UNICEF...the low down

Ok, here are two great posts explaining in detail why I am so adamant about NOT SUPPORTING UNICEF (click on the links below to take you to these posts, then hit the "back" button to get back here).

EVER.

EVER.

(photo from RHFH blog, before treatment)

*ONE CHILD'S STORY: RONEL (Kristin Howerton)* "That is, until UNICEF stepped in. UNICEF, with their seemingly charitable gestures towards children worldwide, happens to be an organization that is staunchly, and often illogically, anti-adoption. It is also an organization that wields a great amount of power (and money), and when they put the pressure on, Haiti complies. There is a lot to be said about Unicef's views. There is an essay brewing there - but for now, the short version is that UNICEF would prefer children without parents to be raised in an institution within their culture of origin rather than by a loving family of a different culture. In other words, race/culture trumps family/nurture/security. (It doesn't take a psychologist to see the faulty logic there)....

...In the front seat of the truck was Ronel, the 6-7 year old that was staying in my room. I asked why he was still here and Tara told me it was because they needed one more paper for him. The other children got to go. She said she hoped they could get the needed paperwork tomorrow. I would never wish for you to see the disappointment on Ronel's face because it would crush your heart... it did mine. It was dark and the power was off. He went into our room, laid down on the bed, pulled the sheets up and sobbed. It was so sad. Tara came in and talked to him in Kreole... I'm not sure what she said but I know she was trying to comfort him...

...Ronel's story is just one story of hundreds. Hundreds of orphaned children with waiting families, and nothing separating them but political manuverings and power plays that put children at risk. I hope that you will read this and consider educating yourself on UNICEF's history in thwarting international adoption, and register your voice of dissent."


*NO PLACE FOR POLITICS (Tara Livesay)* ..."We're simply stating that the policies and procedures are a long way off from meeting real people where they are. (And things are not what they appear to be. Not at all.) The anti-adoption rhetoric is maddening. Kids abandoned to an orphanage by their birth parent PRE earthquake are now being held in Haiti thanks to pressure placed on the Haitian government by the giant and powerful unicef. It is asinine and lacks all logic. We are all for legal, careful, smart adoption. None of us want to see children taken from a birthparent that wants to raise them. That would be a terrible thing. The fact is, unicef is openly anti-international-adoption and what is happening now is nothing more than political grand-staning and a massive power trip. And all at the expense of children with waiting and approved families abroad..."

Unicef's history in Guatemala is very much one of the reasons we are having to fight so hard to get Ronaldo and Julia home.

Please pass this on...please get the word out...please....

P’ap jamn sispann priye—Don’t ever stop praying.

P’ap jamn sispann priye—Don’t ever stop praying.

"One patient is a young girl in her 20’s with a open book fractured pelvis, dislocated ankle, and is a Type 1 diabetic. Any movement is excrutiatingly painful and she already has a bad decubitus ulcer from laying in the bed. She is on a morphine drip and will not survive. Her mother and a couple other family members are here keeping vigil, holding fast to their bibles and praying for God’s mercy. We only have 30 mg of morphine left so you can pray about that..."

"This student pictured above was trapped under debris when the school she was attending collapsed. She spent three days trapped before she was discovered and rescued. She sustained damage to her hand and nerve damage to one of her legs when a friend who died in the collapsing building fell on this girl and she stayed trapped with her dead friend on her until she was rescued..."

Isaiah 58:7, “Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wander shelter, when you see the naked to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?”

Drop off at CashWise 11-7.

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Drop off at CashWise 11-7.

Attention Willmar Readers. There will be a Drop Off for Donations 11am-7pm FRIDAY Jan 29th... @ Willmar MN CashWise

Bring or buy items for Children of the Promise.

There will be a list there and a trailer to pack !!!

Let's see how fast we can fill it up.

Thanks for giving generously!!!

*** Thanks Lulu Beans for making this happen

& Cashwise for allowing us the space!!***

(also if any one is willing to help during any of that time just come on over :)

Cash Wise (in Willmar,MN)

Friday Jan. 29

11am-7pm

...

Why Pray for Haiti (or Why Pray at All)?

...

An Open Letter from Kim Harmon, President - For His Glory Outreach

A call for national prayer and fasting on January 28^th for the orphans of Haiti

(Kingsland, Texas) We are deeply grateful to God for all of the Haitian children who have been united with their adoptive parents. We sincerely thank all of the governors, senators, congressmen and government departments who have joined in the effort to secure the safety and well being of these defenseless Haitian orphans. Unfortunately, there now seems to be a mountain standing between the orphans who remain in Haiti and the safe and loving homes of their adoptive families. That mountain is the Haitian Government's new, and still undefined, exit process for children with foreign adoptive parents. With limited resources available to Haitian orphanages, this process has stopped the departure of orphans with humanitarian parole status and directly affects our ability to care for those children orphaned since the earthquake.

I call on all adoptive families, relatives, friends, churches, Christian ministries and all those who care for Haiti's orphans to set aside Thursday, January 28^th, as a day of fasting and prayer. We are asking God to intervene, not only for the children in our Port-au-Prince orphanage, Maison des Enfants de Dieu, but also for all the surviving orphanages in Haiti. In addition, we want to include those children who now have no one and no place to go because of the limitations of Haitian orphanages. We would like you to specifically pray:

· For the immediate safety and security of the orphanages, the staff and children. In recent days, we have received verified reports of Haitian criminal gangs targeting orphanages as locations with potential stocks of food and water.

