As the first news of the earthquake came pouring in, so did the telephone calls and emails to our home. Friends and family have been so very caring and supportive this past week! We cannot count the number of times someone has said, "I have been praying that this will somehow bring the kids home sooner, rather than later!" Although this was difficult to hear in the early days when we were certain that the earthquake actually left our adoption in limbo ~ we believe that God heard the outcrying of prayer and is going to work a mighty one!
We are still uncertain as the to the timing and the logistics of this, but we are encouraged by the State Dept's agreement that all documented orphans in Port-au-Prince could be evacuated from Haiti. IF the correct paperwork or witnesses are obtained for an orphan, they would be offered "humanitarian parole" to leave the country for asylum or refuge in another country. What we are praying for our children is that they would be allowed to go to the US where we could have foster parent status until the adoption was completed. This is a humanitarian issue for all orphans, not an adoption issue. It will not only save our children's lives, but it will open up a safe refuge for the hundreds of new orpans likely to appear in Port-au-Prince.
Aid has been very slow to arrive to our children. We know of only two deliveries of water or food so far. We are concerned about their safety and are seeking security at their gate, to prevent looting and violence. Both Pierre and Ange-Laurette are sleeping in a courtyard area (more like a driveway) simply waiting. Please pray like crazy today that the efforts to evacuate orphans will begin to happen...that it will happen safely...and that our children and the others will somehow be protected from the horrendous sights and sounds of this disaster.
We would have rather waited years for their arrival home with them in their original BRESMA home (happy and safe) and NOT had them have to endure this terrible catastrophe and trauma. They may not ever know the whereabouts of birthfamilies; they will not get to say goodbye to nannies/birthfamilies/friends the way they had pictured; they will never get to see the beautiful places of Port-au-Prince like we had planned to take them to this week on our previously scheduled visit. This will be a very long and difficult road ahead....but one that might possibly begin the healing process here at our home in the weeks ahead.
