The Orphan Gospels
What makes a country like Haiti so poor? Why are there so many orphanages? What can those of us from a place a privilege do to help in a country where the poverty seems relentless, systemic, and complicated? Are there better options than building more orphanages to help children in poverty? All of these questions and more are addressed in Shelley’s newest book, “The Orphan Gospels” where she wrestles with the complicated solutions to child abandonment and orphan care in an attempt to bring hope to the plight of the orphan both in Haiti and worldwide.
Shelley in Haiti
Shelley Jean’s debut, Shelley In Haiti – One Woman’s Quest for Orphan Prevention Through Job Creation has been inspiring people around the world since the release. American author and activist, Mary Fisher said, “Shelley could have slid through a life of leisure. A gifted artist, an entrepreneurial problem solver, a walking therapeutic clinic, a spiritual guide – it’s all hers, and more. But what she’s made of herself, as her unflinching story reveals, is a servant. And in becoming the servant she is, she found joy. If this book doesn’t inspire you, nothing will.”
About the Author
Shelley Jean is an entrepreneur who works on behalf of the poor in Haiti through sustainable job creation. Her heartbeat is to provide a solution to the orphan crisis and through her fair-trade certified business, Papillon Marketplace, has become a beacon of hope for mothers and fathers who would otherwise have to abandon their children to orphanages or worse because they can’t afford to keep them. Shelley has spent most of the last decade residing in Haiti, speaks Haitian Creole and has become a resource not only for working with the poor but also on current events in Haiti.
Shelley is a mother to her four amazing children, two of them adopted from Haiti, and currently splits her time between Florida and Haiti. She is an author of two books, Shelley in Haiti (2017) as well as The Orphan Gospels (2019), co-founder of the non-profit organizations Apparent Project and Papillon Empowerment and speaks and writes about the topic of sustainability and solutions for poverty whenever she can.
Shelley in Haiti
The Mission is Love
I went to church today. It was a more traditional church that I am used to and the choreography of the service reminded me of the old Southern Baptist church I would go to when I was in junior high school. The pews were wooden, creaky, and uncomfortable. I remember...
The Day After Easter
The pastel eggshells are in the garbage and candy wrappers are strewn all over the kid’s bedrooms. We went to church yesterday and the minister was hyped. The band was hyped. And the faithful were hyped. Alongside Christians all over the world, we sang about how death...
With All My Heart
When her face peaked in through the gate of the orphanage, I had no idea how much it would change the course of my life. She knocked sheepishly, yet in anticipation, clutching a small bag of fruit by her side. She was there to see her son. She had given him to the...
It’s not shocking to see mistakes
It’s not shocking to see mistakes. Words are misspelled, colors aren’t done right, and orders are misinterpreted. It’s what happens when you have people who might only have had the opportunity to have a 5th-grade education working in a second language, for people in a...
Papillon Payroll Protection Program – In Haiti
I stood in front of over 100 artisans who were at work today this afternoon. Shirley stood next to me to help with clarification and translation if needed. A topic so sensitive and scary needs to have utmost clarity. I don’t understand the exchange rate and the...
It’s always hard to come back
It’s always hard to come back. Partially because I feel so much like my home is still in Haiti and my life straddles two worlds as I make that decision to put my family’s current needs first (as I should) above being physically present in Haiti all the time with the...