· That God will provide the water, formula, food, shelter and supplies needed by the surviving orphanages of Haiti to care for the swelling number new orphans. Our orphanage alone accepted 40 new orphans on Tuesday, January 26^th, but many more have no place to go. The needs of these newly orphaned Haitians are immediate.

· That God will comfort and strengthen orphanage staffs in Haiti. Most have lost their homes and many have lost loved ones. Yet they have continued to selflessly serve the orphans in their care.

· That the ongoing discussions between the U.S. and Haitian governments will quickly produce a workable process to allow orphans to be united with their foreign adoptive parents where they will be safe and loved. And that the cries of the orphans will be heard in the hearts of the negotiators. Each child who departs Haiti opens up much needed space for those children who now have nothing and no one.

Please pray for the Shelton's. Their son Philippe is caught in this mess through no fault of his or his family. His sister is home, he is not. Devastating.

Dawn, praying for you girl. You keep fighting, despite those roadblocks. You are not in this alone. I won't quit praying and believing that Philippe IS coming home.

YOU CAN HELP!

Here are some tangible ways you can help RIGHT NOW....

1)Troy and Tara, and Dr. Jen URGENTLY need specific medical personnel:Updated staffing needs—looking for Emergency medicine PA, Orthopedic PA, and a physical therapist to fly in THURSDAY

2) Lori and Licia need TENTS: They need ones that will house at least 4 people. Most families staying in them will be closer to 8-10 people. You can send tents directly to:
Debbie Woodward
1500 Jackson Street NE
Minneapolis, MN 55413

Debbie is loading a trailer to go to Real Hope for Haiti asap!

3) Licia needs to purchase a house to move the kids in the rescue clinic to. They have a place picked out and now THEY NEED FUNDS! You can send donations directly to Real Hope for Haiti's home office at:

Real Hope For Haiti

P.O. Box 23

Elwood, IN 46036

Earmark the donation as "house".

Please pass this along to as many people as you can! GOD BLESS!!!

Corrected Link...

Ooops! Completely botched that link!! Here you go:
Controversy and the Real Deal

Controversy and The Real Deal by Sarah...

Remember Sarah and Isaac that I asked you to pray for? Well, Sarah just wrote a really great post. I'm not sure I agree with or even have knowledge of everything she says, but I think what she's saying is awfully important and needs to be said. So if you have a little time, grab a cup of coffee, pull up a chair, and read this: Controversy and the Real Deal.

I'd love to hear your thoughts....

NEVER SUPPORT UNICEF! NEVER!

From one of the other orphanages (PAC) just now...."I truly have the worst news aside from the earthquake itself. As of this morning UNICEF has won. They were completely successful in shutting down the humanitarian parole process until further notice. The word is that Hillary Clinton and Preval are meeting about it in Montreal today. There is a chance that Clinton can convince him to again allow the paroles. There is some talk that maybe they would just work on streamlining the process for a couple of weeks and then start up again, of course just talk nobody knows what is really going to take place.

We were "greeted" with this decision at the embassy this morning while there hoping to pick up papers for the 17 unknown "vetted" kids from PAC that had made today's list.

We managed to get 7 kids out of PAP on a red eye flight Sunday night, they were the last to enter. By the way they were detained upon arrival in Orlando, not allowed to be with their parents and are now being moved to Miami for further processing. 2-3 days of this I guess is the word. Supposedly taking so long due to the number of kids coming in. Really? Most of us didn't get our kids!

I am sick, as you all are too I am sure! I've cried so much the last fews days and then had the hardest cry I've ever had today when this blow came. I'm going to go home and together we must find a way to continue to fight for our kids, and insist that our government stand up to what they promised our children. We certainly can't let UNICEF win!"

I am sad. I am angry. As always, it is the kids who receive the brunt of the adults' stupid decisions. This is NOT RIGHT. It just isn't.

Currently Children of the Promise has approximately 20 injured children being helicoptered in to be cared for at their creche. Their hope was to have the children with homes gone to their parents so that they could take in new little ones. But instead, they cannot let these kiddos go home. What will they do? Be filled past capacity?!? Turn away children?!?

I don't know.

The situation is horrible. Just horrible. :(

Please keep praying...

GRRR....

The children who landed last night in Miami (and those coming in today) are now being detained in refugee camps. They are apparently going to be taken to foster care and will not be released until their parents are licensed as foster parents!! UNBELIEVABLE!! These are parents who have been LEGALLY DECLARED THE CHILDRENS' PARENTS while the children were still in Haiti! I cannot believe how utterly uncaring and incompetent our government is being! Can you imagine the trauma these kids are going through?!?!?!?

PLEASE, IF YOU LIVE IN FLORIDA, CAN YOU CONTACT YOUR REPS, SENATORS, AND CONGRESSMEN ABOUT THIS? AND CALL THOSE NEWS STATIONS! GET THEM DOWN TO THE MIAMI AND ORLANDO AIRPORTS!!

PLEASE!!! I have two friends being affected by this!!

:) Yeah!

THE BEST VIDEO EVER! Katy is a good friend of mine and the one I asked you to pray for about her child being held up and being sick. Her little girl IS sick and Katy will be taking her to the hospital as soon as she arrives home this afternoon. Please keep them both in your prayers. They are exhausted and overwhelmed.

THEY ARE WITH THEIR FAMILIES!!! THANK-YOU FOR ALL THE PRAYERS ON BEHALF OF THESE LITTLE ONES! GOD MOVED THOSE MOUNTAINS AND THREW THEM INTO THE SEA!!!!!!

The news channels are reporting that they are FINALLY releasing all the children! PRAY THAT IT'S TRUE!!! These families have waited THIRTY HOURS OR MORE for their children!!

BAD NEWS!!!

Things are NOT GOOD on the ground in Orlando!!!

Some of the children have been released to their families, but others are STILL WAITING. We are at almost 24 HOURS in and the kiddos are now being held up by DHS!! Here are some of the latest reports from those there...

"My sister is in Orlando now waiting for her daughter (who was flown in yesterday from Haiti). The parents were all gathered in a room and told by James Delacruz, the supervisor for health and human services for the east coast for unaccompanied minors, that he will not abide by the rules as set forth for humanitarian parole, because he didn't agree with them. He said if it was up to him all of the kids would be sent to child protective custody. None of the remaining kids will be released until all of their paperwork has been thoroughly reviewed, and he may just send them all to foster care. The parents have not yet been let out of the room to tell the CNN crew that is there. This James Delacruz does not have the authority to override the State Dept on this case, but he is trying. Please help!"

"There was a change in personnel at 9:00 am today. Prior to 9:00 they were processing a child about every 7 minutes. The State department was doing this. Now a represenative from DHR in FL has come in and said that he has to look at every package. NO ONE will be released unless HE feels these are... the right... ones for the children. VERY EMOTIONAL TIME down there."

"This man also said he won't leave until he has done all the files personally. Please pray for everyone. One mother has to take a child to the emergency room and can't. We might not be able to take J for surgery because of this. The parents haven't been able to go eat. Someone (S.Army or Red Cross) finally brought... some food to the parents. Tensions are HIGH!! Please PRAY PRAY PRAY!!"

"Scared and confused by this mess. How can one man have all power to tell me if I can take my son home? PLEASE call Congressmen and Senators and ask them to help us."

"I just got another call from my sister, and she is sequestered in a room with a police guard, however they are allowed to make phone calls, they are just trying to keep the media out. She asked me to pass the info along:

"My sister called me back and said that they were forced to fill out paperwork for unacompanied minors, which is ... See Moresomething to do with child trafficing – an area this James Delacruz works in. They have been there for 26 hours, and they are exhausted, so they are not sure what that paperwork was for. The police officer guarding the door is very upset and he doesn’t agree with what this James Delacruz is doing. He is trying to get some senators involved. Please get some coverage of this before it goes any further…!"

CNN and FOX news are back at the airport. Thanking God that they have not deserted these families and are going to give this urgent report coverage!! PLEASE KEEP PRAYING FOR THESE KIDS!!!!

Quick update

Quick update this morning...

Praising God that some of the parents are finally united with their children!! However, apparently a lot of the parents are still waiting for their kids. Also some of the children are sick and are being brought to area hospitals, causing a great deal of confusion between immigration officials and parents. One of my good friends is hearing word that her little one is among the sick. :(

And in a wonderful, strange twist, Dawn Shelton's daughter Patricia WAS on the plane!!! She is now in her mommy's arms!!! YEAH!!!!

So please keep praying. What a long night it's been for these kiddos and families!!

In Customs...

The kiddos are back in customs where they will likely be until around midnight. It's been such a long day for these families and kids. Please pray for them all!

And say a special prayer for the Sheltons. Their kiddos Patricia and Philippe were not on this flight. They are being told it could be Monday before the second set of kiddos is able to leave Haiti. Although they are happy for everyone else, obviously they are devastated having flown into Orlando as well. Keep them close in prayer as their children are older and certainly are understanding at some level, that their friends are gone and they are not.

Finally please pray for the nannies and directors at all these orphanages who deeply love these kids. Pray that they can experience peace in the midst of this pain. And remember those children who have been left behind. They are most definitely dealing with so much loss right now.

Pain and joy. All in one.

A C-130 IS ON THE GROUND!!! Holding my breath for all my friends!!!!

THEY'RE COMING HOME!!!!!

Press Release - January 22, 2010
Orphans Bound for U.S. in Two Groups

Eighty-two orphans will depart Haiti on Saturday

(Port-au-Prince, Haiti) All paperwork has been completed for 82 children from the Maison des Enfants de Dieu (Children of the House of God) orphanage and they have clearance to travel to the United States. These 82 children are scheduled to depart Port-au-Prince airport on Saturday, January 23, 2010, at around 11:00 a.m. on an aircraft bound for Florida. Those children with Colorado adoptive parents in this first group, will continue on to Colorado, accompanied by a medical team from the Colorado Children's Hospital. Orphanage staff and representatives of the U.S. ministry, For His Glory Adoption Outreach (FHG) will continue to work with U.S. Embassy officials for humanitarian parole and travel clearance for the remaining eligible children. FHG hopes that these children will receive their clearance sometime on Saturday, January 23, 2010, with a departure date and time still to be determined.

Kim Harmon, President of FHG, wanted to express her gratitude to the staff of the U.S. Embassy Port-au-Prince for their tireless efforts in processing the paperwork for all the children. Kim reminded adoptive parents and supporters to "continue in steadfast prayer for the children who are traveling tomorrow and for those who remain in Haiti."

What an answer to prayer!!!

Please continue to pray for those families who's children are not on this flight. Pray that their babies come home soon and that they have peace as they wait.

And to all my friends who's kiddos are coming?

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! :)


EDITED TO ADD:
A small update on Isaac and his family. :) Believe it or not, Isaac and his dad got held up in the Bahamas! The winds were too strong to take off last night. At least at this point, it's a different sort of wait for his mama. She KNOWS he's coming home, it's just finishing the journey. :) Pray for calm weather today so that they can make it into Florida!

Not.. :(

The flight was too late for the 82 to make it out tonight. :( They are planning that all of them will be able to make it home tomorrow though! No-one still knows which kids are on "the list". Hopefully things will be much clearer by daybreak.

I know I keep asking, but please don't stop praying. These families and kiddos are under an extreme amount of stress right now.

UPDATE!

NEW UPDATE!!!!

82 children have been cleared to leave. 25 have not. We do NOT know which children are which. We won’t know for 2-3 hours still. We do know they will arrive somewhere in Florida, but we don’t know when or where, but it will be today.

It is hopeful that the children who have not been cleared will be cleared tomorrow. We don’t know where those kids will go, but likely also somewhere in Florida though we cannot say for sure.

Please realize the size and scope of Florida. We do not know where in Florida. Unlike some other states, it isn’t a matter of a one hour drive any direction. Miami is about 3.5 hours from Orlando and probably about 6 from North Florida and much more to the panhandle part (no one mentioned the panhandle, just saying). Please know that if you decide to come on to Florida that you may end up in the wrong place. However, we do understand the notion of being that much closer and will leave it to you.

I can't even begin to imagine the stress these families are enduring. They do not know if their child is coming home tonight so therefore they don't know if they need to get on a plane right now. But even if they did know, there is no destination set yet so they can't get a ticket yet.

OH LORD PLEASE MAKE A PATH CLEAR!!!!!!

Whoohoo!!!

ISAAC AND HIS DADDY ARE AT THE AIRPORT WAITING FOR THEIR PLANE!!! OH PRAISE GOD!!!

Still no word on the For His Glory kiddos. Those mamas are under some serious stress as the afternoon wears on. Please pray for their peace and PRAY that their babies will get out today yet!!!!!

Video

A video of the kids trying to make it to the Embassy yesterday...
I will warn you, this is heartbreaking. You can see just how desperate the situation really is.

Ugh

Oh good gracious...UNICEF is interfering... >:(

Pray that ALL the orphanages trying to get kiddos home today can get around UNICEF's ugly tactics! I have deep reasons not to like UNICEF including them shutting down adoptions in numerous countries to keep themselves in business.

Guatemala was one.

Looks like they've got Haiti on their radar.

"All files completed per Embassy requests - will present docs to Embassy as soon as doors open. Kids were awakened early today for worship. I think the staff wants this to happen as badly for the kids as we do."

I can't breathe....praying so hard that these kiddos ALL make it home to their families TODAY!!!

Could it be?!?!?!?

Press Release January 21, 2010
A Difficult Day. A Race Against Time

Blocked roads, heat and missing paperwork complicate orphans departure

(Port-au-Prince, Haiti) Because of State Department procedural requirements, on the morning of January 21, 2010, 114 children left the Maison des Enfants de Dieu (Children of the House of God) orphanage for the U.S. Embassy. Of the 114 children, 111 were the orphans eligible for humanitarian parole to the United States and three were orphans who have Canadian/Argentinean adoptive parents and may also qualify for evacuation. Eighty-seven toddlers and children traveled in a bus and 27 infants traveled in a van, accompanied by orphanage staff, representatives from the U.S. ministry, For His Glory Adoption Outreach (FHG), and members of the press. Dead bodies, debris and abandoned vehicles in the roads made movement very difficult. Temperatures inside the vehicles became extreme and began to make the younger children sick. After 2 hours of little progress, the difficult decision was made to return to the orphanage.

After returning the children to the orphanage, staff members returned to the U.S. Embassy and received permission to process the children's paperwork without the children being physically present. Humanitarian paroles for some of the orphans have been completed, however additional documentation was needed for others. The United States Customs and Immigration Service has pledged to work through the night with FHG staff to ensure that all required documentation will be available Friday in sufficient time to allow all 114 orphans to depart Haiti for the United States. Air Transportation from Haiti is being arranged for the evening of January 22, 2010.

I can hardly breathe...they might ALL be coming home tomorrow night!!! PRAYERS AGAIN TOMORROW!!!

And also, please pray for my dear friend Sarah. She has been waiting so very long to bring her son Isaac home from COTP. They were waiting on his final paperwork when the quake hit Haiti. Her hubby is there now and is desperately trying to find a way to navigate the road from CapHaitian to Port-au-prince. They tried today unsuccessfully. The situation is fairly desperate and child-trafficking is becoming a real issue, making the situation even more complicated. Pray that God watches over sweet Isaac and his family! They just NEED a miracle to bring Isaac home!!!!

Waiting to hear if the kiddos got out yet. There has been a lot going on today and information is sketchy at best and coming in very randomly. Please don't stop praying! There are a LOT of anxious families right now!

Also, this was forwarded to me. Please consider it and/or pass it on to everyone you know...

Greetings,

ACET, Inc. has received an immediate request to provide assistance to
the devastation from the recent earthquake that has befallen the nation
of Haiti . We are looking for anyone interested in going to Haiti to
help for a 3- 6 month period. There are no particular skills sets
defined at this point, except the willingness to help wherever needed.
We will be presenting folks and highlighting their unique skills and
trade qualifications, so if the opportunity to help in your area exists
- it will be noted and presented. As you can well imagine, any skill
that you may have – can be of great help.

Typical skill sets needed:

Carpenters
Masons
Electricians
Medical Personnel
Communications
Builders
Heavy Equipment Operators
Plumbers
Logistics
Etc.

THIS IS NOT A VOLUNTEER REQUEST – you will be paid for the work you do.
This is a temporary employment assignment that will include travel,
expenses, remuneration with an understanding that housing accommodations
will be very basic. All that is needed at this point is a passport or
ability to obtain one ASAP.

If you are seriously interested or know of someone who would be
interested – please email me back ASAP or forward this email, and I
will provide more details for you at that time.

This is a unique opportunity to make a difference to the people of Haiti
!

Onekqua Beverly
Corporate Recruiter/Security Specialist
ACET, Inc.
301-861-5023 301-861-5023 (Office)
301-885-3199 (Fax)
otbeverly@adamscomm.com
www.adamscomm.com
–
Gene Gary-Williams
13603 Water Fowl Way
Upper Marlboro , MD 20774
Tel: 301.390.5652 301.390.5652
FAX: 301.390.7077
ggarywilliams@gmail.com

Please keep forwarding.

Holding my breath!!!

Once again requesting your prayers as you begin your day...

Orphans Intend to Depart Haiti... Again

Confusing and complicated orphan process delays orphan's departure

(Port-au-Prince, Haiti) On January 20, 2010, staff from the Maison des Enfants de Dieu (Children of the House of God) orphanage accompanied by representatives from the U.S. ministry, For His Glory Adoption Outreach (FHG), attempted to obtain humanitarian parole from the U.S. Embassy Port-au-Prince for 133 orphans. The orphanage staff and FHG representatives were turned away because of confusion about photo requirements for each child. Additionally, they were informed that humanitarian parole would only apply to approximately 111 of the 132 children from the Maison des Enfants de Dieu orphanage. These are the orphans who have a "United States qualified referral" dated prior to the earthquake on January 12, 2010.

In accordance with specific instructions received today, orphanage staff and FHG representatives will depart for U.S. Embassy Port-au-Prince in the early morning of January 21, 2010, with the 109 children eligible for humanitarian parole. We anticipate they will receive authority to depart Haiti via air by the early afternoon and will provide further information on the actual schedule as soon as we have it. Three of the remaining 24 children are being adopted by parents in Argentina and Canada and are waiting for those countries to announce their evacuation procedures. The remaining 18 children at Maison des Enfants de Dieu orphanage will remain in Haiti since they have not yet been referred for international adoption. The orphanage receives request each day to accept new orphans, however their ability to accept children orphaned since the earthquake is very limited. Orphanage staff today reported they were out of diapers, low on food and they remained concerned about security at the orphanage.

Kim Harmon, President of FHG, underscored her call "to all who care about these precious children to pray earnestly for their safety and that the complicated humanitarian parole process can be successfully completed tomorrow. We are thankful to the Lord for where He has brought us and for everyone's tireless prayer and work to accomplish His will in bringing these children home soon. We pray that the wait will not be much longer and continue to work to that end."

Pray that these little ones will indeed make it home to their anxiously waiting families!! I will be on pins and needles all day, watching to see if my friends post that their babies are FINALLY home!!! I can hardly breathe, knowing that TODAY might be THE DAY for each of these families!!!!

Blessings....

If you've ever doubted miracles occur in the midst of devastation, read this...

And if you've ever doubted the kindness of the human soul, watch this...

Be blessed tonight dear friends! :)

..

The latest from FHG...

From Patrick Flowers with FHG in Haiti: We went to the embassy and got right in. we did not take the kids. they stayed at the O. we needed pics of all the kids so we are doing this now and returning to the embassy in the morning. pray for safety at night and no more aftershocks. pray for a swift process tomorrow so we can return with the kids ASAP.

Keep praying, keep praying, keep praying...

BE ASHAMED HILLARY CLINTON!!!!

(Taken at For His Glory orphanage, January 15, 2010)

Hillary Clinton has effectively turned her back on the orphans of Haiti. It is unconscionable to me that someone who claims to love the country of Haiti, would so coldly give it's children no way to escape to their homes. After her non-help, here is the statement released by the JCICS last night:

UPDATE: Haiti
It is once again my job to be the barrier of bad news. Another day come and gone and no change. Despite extensive Congressional support and all of your calls to your Members of Congress we have hit roadblock after roadblock. At this point we respectfully ask that you stop contacting your Members of Congress requesting their assistance with obtaining security, transportation, and water for the location. The Department of State has not and apparently will not provide the small assistance that we have requested.

Given the current circumstances, at this point we are recommending that someone from each orphanage escort the children who qualify for humanitarian parole or adoption visas to the U.S. Embassy in Port-A-Prince. We recommend that the orphanage staff arrive with the children and any adoption paperwork that has not been destroyed as early as possible in the morning in order to attempt to obtain visas or parole for the children. Please understand that this option may not be considered safe and that the U.S. Embassy did not allow some orphanages onto the premises today. Additionally, please note that it has been reported that there is no food, water or facilities for the children to use while at the Embassy. As noted during our conference call earlier today, these are our recommendations only and should not be used to replace your or your orphanage director's good judgment.

It is our understanding that any children processed by USCIS in Port-A-Prince are leaving on U.S. cargo jets to locations that are not often know until a hour or so before the flight leaves. At times children have left Haiti without the knowledge of their adoptive parents.

This is currently the worst case scenario for the children's well-being and safety but at the moment there are no other options.

As we receive more information we will continue to share it with you. While the situation at the moment is terrible I can only hope that our collective efforts produce some positive news. Despite the roadblocks Joint Council has not given up on the save haven and we continue to advocate for its creation and a more transparent and safe process in uniting these children with their adoptive families.
Rebecca

This means that the orphanages left behind are going to have to take drastic and dangerous measures to try get their children to safety. Following the announcement from JCICS, For His Glory released this announcement:

On January 20, 2010, 133 orphans from the Maison des Enfants de Dieu (Children of the House of God) orphanage will begin the difficult process outlined by the U.S. Department of State for humanitarian parole and onward transportation to the United States. In accordance with instructions received from the State Department, as relayed by the Joint Council on International Children's Services (JCICS) at 8 p.m. today, orphans along with orphanage staff members have been instructed to arrive at the U.S. Embassy as early as possible on Wednesday morning. JCICS warned that no food, water or facilities would be available for the children while processing at the U.S. Embassy Port-au-Prince.

JCICS further relayed that orphanage requests to the U.S. Embassy for security and transportation for the children have been denied by the State Department. The U.S. ministry associated with this orphanage, For His Glory Adoption Outreach (FHG), was also asked to stop requesting security, transportation or even water at the orphanage location. Following discussions with staff and board members in Port-au-Prince, the difficult decision was made that all 133 children, including approximately 60 children under the age of 3, will begin early in the morning of January 20th to walk the over 2 kilometers to the U.S. Embassy Port-au-Prince. This decision was made due to the limited staff available and the increasingly dangerous security situation at the orphanage in Port-au-Prince. The staff will carry as much water, food and baby formula as possible with them for the orphans while processing at the U.S. Embassy. JCICS relayed that once processing is completed, the orphans will travel to the United States on "cargo jets to locations that are not often known until an hour or so before the flight leaves."

Kim Harmon, President of FHG, acknowledged that "this arrangement is far from ideal for the safety and well-being of the children. We are calling to all who care about these precious children to pray earnestly for their safety tomorrow."

PLEASE BE ON YOUR KNEES THIS MORNING AS THESE CHILDREN WALK. THIS IS THE MOST CRUEL AND HEINOUS THING I HAVE WITNESSED IN MY LIFETIME. GOD, WE ARE BEGGING YOU TO WATCH OVER THESE BABIES, NANNIES, AND OTHERS AS THEY WALK.

Adoption Ark-UPDATED

The information for shipping items to Children of the Promise through Adoption Ark has been updated. The address had a typo in it that has now been corrected on the COTP page of that site. Thank-you for bringing this error to my attention so that I could contact the people in the know. And God bless you for donating to COTP in this way!!

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(Had no computer there for a couple of days! FRUSTRATING!!)

I am beyond THRILLED to see that one of the orphanages in Haiti was granted Humanitarian Parole for their kiddos and that those kiddos have landed in Pennsylvania!!! However, the kids at For His Glory are REALLY struggling. Yesterday Fox News did a report on them, literally begging the governments of Haiti and the US to let these kids get out and get home. Shortly after, President Preval of Haiti stated that he would allow children to leave Haiti. It is now our own State Department that NEEDS to get the ball rolling. Here is a message written today from Kim Harmon at FHG.
This is absolutely URGENT!!!!!

We need you all to act again on behalf of all our children. Currently, we have two families from Argentina and one from Canada adopting. Our governments are not cooperating and working together to get all our kids out, they are dragging their feet. We are going to start losing babies due to dehydration if we do not evacuate these children quickly to the U.S. and then process them here. We do not have time for a one by one assessment of the state of their adoption process and issuance of visas prior to evacuation. Please, begin contacting your governors and continue to pressure your senators and congressmen to get a plan in place, quickly, to evacuate the children to the U.S. The Argentinean and Canadian Governments could then work with the U.S. to bring their children home from the U.S. Time is of the essence. This is not going to look good for the U.S., the State Department, the other world governments or the United Nations if our children, who survived the earthquake, begin to perish because the governments and agencies would not work together to quickly evacuate all the children in the orphanages. This needs to be a united effort. PLEASE CALL YOUR GOVERNORS, SENATORS AND CONGRESSMEN AS SOON AS YOU RECEIVE THIS MESSAGE. We have confirmed reports that Governor Ed Rendell form Pennsylvania went to Haiti and has brought back 54 children to Pennsylvania from an orphanage. If this can happen for them, it needs to happen for all the orphans that are suffering in orphanages with little supplies, starting to experience diarrhea and sicknesses due to the conditions. PLEASE ACT NOW ON BEHALF OF OUR BABIES AND CHILDREN. Thank you, Kim Harmon, President

God bless those of you who have given SO GENEROUSLY!! I am completely humbled by the overwhelming amount of people giving to help their brothers and sisters in Haiti.
GOD BLESS EACH ONE OF YOU!!!

Urgent...

