Day 2.. Orphans leaving Haiti

The orphanage made it to the U.S. Embassy yesterday. The update didn't give any details of their journey or where they were during the earthquake that happened yesterday morning. Sadly, the U.S. Embassy turned them away due to confusion. So it sounds like they all went back to the orphanage area. I thought maybe they would stay near the U.S. Embassy. I would love to know if they had to take all of the 133 children back...walking another 2 kilometers.

So, this morning, they will go back to the U.S. Embassy and only take 109 with them. I'm so sad for the ones that will be left behind...the children that are not 'matched' with families. I had no idea that 109 children have families waiting on them..forever families. That is exciting!! But...what about the 18 left behind. How are they feeling about all of this? Do they realize that 109 of their 'orphanage brothers and sisters' have been 'chosen' and they have not?

Lord, touch their little hearts. Give them courage and help them know you are there. As the 109 travel back with their nannies, cover them with your protection and peace that can only come from you.

You can read all the details from the email that I received. Continue to pray.

"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."

FHG is a ministry to the people and children of Haiti. Our ministry is dedicated to fundraising and assisting the orphanage, Maison des Enfants de Dieu, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti."