My heart is so sad and grieving for the people of Haiti right now. I haven't posted about this before, but I am going to start trying to have updates on here as much as I can for those who might want to keep up with how the O that KJ came from is doing.. I have been too busy reading any any and all information I can get a hold of about the situation down there that I haven't taken the time to post for myself.
Currently the directors and the children from the O are all safe and "camping out" on the secure grounds of a nearby church. They had to evacuate both homes because they became unstable due to aftershocks. The children are receiving food and clean water. Praise the Lord for those provisions! ...that is more than many in Haiti, (even in other O's) are getting. The situation there is dire, however, and they are working to try to get out all of their children who have pending adoptions. I think we may hear positive news on kids being allowed to travel to their adoptive families within a couple of days, especially those who had received Haitian approval but were waiting on passports and U.S. visas to travel home. There are kids being granted visas from other O's and a few have actually made their way to the U.S. already. I will keep everyone posted on how it goes over the next few days.
I have not been able to find out any information on KJ's birth family. I did have a friend, who is a nurse and has a daughter also from Haiti, tell me she is planning to go down to help when she is called, and she will try to ask around about the birth family for me. I am thankful for any help I can get. I am becoming more and more concerned about them because of lack of clean water, food and medical care (if they are injured). I try not to worry and give it over to God in prayer, but it's hard sometimes. If I hear anything I will also post it here.
KJ does not entirely understand what is going on, as you can imagine, since she is only five. However she does know about the "earth shake" in Haiti and that many buildings fell down and people have died. Her first question when she heard was "is my chocolate mom dead?" and since then some of her comments have been (in a sad voice), "now I can never go back to Haiti." and "now I will never see my friends again." Then she goes off playing and being her normal self.
I know that many of you may have already donated to an organization but if not, would you consider giving, even a small amount. I read somewhere recently that around $1 billion was raised for victims of the Asian tsunami of 2004, half of it was by internet and much of that was just small amounts. It all adds up if everyone gives just a little (ie: 1 million Americans give $5 that's FIVE million dollars!!)... Here is the link for our O:
www.hishomeforchildren.com -click on donations (this is tax deductible)
Another great organization in Haiti is Heartline ministries at:
http://heartlineministries.org/
If you are more comfortable giving to a more well-known NGO doing work in Haiti please consider Food for the Hungry at:
http://www.fhi.org
We have a couple of good friends who work for this organization and know they are doing great work.
And last, but not least, it's my grandma's 87th birthday today! I am pretty sure she won't be reading this, as last I knew she is without internet connection, but nonetheless I wanted to take the time to say how much I love my grandma and miss her...and hope she has a great day!! Here she is holding my nephew after he was born last June.
love and hugs from us all!
This family always gets into their roles as well. They were hillbillies this year (Bobby Joe and Billy Joe :-) 
