Horror, Heartache, and HOPE!

My mind and emotions are just overwhelmed this week so again, I just almost don't even know where to begin! As an update on our 17 year old Jacques and his friends... They are still in Port-au-Prince. They are able to access the courtyard to their orphanage building so are there with each other by day and then returning to the basketball/soccer field at night to sleep away from the buildings (so that they don't have to worry about collapsed walls while they sleep!) A friend to the kids and to us that lives in Haiti checked on them and reported that they are doing well! We even got to see pictures of some of the kids laughing and smiling. She reported that they have food and water (that we all need to pray does not get looted, as that is happening in other orphanages) and are talking, playing, and doing each other's hair by day. This was a great relief to us parents! While it is still not a good or safe situation. You may be seeing some orphanages getting their children home on emergency visas and humanitarian parol. This is wonderful and we rejoice with them! However, HUNDREDS of orphans and even legally adopted children remain stuck there. Problem is... The directors of the orphanages arrive at the Embassy to get the visas and are turned away! If they show up with the children (which is how the fortunate few have gotten theirs) they put all the children in a very dangerous and unpleasant situation. Here's why~ The Embassy is just overwhelmed! Imagine finding a way to transport (through the demolished streets of Haiti)and take 50-120 children with you to an extremely overcrowded government office (as in pouring out of the door, gates, and well into the streets), with little help. Then imagine being there all day and all night with no food or water for yourself, your help, or your children. And OH, by the way... there are no toilets for the children to use either! Meanwhile... make sure you don't lose any of the children in the shuffle and the crowd. Also, the Embassy is in a dangerous area of Haiti. Orphange children are at high risk of kidnapping because there is a chance they are the child of a "wealthy" family from another country that would pay nearly anything to get their child back! Then imagine going through all of the trouble of making this happen and then being TURNED AWAY! It's just totally outrageous! This folks, is what is happening. We NEED your help immediately! Please write your congressman, senator, and anyone else you can reach! These children need to leave the country immediately for medical care, food, water, and safety. Also, it will allow any still functioning orphanages to bring in the overwelming number of orphans now needing help due to the earthquake! JSCIS had been trying to get the US government to approve the children to all be flown to the US to a compound area they had all set. The kids could receive medical help, food, and water there while the paper work is processed... in safety! However, it was DENIED! What we are seeking now is that President Obama would make an executive order to have the kids taken to a safe place to be processed!

While writing these very words I have just learned that early this morning Port-au-Prince was once again hit with a 6.1 "aftershock"! There is sure to be more grieving and damage. So sad. Just SO sad! Praying for the people of Haiti, and for our children who are there!!!
Each morning we wake up thinking our son Jacques could be home today! Then by the end of the day we must change our thinking to "Maybe tomorrow". However, as more news is coming out we fear that it could turn into weeks and we are in need of a miracle! What we need... #1- Prayer! The God that parted the Red Sea is the same God that can get those kids on a plane!!! #2- Our government to step up! We are hugely thankful that they have promised us our kids can come home, but disheartened that they would not help in the efforts to actually make it happen!

I'll try and update soon. Already in the time that it has taken me to write this post, things have changed and I want to go see what news is coming out of Haiti regarding this aftershock. Keep your prayers going! Haiti is in such need!!!