The concerns right now are that the food, fuel, water, and supplies will soon be running out in Haiti. This shortage is what will directly impact the orphanages there. An easy way to help Children of the Promise (Jac's former orphange) is through Adoption Ark. By shopping online through the link provided, you are able to purchase items most needed by COTP, and ship them directly to Agape Flights in Florida. Agape flies into CapHaitian and delivers them straight to COTP. This not only saves time, but you are also able to ship any order over $25 for FREE. Just follow the easy instructions on the page. I know they would certainly appreciate it as supplies begin to dwindle and things become desperate.

Also please be in prayer RIGHT NOW for For His Glory Orphanage. Many of my friends are desperately trying to get their children home from this orphanage. For His Glory released this news bulletin a little bit ago:

URGENT CALL FOR PRAYER

We received word from Pierre this morning that the situation in the orphanage is becoming dire. We would like to ask EVERYONE that receives this to use this information to get on your knees before our Lord and ask Him to provide.

We have one nanny that is deceased and the orphanage needs her body to be removed.

The orphanage has no drinkable water.

In addition they need:

• formula for babies
• medicines
• IV fluids (one child is currently on an IV)
• charcoal to cook
• diesel
• cash to buy supplies if they find them. They are running out of cash and there are no banks open to get cash, so it needs to be delivered by someone already on the ground or by helicopter.

Others are beginning to rob them of what supplies they do have.

There are helicopters flying over the orphanage and they have made a sign on the roof that says they are an orphanage and need help.

The staff is also working to get together all the paperwork for each child that has an adoptive family in a way that it can be attached to their body if there is an opportunity to evacuate.

For His Glory is doing everything we can on this end to contact people who may be able to help. Please pray. Currently, that is the best thing you can do to help. Kim is doing everything she can, and respectfully requests that adoptive families do not call her at this time. We realize this is a very difficult time, however she needs her phone and time available to do everything she can to make contacts to try to help the children and staff at the orphanage. We will give you any updates we have as soon as they are available.

Trusting in Him,

For His Glory

God help us your people, as we become Your hands and feet to the people of Haiti....

Heroes...

THESE are the heroes of Haiti:

Troy, Tara, and Paige Livesay "Last night I took five of my kids to the US Embassy to get them out of here so I can be of some help to Troy and the two ministries we represent in relief efforts. They left me at midnight (or close to it - time is fluid and I feel a bit crazy). They left with two adoptive moms we love. Paige was a rock. Pray for her fifteen year old heart to be strong...They were taking anyone with a USA Passport to a cargo jet to board to an unknown location in the USA. I prayed for them and sent them off..."

Licia and Enoch Bector "Enoch is just beside himself about everything. He of course grew up here and had seen a lot in his country. He was shot in the shoulder when he was 13 during one of the overthrows of the government here. He has seen lots, and lots of things. But this is the worse he has ever seen. He wants to help, just like everyone. He want to make sure his friends and family are okay. He want to do all he can to help anyone. He borrowed a motorcycle of a friend today and took a backpack of supplies in to just see if he could help anyone. We still have not heard from his mother..."

John and Beth McHoul "We as a group did meet this morning and we have decided to go ahead and on Monday open up a clinic to treat those who have yet to have their wounds and injuries cared for. I spoke to a couple of guys that live in the inner city area where our midwives go and they told me that there are still many just in his area that have not been treated. He as well told me that many of the bodies of those who have died are now just being discovered and that they are being placed in an empty field..."

Lori and Charles Moise "broken arm, 2 broken legs, internal injuries, died in clinic yard on Tues night..."

Kim and Patrick Bentrott "We made it safely to the street and suddenly it was apparent that we were one of many. People streamed out of buildings, bloodied, crying out for their children, their friends, their neighbors. It wasn't just our house. It was everywhere. People I have only waved to or shared cordial pleasantries with were hugging me, grateful for a face..."

REPUTABLE PLACES TO GIVE:
All persons in Haiti are saying the same thing. Money is needed most right now. I know I keep repeating this, but please give something.

Anything.

These people are on the ground in Haiti.

They know how to navigate to get the supplies they need.

They NEED the money to do what they do best.

These are people we love. These are people we know. They NEED help.

Now.

Real Hope For Haiti (supporting Licia and Enoch Bector, Lori and Charles Moise)
World Wide Village (supporting Troy and Tara Livesay)
Heartline Ministries (supporting John and Beth McHoul)
Children of the Promise(supporting Jac's former orphanage, they need supplies)
For His Glory Outreach (supporting the orphanage of many of my friends' children)

To those that have given, God bless. Our hearts are humbled. We thank-you from the bottom of our hearts.

"If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered." Proverbs 21:13

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(Pictures from Licia's blog-please send them support!! I love them dearly!)

From Tara Livesay...

You are asking what you can do ... we are going to need Diesel, Water, Food ... things you cannot really easily do. SO - give money. The two organizations Troy and I work with and for both need help and are both reputable. The giant organizations are fine too if that is what you prefer. Money is the number one need (and ability to purchase the supplies) and MEDICAL PERSONNEL. Coming down if you are not willing to risk and get in and clean out horrific wounds would just tax an already taxed place. Medical professionals should contact organizations with the ability to coordinate efforts and try to get here. It won't help to have more non-medical people to feed and house. Hope that does not sound harsh - but it is truth. If you don't speak Creole/Kreyol and don't have the ability to work with injured people - you should NOT come. We cannot feed you and we don't have a place to house you.

And this...

We have only lived here for four years and certainly don't have a full grasp on the culture yet.

One thing is ABSOLUTELY true ... Haitian people are tough, strong , brave , and tenacious. Most of them have been suffering for decades and decades and have seen more than you can imagine.

The amount of the current suffering caused by the earthquake cannot possibly be known right now ... the numbers cannot be estimated. But, if the way they deal with day to day hardship is any indication - the people of Haiti will rise.

Pray for the trapped, pray for the hurt. Send your money to organizations sending medical help.

Please don't stop praying. And please, if you can send ANY money (even a few dollars), SEND IT. I'm afraid the worst is yet to come and the people who are there and on the ground are going to need FUNDS to deal with the after-effects of this tragedy.

...

The building on the left is where we completed Jac's adoption in 2007. As you can see, it is completely gone. Here is a portion of a note from Dr. Bernard, who's office this is, and who was the lawyer that completed Jac's adoption.

"IT WAS ABOUT 4:50P.M, I STEPPED UP INTO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
ON MY WAY BACK HOME FROM WORK. AS I JUST ARRIVED ON THE 2ND FLOOR, THE BUILDING
COLLAPSED ON EVERYBODY WITHIN SECONDS . THE ROOF CAME DOWN OVER OUR HEADS. I
WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO DESCRIBE THIS MIRACLE. I WAS ONE STEP TO DEATH, BUT
PEACEFUL, TRUSTING THAT MY LIFE WAS IN GOD'S HAND. MY MIGHTY GOD GOT ME OUT
SAFELY. AS I JUMPED FROM THE 2ND FLOOR INTO ALL THE DEBRIS, I GOT HURT ON MY
LEFT SIDE. HOWEVER, I AM SAFE AND SOUND...IT IS A LONG LONG STORY.

WHAT A MIRACLE!
WHAT A GOD THAT WE ARE SERVING! HE SURELY IS NOT DONE YET WITH ME.

WHEN I GOT
HOME, CLAUDETTE AND THE OTHERS WERE FINE, BUT THE GUEST HOUSE SHOOK UP SO BAD
THAT THE WATER COOLER, BOOK SHELVES FULL OF BOOKS, AND CABINETS FELL ON THE
FLOORS. AS I AM WRITING THIS EMAIL, THE HOUSE
IS STILL SHAKING UP. WE WILL SLEEP OUT SIDE, UNDER THE FRONT PORCH."

Shock...

The devastation in Haiti is mind-numbing. We are following reports from those we know in Haiti and it is terrible. The lawyer we used for Jac's adoption is ok. He survived by jumping from a second story window. A guesthouse for one of the orphanages has collapsed. The Hotel where many families stay has also collapsed.

Please, if you feel called to donate...anything...no matter how large or small, give to Real Hope For Haiti. Licia and Lori are friends of mine. There is a PayPal button on their site that you can donate through. They are desperately going to be needing funds these next weeks as people begin to pour into their rescue center.

If you Twitter, you can follow live reports from Troy Livesay. Troy is working to compile a list of people and missionaries in Port-au-prince and the surrounding area who have been affected. If someone you know is missing or has not been heard from, you can email Tara at t_livesay@yahoo.com.

I'm just in shock yet. I think everyone affected by this is.

The people of Haiti need your help and your prayers.

God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.
Selah
Psalm 46:1-3

PLEASE PRAY

URGENT: Please pray for Haiti!

The capital, Port-au-prince was hit by a massive earthquake tonight. I have been frantic here, trying to find word from people I know and love in Haiti.

Friends of mine in Petionville are ok. They are going to be sleeping outside tonight with the approximately 70 children in their rescue center. All the children are medically fragile.

Our other friends Troy and Tara Livesay are also ok. Their kids are pretty shook up and they could also use our prayer.

Reports are that the northern end of Haiti where Children of the Promise and our extended family live, is ok. We are waiting to hear confirmation on this.

Just please pray for these people and this country that we love.

Silence...

"I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion;therefore I will wait for him." Lamentations 3:24

I know there are so many of you out there praying.

Thank-you. I don't say that lightly. It is your prayers that carry us.

Each day I sit and think, "I should really post something", but the truth is many times my feelings are really not so nice and I'm starting to feel ultra-protective of my own heart. I don't want my words and thoughts to be misunderstood so I just keep them bottled up inside. It's in many ways easier than "laying it all out there".

So this blogs sits.

Silent.

Day after day.

Waiting for me to find enough footing to post something again. I so badly want my posts to be full good news and so I keep waiting. Thinking maybe tomorrow will be the day we hear something. Then tomorrow comes and goes and the cycle of hoping starts over.

I wish I could say I was writing tonight with some wonderful news, but I'm not. Instead there's just the sound of silence.

No news from our lawyer.

No news from our translator.

No news from anyone.

It's not for lack of trying. I've emailed and emailed with no response. Frankly most days it leaves me more than a little angry. I find myself snapping at people (especially family) for no apparent reason.

And then there's the arguing in my head.

It's relentless.

You see, I've been at this long enough to know that lack of news doesn't necessarily mean lack of movement on our case. Which is good, but it means the voice in my head can't agree with the voice in my heart. And it means that the nightmares have begun to creep in again. And the insomnia.

Sigh.

I just want to know.

Something.

Anything.

Instead we end another day waiting. For any news of anything.

Am I discouraged and frustrated? Extremely.

Am I hopeful? Without a doubt.

I know in my heart that this. is. it.

This is the last round.

This is the time the kids will come home.

I just want someone in Guatemala to hand me the sliver of hope that verifies what I already feel in my heart.

Instead the silence is maddening....