bags, just waiting for a new shipment to arrive? We hope so! Unfortunately, we are currently having issues with shipping and customs but we are praying to have them resolved quickly. We should have a few more bags up in the coming weeks, and we are working towards having large shipments in by this spring.

Thank you for your prayers and support of 3 Cords. We are SO blessed by you all, and hope to have a fully restocked website soon! Keep praying!

This Friday we wanted to showcase our card sets. Who doesn’t love getting a handwritten card in the mail? If you are looking for great cards to encourage, bring hope and love to the receiver, then you should consider buying a pack of our Haiti greeting cards.

Each set is slightly unique, and includes 5 handmade cards and envelopes. Check them out here! 

Marie Maude & President Clinton January 16 2013, 0 Comments

Life around MOH and 3 Cords has been especially exciting for the last couple of days. Why? President Clinton, has been visiting. The Clinton foundation will be providing solar power for Leveque's new school (construction starting in the spring), solar lights, and a drip irrigation system for farmers! What a huge blessing for Mission of Hope and all of Haiti. Many of 3 Cords employees (all of our deaf employees) live in the village of Leveque. The addition of a school will be a huge blessing to their families. Today we are so thankful for the Clinton foundation and the way the Lord is using them to bless Haiti! Read more about the story here : http://www.mohhaiti.org/news/3

On a personal note, our Haitian manager, Marie Maude, got to personally meet President Clinton! Pretty incredible if you ask me! Here is a picture of Marie Maude with many of MOH's leaders and our former president. She is the beauty on the right wearing red.

It's been an exciting week in Haiti. God continues to WOW us with His transformative power and redemptive plan! Go God, Go 3 Cords, and Go Marie Maude!

Meet Laura January 14 2013, 1 Comment

Meet Laura. Laura Gassaway is our new design and productions coordinator. 

Laura is originally a Texas girl, who grew up right outside of Houston. Durning her four years at The University of Oklahoma, the Lord grew her heart and passion for women. She worked with an anti-sex trafficking organization based in San Jose, Costa Rica throughout her college years. It was through this organization that the Lord began to show Laura the way he created women as powerful,influential and beautiful daughters. After traveling to Haiti on a weeklong trip to MOH, Laura feel in love with the country. Once Laura graduated from The University of Oklahoma in May of 2012 with a degree in International studies and Spanish, she felt called to continue and fight for justice for those without a voice. After working for a while longer with the anti-sex trafficking organization, Laura found 3 Cords, and as they say in the fairy tells "the shoe just fit". 

Laura loves coffee, friends, reading, the morning (this is a good thing living in Haiti). She is energized by being outside, running, and photography. Her love for creating and painting add up perfectly with 3 Cords need for product design and creative solutions. Her passions for empowering and creating sustainable change are also directly aligned with 3 Cords mission. While Laura excitely learns Creole and the culture of Haiti, we cannot thank God enough for bringing her to 3 Cords.  

One way God continues to bless 3 Cords is by providing the right people to work for His ministry. It is so evident to me that He hand picked Laura to work daily with the 3 Cords employees. Her vision, heart, and drive have already been a light at 3 Cords, and we can’t wait to see the way she is used. Today we are thankful for Laura and couldn’t be more excited to have her as part of the 3 Cords team!

Please continue to pray for Laura as she gets settled in Haiti and works daily with the 3 Cords men and women.

Happy Monday! 

A Picture's Worth 1000 Words January 09 2013, 0 Comments

Notice anything different about this beautiful group of girls? That's right they are all sporting 3 Cords! My heart melts a little bit when I look at this picture. Not only are they simply the cutest group of girls, but they all have a little piece of 3 Cords in their hair! Thanks so much for the picture Tara, and for buying 3 Cords for your daughters party. 

Do you have a great 3 Cords picture? Send us pictures of you or your friends wearing your cords, purses, flower pins, etc. We would love to see how you wear them and which are your favorites. Who knows, you may even make it on the blog! Happy Wednesday.

Send all pictures to info@3cordshaiti.com. 

Meet LESROINISE PHILIZER January 07 2013, 0 Comments

Here is Lesroinise story in her own words:

"Hi, my name is Lesroinise and I am 30 years old.  I live in Corail with my 3 daughters.  In the earthquake, my 8 year old daughter Mara became an amputee, and she was taken to the Dominican Republic to have her surgery.  I was so worried about her because in Haiti you have no future if you don’t have both of your legs.  A few months later I met Diana at a tent city and she told me that Mission of Hope could make a leg for my daughter.  I was so happy!  Mara now has a leg and is walking.  When 3 Cords started at Mission of Hope, they invited me to work, which made me so happy because it meant that I could help my kids eat better and go to school.  My favorite thing to do at work is to make cords and to sew the cord ends.  When I am not at work, I like to work at my house cooking and cleaning and watching my girls."

While Lesroinise words are few, her smile is contagious. Sometimes she trys to hold it in and then slowly a smirk forms. You can't help but love Lesroinise funny and quiet personality. We are thankful for Lesroinisie consistency and continual hard work for 3 Cords. 

Lesroinise hiding from the camera:

I finally caught the simple smirk that can make anyone smile or laugh! 

A Christmas Party to Remember December 19 2012, 3 Comments

Since it is the end of the year, we decided to have a 3 Cords Christmas celebration with the ladies last Friday. They were told to bring their kids for a day of fun!

On Thursday night we baked goodies for breakfast, packed some pb&j's for lunch, made little presents in plastic baggies by filling them with soaps/shampoos/lollipops/bouncy balls and then we wrote out certificates for each of them. While we were working we found some foam visors that had little decals you could stick on and a few camo hats. You have to be resourceful in Haiti, and we knew that these could be a hit at the party.

So the next morning when everyone arrived we started the morning off by everyone making a hat- they LOVED it! And the two men and two 10 year old boys that were there, made camo hats because I thought the visors were a little bit girly- which they agreed they were.

We then had coffee (they like it so sweet you don't taste the coffee- the ratio is usually 1/2 creamer 1/4 sugar and a 1/4 coffee) and pastries.  And in typical Haitian form they took all the goodies I baked- took the tin foil that was over all the sheets, wrapped it up and put it in their purses to take home to their families. We then passed out certificates and goodie bags. Certificates here are basically the same thing as getting a five foot tall trophy. Anyways, they love their certificates here so we’re very happy.

Then it was off to the beach. We went to the public beach which cost $1 US dollar for each of them and $2 for each White person. So basically it was the best 35 dollars we have ever spent, because they had a blast!

I brought a speaker we use out in the villages for VBS during the summer- which runs on battery. So we plugged in some Christmas music. Everyone got changed, put their stuff down, and were talking when......one of the deaf ladies made the first move towards the water. She didn’t walk- she strutted to the water and jumped into the ocean. All the other ladies and I, were cheering and the deaf were clapping. She splashed and splashed around. Then the others followed.

It was a priceless day of fun and fellowship! What a joy to be able to celebrate our Saviors birth with a wonderful day at the beach. Hope you enjoy the pictures and get a glimpse into what a happy day it was.

Below are a few favorite pictures from the day!

> The first one is working on our foam visors in the morning- and you can see hudson in his new camo hat.

> The second is of Hudson giving a piggy back to Elphine.  He is about 6'3 and the ladies cannot go to deep because they cannot swim so Hudson and Guy took them on piggy back rides all day and also helped them float on their backs. It was awesome to watch. I am so thankful for these two guys.

> The third picture is five of the deaf employees getting a photo together, and one of my ladies nephews who is about ten and has a prosthetic, splashing around.

> The last picture is my favorite. The ladies are sitting on the shoreline letting the water splash on them after getting tired out from all the swimming antics and boat rides. Just relaxing with each other and feeling comfortable at the beach.

Merry Christmas! 

Coffee and 3 Cords! December 10 2012, 0 Comments

Stacy recently met Paul, the owner of New Oxford Coffee Co., when he was on a trip to Mission of Hope in Haiti. Paul told her the story of his coffee shop, his hope to make it a place of service and ministry, and how he would love to sell 3 Cords to his customers. We were thrilled for the opportunity, and this fall New Oxford Coffee Co. began selling 3 Cords! If you are ever near the town of New Oxford, Pennsylvania stop in for some delicious coffee, baked goods, and a little 3 Cords shopping! 

Don't you love their set up?! Thanks New Oxford Coffee Co. We are thankful to be sold in your shop!

An Exciting Season! December 05 2012, 0 Comments

Guy

Hudson

Daphnee

Darline

With the increased volume of orders around Christmas, our website stock has been running a little low. We are hoping to have more bags in before Christmas but can never guarantee what a shipment will hold. Thanks for your patience and support.  

Much love and tidings of a very Merry Christmas season!

A Visit with Marie Maude November 28 2012, 0 Comments

Here is a picture of Marie Maude and Fafane’s home. They share a bedroom in their families’ home. Fafane is Marie Maude’s niece. A great work ethic and natural beauty must run in this family!

Marie Maude and her dog Fin!

A picture with Marie Maude and Fafane’s tree that they decorate around Christmas time. An authentic Haitian Christmas tree! 

We are so grateful for Marie Maude and all the hard work she does. Can't wait to see the tree all decorated for Christmas! 

Happy Thanksgiving! November 23 2012, 1 Comment

Four new beautiful employees:

Adeline:

Jasmine:

Sandra:

Chimene:

A spacious new building:

Wonderful fellowship:

New additions:

Sweet blogs and new friends:

( http://www.aholyexperience.com/ : November 9th ) 

A hardworking and loving group of women that never cease to amaze us!

 And most importantly our sweet Jesus who always provides and cares for 3 Cords!

 Happy Thanksgiving!

From the 3 Cords family, and the Haitian turkeys!

Gobble Gobble! 

Meet Denise Jaque November 08 2012, 0 Comments

Denise Jaque's story in her own words: