We stood between the two concrete buildings under the shade of the tree planted right in the middle. A unique opportunity to spend a morning in the headquarters of Three Cords came up for myself and two of my squad mates, and as we stood outside of the buildings with gorgeous, compassionate Britney, she told us more about the amazing work they do.
Three Cords is a for-profit business that is housed on Mission of Hope’s campus. The 18 amazingly talented Haitians who work there hand-stitch tote bags, headbands, wallets, shirts, and bracelets in brilliant, eye-catching fabrics. These artisans are all disabled in some way, which makes it hard to find jobs in Haiti. Through their work, they are given a way to provide for their families, and Mission of Hope is given a way to provide prosthetic limbs to those who were wounded 6 years ago in the massive earthquake.
After we talked and Britney showed us around and I drooled over the room full of fabrics, one of the women offered for Jackie and I to join her with her work. Of course we accepted her offer!
I stood next to a waist-high table in the middle of a busy work space with scissors in hand as Jackie meticulously measured the fabric with a precise Sharpie mark. The mid-morning sun was shining in through the open door as the man on the radio screamed passionately in Creole. Jackie and I laughed as we imagined what he was yelling about as I cut along the line and added the piece to the growing pile of what would become straps for tote bags. Sitting with us was a beautiful Haitian woman with a friendly smile. We talked about how we wished we could communicate with her.
Jackie decided to make the first attempt as she slowly spelled out her name then mine in American Sign Language. Her eyes lit up with wonder as her mouth formed each name silently, looking to us for approval.
Then she spelled her name for us.
A-D-E-L-I-N-E.
Adeline. The loveliest name.
Adeline took a piece of scrap paper and the marker from Jackie, then hesitated before writing, “def.” She pointed at the word, then at herself, then at the word again, as if to ask if she spelled it correctly. Jackie added the missing letter and we nodded to let her know we understood what she was trying to convey.
I didn’t want our inability to communicate with her to be our only hindrance. Adeline’s sweetness and encouragement was evident, and I just knew I could learn something from her. Our friend Courtney was close by, and she is actually a translator for Mission of Hope. With her help, Jackie and I were able to hear all about Adeline’s life.
Adeline is 45 years old, a mother to 5 kids (4 boys and 1 girl), and has been married for 26 years. She was born deaf, but is well-educated and confident in who she is. She has worked at Three Cords for 4 years and loves creating all of their products. As we talked, more of her personality began to show, and I didn’t want to leave. We laughed together and she asked questions about our lives and families in return for the load we had asked her. I wanted to sit at her work table all day hearing about her hopes, dreams, and passions.
We became friends, all because she allowed us to sit at her table and help her with a task that she could have done twice as fast in her sleep from all her experience.
I left Three Cords that day feeling light and loved. A simple invitation had changed my morning and I don’t plan on forgetting my new friend. Adeline’s seemingly simple invitation made me reflect on my own interactions.
Do I include everyone in my life in the ways I should, even if it makes me more vulnerable? Even if I am more susceptible to possible heartbreak? Is there space at my table to add more chairs for people who can teach, rebuke, love, and take on this life with me? Am I willing to add the fold-up chairs and mismatched lawn chairs to make more room at my table if need be?
This year I have been given the chance to take on a new way of living, a new way of building relationships. My prayer is that I am willing to scoot in more, create more space at my table, and truly dig into community with the people Abba so graciously sends my way. I am so grateful that I got to sit at Adeline’s table, even just for a few hours, and I will think of her every time I add a mismatched chair to my own.
